You may have absolutely fallen in love with the plush suede sofa set in a pale cream color or the elegant traditional style wood coffee table with the etched glass top, but if you have children under eight years of age (or you are currently expecting), you may want to consider purchasing furniture that is specifically kid-friendly. When there are young ones around, furnishing your home with expensive furniture can be a recipe for disaster. Let’s face it; no matter how well-behaved children are, they do tend to be generally rougher on things than adults. They don’t need a reason; just they’re kids and they like to bounce, bang on a tabletop with your wooden spoons like a drum and get the occasional “good” idea that it might be fun to make the wallpaper in the dining room a different color. Yes, accidents will happen, but you can create a home designed to be comfortable and practical for everyone, even the adults.

First and foremost, select darker colors for carpets, furniture upholstery and window treatments. Also choose fabrics and materials throughout your home that will be easy to clean. Avoid the obvious colors like white and cream, as well as pale pastels and lighter neutrals like beige and gray.

You don’t have to buy cheap items for the rooms of your home, but don’t plan on spending a lot of money for furniture that’s going to take a bit of a beating. Well-made furniture doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are things you can look for that will tell you if you’re getting a bargain or if it’s just not constructed properly. Well-made living room, dining room and bedroom furniture constructed from wood should use good materials and techniques, such as glue and clamp, dovetailing, dowels and screws instead of staples in the construction of drawers and cabinets. The piece of furniture should sit on the floor perfectly level (no rocking back and forth). Especially when purchasing dining room furniture, tables and chairs should have finishes that are non-toxic and are easy to clean with a damp cloth.

Select furniture that doesn’t have sharp edges, corners or angles. Keep furniture profiles simple so that nothing juts out or sticks up that might cause a small child to trip or get snagged. Particularly for kids eight and under, choose sofas and chairs that are lower to the floor; it will make them easier for children to sit in them.

Because you are buying furniture for a family that includes little ones, choose multi-purpose furniture that provides both seating and storage options such as benches, toy chests and ottomans.