While a regular desk is generally fine for older children, little ones really do best with a setup that’s in proportion to their bodies and suited to their needs. The ideal situation is a desk that’s on the smaller side but still provides ample space for coloring and working, as well as room for holding their supplies and other fun trinkets. Even if they outgrow this piece in a year or two, it’s worth some investment into a proper work area for their development. Luckily, many desks on the market cater to all of these needs and more. Plus, you can find solutions at a variety of price points. Whether it’s for homeschool, online classes, homework, or just for fun, these 10 kid desks will fit perfectly into kids’ mini (but busy!) schedules and can serve a wide range of age groups.
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When you are faced with renovating an apartment on a tight budget and only have about a week to do it, you ask your family for help, especially when they’re a designer! Musician Panda Elliot’s apartment was pretty bland before Natasha Elliot, an interior designer and the owner of Sentido José Ignacio, led the renovation. Since Panda didn’t have a ton of money left after purchasing the apartment, she was on a tight budget, and the refresh needed to go quickly: Natasha says they only had about one week to get it done!
“I was looking for a place in Palermo, an area in Buenos Aires with loads of restaurants, bars, near beautiful parks… I wanted to live in a neighborhood with a lively atmosphere where I had shops, supermarkets and friends and family at a walking distance,” Panda explains. “My older sister with her family live in a building in that area and suddenly the first floor was available for sale and I took the opportunity. Although it is a first floor, it has lots of light and the leaves of a beautiful tree right in front of my window. On the opposite side of the block I get to enjoy the beautiful view of a garden designed by famous Burle Marx. Having my nieces and nephews around sounded like a great idea, too!”
The kitchen got a huge face lift thanks to a lovely pink paint color splashed on the cabinets. Instead of a door closing off the space, a funky beaded curtain adds fun and a more airy look between the kitchen and living room. Panda says the new open kitchen makes cooking with friend even more enjoyable. A built-in shelf makeover in the living room gives the whole space a vibrant modern vibe thanks to green paint. While plenty of elements give the space a mature elegance, this is definitely the home of someone who doesn’t take design too seriously: A combination ping pong/pool tables used as a dining table transforms the living space into a playroom.
“I was also looking for a place I could call home,” Panda says. “That is why I was part of the renovating process and I kept things I treasure, like the two paintings on the living room wall, which belonged to my grandma.”
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Natasha – If we could chose only one word to define our style it would be eclectic. But certainly our style is based on the client. What is their own dream, how they want to live, their favorite colors, what inspires them. When artist Panda Elliot told us she had only a week to renovate her place, we knew it was tight, but we could make it. She came to us with a very tight budget so we spent most of the money on paint. She certainly wanted color, but wasn’t so convinced of the pink kitchen at first, however it ended up being her favorite room.
Inspiration:Panda – I am always inspired by art in all its forms and that influences my music, my style, my home, and my life.
Natasha – I am inspired by nature, by artists, by many travels around the world and their cultures, by books.
Favorite Home Element:Panda – The dining/pool/ping-pong table. It is fun, practical, and it also looks good in the apartment!
Biggest Challenge:Natasha – In this project time was a big challenge. We usually take more time to plan our home designs, but in this case, everything happened in a week.
Proudest DIY:Panda – The two glass coffee tables in the living room are certainly one of my fave DIYs. I took a picture of my eyes, I printed them and stuck them to the table glass. As a final touch I added LED lights underneath so at night when I invite friends over they look really cool.
Biggest Indulgence: Panda – My glass set for my daily whisky.
What’s your best home secret or advice?Natasha – My routine works when I split the house in different areas and clean each on a different day. My secret is vinegar: a great cleaner! And I am recently working on a homemade lavender antibacterial spray, which is great for surfaces and also all kinds of cloths: curtains, sofas, etc.
I think homes are made to be enjoyed. if a house looks too perfect sometimes it feels like it is missing life. I always use hangers inside kitchen cabinets to hang tea cups; it is a great way to organize and make the most of space. When shopping for tableware and utensils make sure they are pretty because they look great in open cabinets! Always have flowers and plants in your kitchen, candles in every room, blankets to relax on a sofa. Make every corner of the house an invitation to relax, play, laugh. A home has to be enjoyed with all of our senses.
