When you’re decorating your home, there are two things you want to bear in mind if you  have children. You want to keep the design functional, but safe. After all,  anyone who’s ever had, or just looked after, a baby or toddler, can tell you that little  kids have an uncanny knack for finding things and getting into places they  shouldn’t. It’s a parent’s and caretaker’s responsibility to keep an eye on your child, but it helps to have your home as  safe as possible in each and every room.  

 Kid-friendly rooms does not mean that a room's design has to be dull or boring.  You can still have a stylish home without sacrificing safety. To start, consult  with an interior designer who has experience in designing rooms for children.  When Donna Webster, licensed interior designer of Web Decors in Algonquin,  Illinois, meets with a client who has children, she makes certain to ask the  child’s age. “If I’m designing a home and they are grandparents, I ask them if they babysit a lot,” she says.  

 This helps Webster understand exactly what safety features she must include in  the home for that child. In most cases, making certain what kinds of drapes and  blinds are a priority when designing a room for almost any child.  

 “Children have died because of mini-blind cords, so there are now laws protecting  children,” says Webster, who makes sure to provide notice about safety information to her  clients through her newsletters.  

 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received reports of five  deaths and 16 near strangulation with Roman shades since 2006 and three deaths  in roll-up blinds since 2001. According to the Window Covering Safety Council,  cordless window products offer the safest option and they recommend that owners  and renters replace all corded window coverings in the home made before 2001  with today’s safer products. Repair kits are also available. Don’t forget to install safety latches and locks on cabinets, drawers and electrical  outlets.  

 No-Fly Zone

 Children dream about flying like Peter Pan, Spiderman or Superman, so it’s important to protect them in case they want to try out their imaginary wings.  You want to make certain that beds and other furniture that children can climb  on are kept away from windows.  

 According to The National Safety Council, a child can fall from a window that’s open only a few inches, so make certain that your windows are guarded and  secure enough that your child cannot topple out. The CPSC estimates that over a  dozen children under age 10 die each year from toppling out of windows, and  more than 4,000 others are treated in hospital emergency rooms for  window-fall-related injuries. Fortunately and unlike many other states, New  Jersey requires owners to install window guards in every window of units where  children under the age of 10 reside.  

 If you’re concerned about having your windows blocked in an emergency, the American  Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) established voluntary safety standards  for window guards that ensure guards designed for single-family homes, or the  lower floors of apartment buildings, have simple emergency-release mechanisms  for use in the event of a fire.  

 Get the Lead Out

 Interior designers must also take extra special care when decorating for a  pre-1978 home, which may have lead paint. In 2007, the New Jersey Department of  Health reported 482 cases of child lead poisoning. Lead poisoning can reduce  intelligence, shorten attention span, cause learning disabilities, health  problems and affect a child's behavior.  

 If painted walls are disturbed by a designer, by scraping, sanding or burning,  high concentrations of lead are released into the air and inhaled. Because lead  can cause a host of health problems in children and adults, there are laws  regarding the proper removal of the substance, as well as required disclosures  that must be followed.  

 Since little ones are always exploring a home, Kathy Hoffman, ASID, LEED GA,  interior designer at Susan Fredman in Chicago, suggests organizational storage  spaces that keep children out. “Keep these areas locked, but think about how you use the area too,” she says. “For example, with a bathroom, you’ll want to put hooks for robes and towels so you don’t have to leave a child in the tub to get these items. Hand-held showers are  also helpful.”  

 Changeable Spaces

 It’s important to remember that designing a kid-friendly interior means that you’ll change your design several times to meet the needs of your growing child.  

 “With an infant you’re worried about safety and with a toddler you’re designing with safety in mind, but you want them to have interesting spaces  that get their attention,” says Hoffman. “I’ve designed a lot of homes where the family has a safe play space for the child.”  

 Hoffman also designed rooms that serve a double purpose. “Offices and playrooms are combined in some homes,” she says. “There are desks so the parents can do their work and the children can play.”  

 Then when little ones grow out of toddlerhood, the baby gates are taken down and  the safety locks come off, Krista Fabregas of KidSmartLiving.com says that it’s natural for parents to breathe easier, but don’t get too comfortable! “Transforming nurseries into “big kid” rooms can add a new set of safety concerns, but they’re easily overcome,” she writes in her blog on her site.  

 To accommodate “big kids” growing needs safely, she suggests keeping beds away from windows, making  closets kid accessible and keeping breakables out of their room. She also  recommends Quake-Hold Putty to keep items you do put in their room safe.  

 Although most parents design the room with their baby in mind, Stacey Cohen of  Stacey Cohen Interiors in Chicago, suggests thinking backwards. "I would look  at the end use and layer backwards,” she says. “Purchase pieces that can be expanded upon and have multi-functional uses."  

 Rooms that convert from baby use to that of an older child are extremely  versatile and save money. “You can use changing tables that double as dressers or even change hardware on  furniture to update a look,” says Hoffman. “Neutral pieces are flexible and key to an easy, adaptable design. You can also  change just the paint and bedding too. There’s not as much of an investment.”  

 “The room should be flexible enough to grow with them,” says Marita Alfonso, a senior associate at Lichten Craig Architects in  Manhattan. “Furniture in this aspect, is a non-permanent item, and can always be switched  out.”  

 Space for teens also needs to be about function, more than space. “If you’re short on space, you can use built-ins, such as a wall unit for a desk with a  bed above it,” says Nora Schneider of Nora Schneider Interior Design in Chicago. “Teens are also transitioning. For example, girls may not want pink anymore.”  

 When it’s time to transition, Schneider suggests simply updating a few things in the  room. “You can change colors and linens or add a mirror over a dresser,” she says.  

 A good design is not only functional and safe, but it’s healthy too. “Health has become a safety issue too,” says Hoffman. “A de-cluttered home prevents dust and mold growth, which contribute to allergies  and asthma.”  

 She says she also incorporates center vacuum systems that play a part in  improving the air quality of the room and makes sure to design using fabrics,  rugs and paint that are low in or have no volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.  VOCs are the odors you smell from paint. These fumes can trigger serious health  reactions in those who inhale them.  

 “Adding air filtration to help manage the air quality in the home plays a part in  the things we finish,” she says. “We also educate our client on what’s possible for health considerations. For example, we don’t recommend wall-to-wall carpet because of the dust. We recommend organic  mattress, fabrics, bedding, keeping the chemicals and dyes away from the skin.”  

 “Also take into consideration custom bedding for a child’s room,” says Webster. “You should use fabrics that you can throw into the washer. We also discuss  allergies. There are fills for pillows and bedding that’s antimicrobial.”  

 All in all, you should design with comfort in mind, but remember that the safety  of your building’s children should always come first.   

 Lisa Iannucci is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to The New Jersey  Cooperator. Editorial Assistant Maggie Puniewska contributed to this article.