There’s nothing like big plastic door knobs and cabinet latches to put a total buzz kill on your interior design efforts. I speak from experience all. But instead of lamenting over all the ugly it takes to keep your kiddos safe,  take these 10 tips into consideration from the Queen of making child proof look chic. Amanda Barnes Interiors knows a thing or two and her latest nursery? See even more captured by Alyssa Rosenheck Photography plus the full home tour here. Whether you are painting the walls white, taupe or a dark hue, putting paint with an eggshell finish on the wall is the most durable option in areas where little hands can reach. With a damp sponge, you can usually wipe off the remnants of your little artist’s work. Often times kids furniture can be pricey and unsightly. Instead of spending a lot purchasing a short-term kids dining or art table, consider investing in an end table that matches the rest of your home. Paired with a few kids chairs, this end table can be a magical touch to your kitchen or playroom without letting all the pricey primary colored kids furniture take over.

Once they outgrow the table, you can reuse it another room. So much joy for families is shared in the kitchen. An innovative way to encourage your mini chefs to hone their culinary skills is to have a removable stool top built into your bottom kitchen drawer. When it’s removed, the drawer functions as a standard storage space. When secured into place, it makes for a fabulous stool in the heart of your kitchen (100 lb weight limit). When upholstering areas that are frequented by littles, a smart textile option is an outdoor fabric or a pleather that stretches nicely and feels just like leather. Anything that can be thrown in the wash or wiped down with a wet cloth is pretty indestructible! Moving your baby from a crib to a bed can be daunting and expensive. Most kids furniture is pricey so consider purchasing a full or queen sized bed that they can use for many years to come. You can still use kids linens on bigger beds and mattress protectors come in all sizes. Have a kiddo who loves to run but you want to avoid those hideous door knob covers?

This amazing invention from Safety Innovations slides quickly and seems to disappear completely out of sight. As a designer, I loathe all the unattractive safety contraptions we bring into our home. However, as a parent, I insist on them. Without the added easy grip wand, even adults may miss the latch and find themselves struggling to escape! Couches are a big investment. For clients with kiddos (and clients who allow eating outside the kitchen), I encourage them to consider buying a couch made with a blend of fabrics. A blend wears better over time and handles stains (or crayons in my home) the best. I also encourage them to take the couch fabric sample home first to spill a few things on, toss it in the wash and see how it fares before we commit to buying anything. A great way to show off your kid’s inner Renoir without the cost of custom matting and framing is this clever Ikea Hack. Using the curtain rod and coordinating hook, you can easily showcase their hard work. Even better, you can change it out regularly with almost no work involved.

DIGNITET Curtain wire – IKEA RIKTIG Curtain hook with clip – IKEA Renovating and want the look of marble without the fear of etching and staining? mayfair light blue cotton damask curtain panelA sure bet is always Caeserstone which is an engineered quartz stone. curtains vaal triangleThis stone is resistant to scratches, cracks and stains. ikea-dignitet-curtain-wire-and-clipsIt’s also non-porous, doesn’t require any sealing and comes in a variety of gorgeous finishes.ikea wilma red curtains Hands down, the best invention for a parent (and homeowner) ever is the good ‘ol dustbuster!

In the time it takes you to pull out your vacuum, the dustbuster can handle crumbs, dirt, food scraps, fur baby hair and just about anything else you put in its way. In my home, we swear by this one and keep it handy in the kitchen. It’s an investment but worth every penny. WARNING: The addiction is real. Remanufactured Dyson DC34 Yellow Cordless Handheld Vacuum Photography: Alyssa Rosenheck Photography | Design : Amanda Barnes Interiors | Nursery Rug: Anthropologie | Nursery Floor Tile : Tabarka Studio | I recently turned my office into a shared office and art space for my four-year-old son. It has not only provided him with a space to create, it has fostered his creativity. He wants to sit down and draw and color and “be an artist” now that he has a space to do it. I think having his supplies within reach and having a place to display his creations has really helped him enjoy it more. And it gives me a much needed break from the constant entertaining. So I thought I would share some tips for how to create an art space for your kids.

I used to sit Charlie at our kitchen table when he wanted to color. And he almost never seemed interested. I don’t know if it was because it was where he sits to eat, or if the idea just didn’t seem like that much fun. But now that he has a desk and chair that are his in a space that is designated for creativity, he absolutely loves to paint and draw. Because I was working with such a small space, I wanted to work with clean and simple furniture. These white campaign desks were perfect because they create uniformity and anchor the room along the walls, while the acrylic desk chairs basically disappear—giving the room a bigger feel. Plus, they’re so cool.Keeping everything in reach makes it easier for little ones to create art on their own and be more independent. This wouldn’t work for a two year old that still draws on the walls and needs more supervision, but for a four year old (or older) it’s perfect. That wall paper holder is key—it keeps paper easily accessible for him, is out of the way being on the wall, and has a shelf on top for displaying special projects.

I also love the cubby cups for storing all of his colorful art supplies (which can also be hung on the wall if you want more desk space). But my favorite detail is the color reference drawers. They add fun pops of color and a retro “card catalog” feel that I love, and I don’t know a kid that doesn’t love little drawers to hide their treasures. Color is fun and interesting to kids (and adults!). It also fosters creativity. By adding color in the decor, the arrangement of art supplies, or other fun little details in the room, you help to spark the fun and creativity. And it makes for a cheerful and happy room as well. Get creative in the art supplies you provide them with too. I organized ours by color and added fun things like washi tape, feathers, and pipe cleaners to help them think outside the box when it comes to projects.Giving your kids a place to display their art makes them excited to create it and proud of their work. I rotate my son’s art every few days and let him pick new pieces to display on the wall.

I also put up his favorite pieces that he brings home from school, and store the other special pieces in colorful plastic bins. I utilize the shelf on top of the paper holder for heavier pieces and a cork board as well, both from The Land of Nod. But my favorite way to display his art is this DIY hanging art display. It’s an IKEA hack using their Dignitet curtain wire. Step 1: Measure and mark with a pencil where you want the ends of the art display to go. Use your measuring tape and level to make sure it is straight.Step 2: Measure the length between the two ends with a measuring tape, then measure out that much of the Dignitet wire so you know where to cut.Step 3: Using your wire cutters, cut the length of the wire to match your display area.Step 4: Hang your Dignitet, following the instructions that come with it from IKEA.Step 5: Add clips and display your art!Note: Cutting the wire can be a little bit tricky if you’ve never done it before. Try not to let your ends separate or it becomes hard to insert them into the mounting pieces that hold the wire to the wall.