Compromise is the key in living areas, as no matter how lovely your children's bedrooms, they will want to drag favourite toys to the place where you are. So relax and enjoy the Sunday papers on the sofa, knowing that Teddy and his friends will be sat beside you.

The Beano wallpaper denotes a child's play area. Puzzles, paints, soldiers and dinosaurs are among the most popular toys and will never be out of fashion.

Develop a new skill in tiptoeing through the building blocks while balancing a magazine and a hot cup of coffee and realise that the remote control will never be where you left it. Do all of these things in the knowledge that when the time comes, the toys can be put away and the room can return to being the calm place in which you relax with friends and family.

This compact kitchen was purposefully given a bold treatment to define the space. The merry spice tins are family heirlooms and continue the bright hues of the vinyl gloss walls and upper units.

Of course you may want to have a room that is simply off-limits to children and their many accessories. But this may pose practical issues of its own, not to mention lots of admonitions.

I don't believe in hiding precious pieces that give comfort and personalise a home. After all, communal spaces are there to be enjoyed by everyone. Indulge your senses and appreciate all those things that give your home its soul, but do so on the understanding that things can get broken. The chances are if you relax and enjoy your living space, your children will too.

An enclosed sun porch is used for storing everything from art supplies to toys. It's a good place for a snack and all those activities that bring kids traipsing indoors and out.

It's not so much about what you have in your home, but more your attitude to it. There are many ingredients that go together to make a space work, with or without children.

Colour, pattern, texture and lighting add to the interest, warmth and comfort and ultimately determine the mood of a room. By introducing elements of your child's personality through artwork and elevating its status with beautiful frames, you give your wall space colour and your child confidence.

A child's room can be minimal and fun. The spare look of the bed frame made from recycled scaffolding poles is livened up with a vintage trunk, toys and vibrant colour on the rug and walls.

And by decorating in a way that appeals to you, creating a home that is true to yourself and your family, it will be all the more appealing to your children.

A hall is what makes sense of your life. This little niche in the hallway holds both precious and everyday objects, as everyone should have a place to lay their keys and pick up a little inspiration at the same time.