Pro Panel: 16 Quick Fixes for a Baby-Friendly Kitchen
If a new baby has recently joined your family, some temporary tweaks to your kitchen could make life easier, say UK pros
Most of us, with or without children, probably have at least a basic understanding of how to child-proof a kitchen: cleaning chemicals stashed safely, perhaps locks on cupboards, baby gates, and so on.
But what about that temporary period before toddlerhood that is, initially, not always just about safety and has its own special set of requirements? Three UK-based designers share their experiences of helping new parents to adapt their kitchens without calling in the builders.
This professional panel consists of Dominique Lyons of Kids Rule Interiors; Jill O’Neill of ReFound; Jessica Spencer of My Bespoke Room.
But what about that temporary period before toddlerhood that is, initially, not always just about safety and has its own special set of requirements? Three UK-based designers share their experiences of helping new parents to adapt their kitchens without calling in the builders.
This professional panel consists of Dominique Lyons of Kids Rule Interiors; Jill O’Neill of ReFound; Jessica Spencer of My Bespoke Room.
Not every kitchen will have room for a big seat, but this cosy space shows that you don’t need an open-plan area, as seen in the previous image, to make it work.
On a side note, if there’s space, a tiny table, stool or hot-drink-sized shelf will be useful, especially if you can charge your phone there, too. And a lidded travel cup is an excellent idea for ensuring your drink stays put no matter how much the baby wriggles.
Find an interior designer or decorator on Houzz near you to create a beautiful, child-friendly home
On a side note, if there’s space, a tiny table, stool or hot-drink-sized shelf will be useful, especially if you can charge your phone there, too. And a lidded travel cup is an excellent idea for ensuring your drink stays put no matter how much the baby wriggles.
Find an interior designer or decorator on Houzz near you to create a beautiful, child-friendly home
2. Create a baby zone – in an open-plan room
Adding things to the room isn’t always the aim, however. “Be prepared to sacrifice furniture to create a zone for your baby that can evolve as they grow,” says Jill O’Neill. “We took out a coffee table and an armchair. Add a nice rug to separate it off; we have some sheepskin-style ones; and layer separate rugs on top of each other.”
If you have an open-plan scheme like this one – featuring clean floor space away from the cooking area, yet close enough to watch over – you have a great head start. Before your baby can crawl, this can be used as a safe spot for a moses basket, baby gym or play mat. Eventually, it can evolve into a fun space for toddlers and older children, with books and toy storage.
Choose the position carefully, bearing in mind the evolution that will need to take place. While open-plan spaces have many advantages, once your baby starts to crawl, the lack of scope for baby gates can be a challenge. You may want to look out for flexible hinged gates that can be moved around to section off different areas.
Adding things to the room isn’t always the aim, however. “Be prepared to sacrifice furniture to create a zone for your baby that can evolve as they grow,” says Jill O’Neill. “We took out a coffee table and an armchair. Add a nice rug to separate it off; we have some sheepskin-style ones; and layer separate rugs on top of each other.”
If you have an open-plan scheme like this one – featuring clean floor space away from the cooking area, yet close enough to watch over – you have a great head start. Before your baby can crawl, this can be used as a safe spot for a moses basket, baby gym or play mat. Eventually, it can evolve into a fun space for toddlers and older children, with books and toy storage.
Choose the position carefully, bearing in mind the evolution that will need to take place. While open-plan spaces have many advantages, once your baby starts to crawl, the lack of scope for baby gates can be a challenge. You may want to look out for flexible hinged gates that can be moved around to section off different areas.
3. Create a baby zone – in a closed kitchen
You can still create a baby space if you have a closed kitchen. “You could almost fence off one end – though not necessarily with a physical barrier,” says Lyons. “It’s about creating an area where you’re not going to be walking over them – somewhere they can sit or lie on a mat and play.”
As they get older, you can adapt the space to house building blocks or a drawing mat. “Rotate toys so there are always different things to play with in different areas,” she says. “But keep Lego out of the kitchen, it’s very easy to trip over.”