What to people most get wrong about using color in their home?Natasha – In Argentina many people are afraid of using color, of mixing, and going for the unexpected. They prefer to stick to a white palette, which is great, but not for every space. Sometimes people think that adding a dark color might make spaces darker but in many cases it is the opposite. Color is life, it is vibration, it is personality.
What are the biggest tricks/secrets to using color in decor? Natasha – I think we chose colors because they represent images that make us feel good. Personally I love blue because it reminds me of the sea in Venezuela where I grew up. It brings to my mind beautiful skies. And I think there are no rules in matching as long as the combination looks good. Sometimes it is important to think what the focal point in a room is going to be… and, of course, there are patterns and textures that cannot be separated from color. You might choose only one color for a room but including several textures might make the room look very colorful instead of looking dull.
Favorite wall paint color of all time: Natasha – Wow, this is a hard question. I am used to mixing paintings myself and making my own colors. It totally depends on the house and its location, how much natural light every room has, I could go on. But if I get to choose only one, it would be “Hague Blue” from Farrow and Ball.
Thanks Panda and Natasha!
This house tour’s responses were edited for length and clarity.
Adrienne loves architecture, design, cats, science fiction and watching Star Trek. In the past 10 years she’s called home: a van, a former downtown store in small town Texas and a studio apartment rumored to have once been owned by Willie Nelson.
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Name:Jackie Streusand, husband, and son Location: Clarksville — Austin, Texas Type of home: House Size: 1700 square feet Years lived in: 3 years, renting
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: We live in an old Craftsman style home in the heart of Austin, Texas. My husband has been renting this house for about 15 years and I moved in about four years ago. We’re now married, have a pup, and a son. This home has seen it all, from our engagement to the birth of our son. Yes, we did a home birth, but that is another story for another time. It is warm and colorful and filled with love.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Vintage, earthy, warm, Craftsman, eclectic
What is your favorite room and why? My favorite room is the “backroom.” It has a wall of windows that looks over downtown Austin. This room inspires creativity, is a natural gathering room, and houses all of our records. We spend most of our family time in the back room and it opens up to our son’s room so it can double as a playroom, too.
When I moved in with my husband I built us a dining room table which sits, you guessed it, in the backroom. The room is vibrant and colorful and just makes me happy!
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I found a piece of art at a vintage store of a naked woman sitting backwards on a chair. It sits on our piano and I just love it.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Fill your home with art and textiles you love. These details instantly warm up your space.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
The wall above your sofa is brimming with design potential, and it just takes a little imagination to reach it. Gallery wall? Geometric painted designs? Or maybe a fabric wall hanging? To inspire your own decorating endeavors, check out the nine living rooms from our home tours below with interesting things above the couch. From art arrangements to floating shelves, there’s a look for everyone.
This Philadelphia home has pictures covering the entire wall above the living room sofa, and it makes a statement to say the least. We love the vintage feel of the chosen art.
Why waste your time wallpapering when you can employ one large-scale work of art instead? Take a cue from Dee Speed’s New Orleans’ home and hang a colorful painting or print above your sofa to make a big impact in your living room.
Looking for a renter-friendly way to make a statement behind your sofa? Propped up vintage art, like this vignette we spotted in Mila Moraga-Holz’s Los Angeles abode, is every bit as eye-catching as framed art—no hammer or nails necessary.
If you thought oversized mirrors were reserved for bedrooms then think again. Not only does a large mirror above your sofa look super chic, it helps create the illusion of more space in a small living room, just like what we saw in this eclectic apartment.
(Image credit: as linked above)
Sure, decorative items look great above your couch, but have you ever considered the storage opportunity that wall offers? A sturdy floating shelf, like the one we saw in Jasna’s Canadian living room, helps anchor the empty area above your sofa, while also offering up some unexpected storage space.
5. An Interesting Textile
Whether it’s a rug, woven wall hanging, or a good old-fashioned tapestry, hang a unique textile above your couch to create a layered look in your living room, just like we saw in Breeze Giannasio’s Washington, D.C. home.
Searching for something a little more functional to fill the space above your sofa? Follow in Zeba Blay’s footsteps and employ a sleek floor lamp to center your couch and create some ambient lighting, like she did in her New Jersey rental.
Forget your boring old art prints and paintings. A handful of decorative objects, like the celestial metal sculptures Amelia Nicholas mounted above the sofa in her New York City apartment, offer a surprising spin on traditional living room art.
