A home is more than just the beautiful things we have within it; it's a sanctuary, a backdrop for your life's unfolding story. I believe your home should nurture your well-being, reflecting your unique journey and evolve seamlessly alongside your changing needs.

"Will this style still work as my family grows?" or "I need a space that's both kid-friendly and stylish.” These are the questions I often hear. Designing for the future can be a challenge. How do you create a space that feels both timeless and personal, yet adaptable and deeply cherished? I often meet clients hesitant to invest, especially with children. They worry about spills, wear and tear, and the constant shift in needs, envisioning this picture-perfect home, yet feel overwhelmed by sticky fingers and ever-changing trends, this was probably me once too to be honest! But perfection is an illusion. A truly beautiful home reflects the lives lived within it, complete with all the beautiful imperfections.

Creating a home that gracefully transitions through life's stages requires careful planning and a focus on enduring and slow living design—a principle that guides my work. It's about creating spaces that are stylish, functional, adaptable, and filled with pieces that bring you joy and have lasting value. It's about embracing timeless design principles and understanding that our homes, like us, are on a journey, fostering connection and supporting our families through every phase of life.

FIVE steps to Create a Home That Grows With You

Creating a home that grows with you is entirely possible! It's about combining adaptable design strategies with pieces you truly love. Here are my FIVE key steps to guide you in creating a home that grows with you.

1. Embrace Multifunctional Spaces

Think beyond the traditional labels for rooms and consider how spaces can adapt to your evolving needs. Can your dining room effortlessly transition from family meals to a productive home office or a creative workspace? Can your living room easily transform into a guest room when needed? The key lies in choosing adaptable furniture. A sofa bed offers sleeping space without sacrificing style, while an extendable dining table accommodates both everyday meals and larger gatherings. Storage ottomans or bench seats provide extra seating and hidden storage for blankets or toys.

This approach emphasises creating spaces that are both beautiful and practical, maximising every square inch and promoting a slower, more intentional way of living. Think about how you truly use your home and design spaces that reflect your real life at home, not just an idealised version. For example, our playroom also serves as my piano room. While it's perfect for the children now, we envision it transitioning into a home office as they grow. Ultimately, designing multifunctional spaces is about creating a home that reflects your unique lifestyle and adapts to your ever-changing needs.

2. Invest in Durable & Washable Materials

Family life is beautifully messy, as I experience firsthand daily! Don't shy away from beautiful materials, but make smart choices for your home. For upholstery, opt for durable, easy-to-clean fabrics. Consider leather, known for its exceptional durability and easy wipe-down, or linen, which offers a relaxed yet sophisticated look and surprising resilience, especially in blends with other natural fibers. Wool is another great choice, providing durability and natural stain resistance—perfect for carpets or throws. I can personally attest to its resilience, having successfully cleaned berry smoothie spills and even squashed cereal from my wool throw and carpet!

For a more textured and robust option, choose a high-cotton blend. These natural fabrics are beautiful, durable, and preserve its appearance despite everyday wear. For walls, washable paint finishes in matte or satin finish, like the Dulux Wash & Wear range, allow for easy removal of fingerprints, artwork (yes I have had many kids artworks directly onto the walls or cedar!), or spills. Select hard-wearing flooring, such as engineered hardwood or luxury vinyl plank, to withstand the constant activity of a busy family home!

3. Prioritise Storage and Decluttering

Clutter can make family life feel overwhelming—something I can feel in our own home at times. An organised home is essential, especially as your family grows. Clever storage is key, whether you're building new or working with what you have. It's not about perfection, but rather ensuring everything has a designated space. Go beyond basic closets. If you're renovating, consider built-in solutions like shelving units, window seats with hidden storage, or custom cabinetry. If not, maximise your existing space! Use baskets on shelves for toys, or install floating shelves to display books or décor items.

To create a truly organised and beautiful space, follow my simple declutter steps below:

Edit: Start by editing your belongings. Decide what to keep, let go of, or donate. Consider the emotional value of your items and keep only what truly matters and tells your story.
Organise: Create simple, sustainable systems to manage and maintain the things you keep. Use baskets, bins, and dividers to create designated spaces for everything.
Elevate: Style and elevate your storage solutions to reflect your personal style and aesthetic. For example, use a mix of beautiful baskets with different textures to store toys in the playroom or files in the office.
Maintain: Make it a habit to maintain your organised space. Implement a "one in, one out" system and regularly donate items to keep clutter at bay.