You can still create a baby space if you have a closed kitchen. “You could almost fence off one end – though not necessarily with a physical barrier,” says Lyons. “It’s about creating an area where you’re not going to be walking over them – somewhere they can sit or lie on a mat and play.”
As they get older, you can adapt the space to house building blocks or a drawing mat. “Rotate toys so there are always different things to play with in different areas,” she says. “But keep Lego out of the kitchen, it’s very easy to trip over.”
4. Give over a cupboard
In the same vein, this idea is about making it fun to be away from the cooking zone. “I repurposed a kitchen cupboard so he could empty everything out of it,” says Lyons of her now six-year-old son when he was a baby. “Inside, I’d have a wooden spoon, some Tupperware, light pots and pans – anything safe he could take out and play with.
“You can keep it exciting by changing what’s in there,” she says. “I did this for my son when he was just sitting up and it kept him busy for ages. It stops them from wanting to go into other cupboards, too. When he was a bit older, I painted it in blackboard paint.”
Pick a cupboard as far from where you’re cooking as your kitchen will allow. In this compact kitchen, the cupboard on the outside of the island unit would be good, as it’s easy to see from the cooking zone, yet a safe distance from the action.
In the same vein, this idea is about making it fun to be away from the cooking zone. “I repurposed a kitchen cupboard so he could empty everything out of it,” says Lyons of her now six-year-old son when he was a baby. “Inside, I’d have a wooden spoon, some Tupperware, light pots and pans – anything safe he could take out and play with.
“You can keep it exciting by changing what’s in there,” she says. “I did this for my son when he was just sitting up and it kept him busy for ages. It stops them from wanting to go into other cupboards, too. When he was a bit older, I painted it in blackboard paint.”
Pick a cupboard as far from where you’re cooking as your kitchen will allow. In this compact kitchen, the cupboard on the outside of the island unit would be good, as it’s easy to see from the cooking zone, yet a safe distance from the action.
5. Rethink open shelf displays
These shelves might once have housed beautiful cookery books or tasteful ceramics. Accept that life will be easier if you find somewhere else for these things to live for the foreseeable future.
Don’t despair that open shelving will necessarily look unattractive, though. Pick out your baby’s best-looking toys (you could also look out for stylish wooden playthings in second-hand shops) and you’ll soon have a new display – but one you can encourage little hands to play with.
These shelves might once have housed beautiful cookery books or tasteful ceramics. Accept that life will be easier if you find somewhere else for these things to live for the foreseeable future.
Don’t despair that open shelving will necessarily look unattractive, though. Pick out your baby’s best-looking toys (you could also look out for stylish wooden playthings in second-hand shops) and you’ll soon have a new display – but one you can encourage little hands to play with.
6. Put a lid on it
And for those items you don’t want to pack away, but don’t want your baby playing with either? “If there are knick-knacks you want to keep in one place, jars with lids are good,” says O’Neill. “Or try ceramic pots with lids or old enamel tins – small children seem less interested if they can’t see there’s stuff inside.”
And for those items you don’t want to pack away, but don’t want your baby playing with either? “If there are knick-knacks you want to keep in one place, jars with lids are good,” says O’Neill. “Or try ceramic pots with lids or old enamel tins – small children seem less interested if they can’t see there’s stuff inside.”
7. Think multi-function
Having a changing station downstairs in an open-plan living space can be really handy.
“When we got rid of the coffee table, I replaced it with an ottoman with a lift-up top,” says O’Neill. “Not only does it have nice soft corners, the storage is good, too. I put a changing mat and nappies inside it.”
Create a Baby’s Room in a Teeny Apartment
Having a changing station downstairs in an open-plan living space can be really handy.
“When we got rid of the coffee table, I replaced it with an ottoman with a lift-up top,” says O’Neill. “Not only does it have nice soft corners, the storage is good, too. I put a changing mat and nappies inside it.”
Create a Baby’s Room in a Teeny Apartment
8. Free your drawers
Well, at least one of them… Baby stuff can easily swamp your kitchen. “Give over a drawer or two for bibs, bottles and that sort of thing,” says O’Neill. “As they get older, you can use it for craft stuff.”
Start moving things up and out of little hands’ way, too. It won’t be long before they’re interested in exploring everything. Installing some out-of-reach shelves, as seen here, isn’t a bad idea for extra storage.
Boost your current storage areas, too. If you have space, invest in under-shelf baskets; they can also be used on some tables or kitchen islands. These can give you valuable temporary storage for all sorts of small-scale paraphernalia.
Don’t forget your walls. Hangable canvas pockets are cheap and easy to install – handy for stashing wipes, muslins and other smaller baby items.
Well, at least one of them… Baby stuff can easily swamp your kitchen. “Give over a drawer or two for bibs, bottles and that sort of thing,” says O’Neill. “As they get older, you can use it for craft stuff.”
Start moving things up and out of little hands’ way, too. It won’t be long before they’re interested in exploring everything. Installing some out-of-reach shelves, as seen here, isn’t a bad idea for extra storage.
Boost your current storage areas, too. If you have space, invest in under-shelf baskets; they can also be used on some tables or kitchen islands. These can give you valuable temporary storage for all sorts of small-scale paraphernalia.
Don’t forget your walls. Hangable canvas pockets are cheap and easy to install – handy for stashing wipes, muslins and other smaller baby items.
9. Choose grown-up storage
“Pick antique woven baskets,” says O’Neill. “Things like that are nice, rather than brightly coloured tubs picked with children in mind. Use your own aesthetic, but throw all their plastic and teddies into them.”
Here, the huge woven storage basket could be useful for anything from bibs and bottles to toys.
“Pick antique woven baskets,” says O’Neill. “Things like that are nice, rather than brightly coloured tubs picked with children in mind. Use your own aesthetic, but throw all their plastic and teddies into them.”
Here, the huge woven storage basket could be useful for anything from bibs and bottles to toys.
10. Hang your plants
“I got rid of a lot of floor plants,” says O’Neill. “It was literally hands in pots and soil all over the place. Putting things up high includes plants. I’m planning to hang some macramé pots from the picture rails.”
How Do I… Display Indoor Plants?
“I got rid of a lot of floor plants,” says O’Neill. “It was literally hands in pots and soil all over the place. Putting things up high includes plants. I’m planning to hang some macramé pots from the picture rails.”
How Do I… Display Indoor Plants?
11. Match your high chair to your space – and position it carefully
If you have room for a permanent high chair that will always be on show, pick something that either reflects your aesthetic or can be made to fit in. Here, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors painted a classic wooden baby seat in a soft shade of grey to complement her clients’ kitchen.
Try to position the chair well away from walls and paintwork. “Between nine months and two and a half, everything goes everywhere,” says Lyons. If your high chair needs to be next to a wall, choose easy-care paint. “Eggshell is vital when you have children,” she says. “You’ll really value wipeable, washable surfaces.”
If you have room for a permanent high chair that will always be on show, pick something that either reflects your aesthetic or can be made to fit in. Here, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors painted a classic wooden baby seat in a soft shade of grey to complement her clients’ kitchen.
Try to position the chair well away from walls and paintwork. “Between nine months and two and a half, everything goes everywhere,” says Lyons. If your high chair needs to be next to a wall, choose easy-care paint. “Eggshell is vital when you have children,” she says. “You’ll really value wipeable, washable surfaces.”
12. Assess your table
Clamp-on high chairs can be fantastic space-saving items. But you will need to ensure your table – or, indeed, breakfast bar – is suitable and sturdy enough to hold one.
The benefits of bidding at least a temporary farewell to some furniture will outweigh any disappointment.
Clamp-on high chairs can be fantastic space-saving items. But you will need to ensure your table – or, indeed, breakfast bar – is suitable and sturdy enough to hold one.
The benefits of bidding at least a temporary farewell to some furniture will outweigh any disappointment.