Think about how your storage needs might change and choose adaptable options. Declutter regularly: a simple sort-out frees space and fosters calm. Keep what truly matters, the pieces that tell your story, and let go of the rest. And remember, you don't have to tackle your entire house at once! Start small—focus on a single room, a drawer, or even just a shelf. I have found taking it step-by-step prevents overwhelm and makes the process much more manageable, and its journey! I still have many cupboards I need to sort. It’s like washing, the gift that keeps on giving!

A playroom using a mix of beautiful baskets with different textures to store toys.

© Michelle Webb Interior Design 2025

4. Establish a Timeless Colour Palette

A neutral colour palette, like the calming tones often seen in my projects, provides a timeless backdrop that can evolve with your changing needs. Use these neutrals (think warm whites, soft greys, or muted greens) as the foundation for your walls and larger furniture pieces. Then, introduce pops of colour and fun pattern through accessories like cushions, throws, rugs, and artwork. These smaller, easily changeable items allow you to inject personality and current trends without committing to a complete overhaul every few years.

Then, you can layer in more saturated hues in specific spaces like kids' bedrooms, a home office, or even the laundry room. These pops of colour can reflect the energy and function of those spaces without overwhelming the overall design. This approach ensures your home feels fresh and stylish while maintaining a sense of calm and cohesion. This is a key element in creating a home that can adapt to different styles and personalities over time. A few of my favourite neutrals I have used in client projects or my own home:

Dulux Opononi | One of my go-to greige hues.
Dulux Midhurst Quarter | A beautiful warm grey, which we have in our playroom!
Resene Milk White | A clean white that adds freshness without feeling stark.
Resene Sea Fog | I love the versatility of this grey-tinted white, especially in rooms with ample natural light. We use it in our home and adore it!

5. Design Kid's Rooms That Grow With Them

Timeless design is key for children's rooms, which must adapt quickly. Avoid themed rooms that will soon feel dated and instead, create a foundation with muted, versatile colours and quality, long-lasting furniture. Invest in a good quality bed and dresser that can grow with your child, pieces that can transition from childhood to adolescence with ease.

Key Tips for Timeless Kids' Rooms:

Layer Personality Through Textiles and Accessories: The perfect way to incorporate their loveable characters or themes is through fun and colourful cushions, throws, and artwork. For example, instead of investing in a character-themed duvet cover that will quickly become outdated, opt for a timeless linen stripe duvet (like one from the Foxtrot Linen range). Then, add pops of personality with character-themed cushions and plush toys, or display their favourite figures on a floating shelf. This allows the duvet to grow with them, while the easily changeable accessories reflect their current interests.
Create a "Collected" Feel: Add character and depth by mixing vintage finds with new pieces, one of my favourite ways to elevate any space!
Strike a Balance: Blend playful and sophisticated elements to ensure the room feels both youthful and timeless.
Involve Your Child: Remember, their room is their 6wn sanctuary. Set a stylish foundation and then let them layer in the fun.
Add Cherished Pieces: Incorporate special items that reflect their personality and interests, things they will cherish as they grow. For example, in Ruby’s nursery, we framed beautiful artwork by her Great Nanas, which will grow with her and adapt as she gets older.

Furniture that can transition from childhood to adolescence with ease.
© Michelle Webb Interior Design 2025

In a world that rushes us forward, mindfully designing a home that grows with you is about embracing timeless simplicity. By layering these flexible design principles and surrounding yourself with pieces that have meaning—the well-crafted furniture, the understated textiles, the personal treasures, you're crafting a space for presence, a home where you can truly be yourself, a place to return to, a haven of peace, a home that grows as your family grows.

Here is to creating a home where we embrace the imperfections and find ways to maximise our spaces. I truly hope this has helped you to consider ways to make your home a space that grows with you.

Michelle x

Let’s create a calm and beautiful space that grows with you.

Contact Michelle Webb Interior Design today! With a focus on slow living and timeless aesthetics through design, we specialise in crafting interiors that promote well-being and foster connection in the home. Whether you reside locally in the Manawatu or are joining us from afar, our personalised design services are tailored to meet your unique needs.

Learn more