13. Hide your bin
If you have the cupboard space, Spencer suggests incorporating integrated kitchen bins to keep small hands from pulling over a freestanding rubbish bin.
If you decide to go down the child-lock route, she suggests you seek out hidden designs. “These won’t ruin the look of your kitchen, as they’re hidden inside the door,” she says.
If you have the cupboard space, Spencer suggests incorporating integrated kitchen bins to keep small hands from pulling over a freestanding rubbish bin.
If you decide to go down the child-lock route, she suggests you seek out hidden designs. “These won’t ruin the look of your kitchen, as they’re hidden inside the door,” she says.
14. Encourage your mini-me
“Create a little kids’ kitchen area, so your little one can play alongside you in their own safe kitchen as you cook,” says Spencer. “You could even paint one in your kitchen’s colours.”
Although a play kitchen is intended for older children, babies will enjoy pulling things out of the pretend oven or cupboard until they’re a bit bigger.
“Create a little kids’ kitchen area, so your little one can play alongside you in their own safe kitchen as you cook,” says Spencer. “You could even paint one in your kitchen’s colours.”
Although a play kitchen is intended for older children, babies will enjoy pulling things out of the pretend oven or cupboard until they’re a bit bigger.
15. Look down
Not a temporary tweak, but if you’re redoing your floors before your baby arrives, Spencer has some practical advice. “Luxury vinyl tiles, like the wood-effect ones seen here, are softer than a porcelain tiled floor, moisture-resistant for those spillages, and don’t scratch easily.”
Not a temporary tweak, but if you’re redoing your floors before your baby arrives, Spencer has some practical advice. “Luxury vinyl tiles, like the wood-effect ones seen here, are softer than a porcelain tiled floor, moisture-resistant for those spillages, and don’t scratch easily.”
16. Let history guide you
Try not to worry too much about the inevitable mess and toll on furniture, and the surfaces that your tiny person will cause. Most kitchen tables can take quite a battering once you hit weaning and beyond.
“Choose a stylish table cloth to protect your kitchen or dining room table from food spills and craft mess,” says Spencer. “There are so many colours and designs to choose from and they can be changed as often as you like.” That said, a table cloth isn’t the only approach.
“I often think, ‘What would the Victorians have done?’,” says Lyons. “Natural surfaces can be much easier to keep clean. For example, we have a 100-year-old wooden kitchen table, which I painted and waxed. Every now and then I sand and wax it again when wiping clean isn’t quite enough.”
Your turn
Which of these tips did you find useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more inspiration to create a beautiful, child-friendly home? Don’t miss A Stylish Home With Kids? Here’s How
Try not to worry too much about the inevitable mess and toll on furniture, and the surfaces that your tiny person will cause. Most kitchen tables can take quite a battering once you hit weaning and beyond.
“Choose a stylish table cloth to protect your kitchen or dining room table from food spills and craft mess,” says Spencer. “There are so many colours and designs to choose from and they can be changed as often as you like.” That said, a table cloth isn’t the only approach.
“I often think, ‘What would the Victorians have done?’,” says Lyons. “Natural surfaces can be much easier to keep clean. For example, we have a 100-year-old wooden kitchen table, which I painted and waxed. Every now and then I sand and wax it again when wiping clean isn’t quite enough.”
Your turn
Which of these tips did you find useful? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more inspiration to create a beautiful, child-friendly home? Don’t miss A Stylish Home With Kids? Here’s How
A comfortable armchair will get so much use when you have a baby, whether you’re feeding or providing a nice chest to sleep on. Dominique Lyons agrees, but warns that open-weave fabrics such as linen will absorb cooking smells more.
“Leather can be good, as you can wax it and wipe it clean,” says Lyons. “Cotton covers you can bung in the wash are really handy, too.”
She also warns that babies will climb up on armchairs once they’re big enough, so you might want to have an alternative piece of furniture lined up to swap it with for a while, until climbing is a safe game, to save you always needing to keep an eye on it.