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When it comes to painting, it’s a safe bet that you fall into one of two camps of people: Those who feel like a kid in a candy shop when presented with rows of colorful samples, or those who feel debilitated by so many paint colors. There are literally hundreds — if not thousands — of options available, and trying to find the perfect shade while redesigning your home or DIYing a statement wall can be tricky. You can’t exactly bring all of your decor to a paint store or home center, so there’s a good chance the color you choose is going to look different when you bring it home and actually swatch it on your walls and then paint your room.
Luckily, times are a-changin’, and you can test out paint colors without so much as a trip to the store — or even whipping out your trusty old paint brush, for that matter. Multiple websites and apps have technologies that let you upload actual images of your rooms — or even use your camera in real time — to virtually try on colors before you buy and paint your space. While these functions aren’t a full substitute for swatching, you can get a pretty good sense about whether a color is totally off or in the right neighborhood, which can translate to time, money, and energy saved in the long run. Ahead check out these apps that’ll let you try before you buy and are a great starting place in your pursuit of the perfect color.
Who it’s for: Painters who want the most accurate at-home look Tool format: Mobile The details: Home Harmony allows you to upload a photo, browse a selection of Behr paints by color, and virtually test it out on your wall with just a quick tap of the screen. It’s the lighting features, though, that make this app feel next-level — you can apply filters to see what your chosen tone would look like under fluorescent, LED, or incandescent bulbs, plus several natural lighting options.
Who it’s for: Convenience-obsessed Amazon shoppers Tool format: Mobile The details: Virtually try and instantly buy with ColorPic, which lets you experiment with swatches from Prestige Paint and links directly to Amazon when you’ve found The One. Alternatively, if there’s a paint you’ve been eyeing from another brand, the app actually breaks down comparable options from Behr, Valspar, and more, so you can narrow your search (or get more inspo) while perusing Prestige’s lookalikes.
Who it’s for: Tech-savvy redecorators Tool format: Mobile The details: Real-time swatches, minus the paint brush — rather than depending on stagnant images of your space, Primer uses augmented reality technology to digitally impose colors right onto your wall. It goes beyond paint, too: give wallpaper and tile options a go, all available from the must-see curated product collection. You can even favorite your top choices and buy directly from the app, as well as share video previews to have friends weigh in.
Who it’s for: For the “just browsing” types Tool format: Desktop The details: While you can upload your own photo, Glidden’s simulation tool also has stock photos of different types of rooms that all look rather stylish, so you can simply peruse your options and get inspired before ever getting your space involved. Once you have decided on a color, you can order paint directly from the page.
Who it’s for: People exploring specific color palette options Tool format: Desktop The details: You can look through a wide range of Behr’s colors through its paint visualizer and add them to a project, which then suggests similar or complementary colors so you can form a palette you love. This app also allows you to review details about the paint colors, find similar shades, and buy samples or full gallons.
Who it’s for: People working on outdoor projects with wooden materials Tool format: Mobile or desktop The details: This paint visualizer helps you picture how different wood stains will look for projects like decks and patios. After selecting a project from the list and choosing the type of wood you have and the condition it’s in, you’ll have the chance to “try on” different wood stain finishes to see what suits your style and situation best.
Who it’s for: People looking to redesign and nail down a color palette Tool format: Mobile The details: The Home Depot’s app allows you to view how colors would look in certain rooms, but this platform also takes this visualization a step further. You can match colors from items like decor, accessories, and bedding, so you can ensure the paint shade you go with will complement your current setup perfectly.
Who it’s for: Fans of moodboards and those on the indecisive side Tool format: Mobile The details: Once logged into Benjamin Moore’s tool, you can upload a photo and test out different colors. You’re given the chance to choose up to five surfaces in your photo that you’d like to test the paint on, whether that be walls, a ceiling, a fireplace—you name it. If you come across a few shades you like or need to sleep on your decision, you can actually save your “Projects” and log back on later to view them.
Who it’s for: Fans of mobile-first tools and non-brand loyalists Tool format: Mobile The details: Snap a picture with your phone and upload directly to this app to access a variety of paint options from more than one brand. Paint Tester also allows you to manually go in and set up boundaries with “painter’s tape” and erase paint that spills over from the app’s autofill, so your rendering is as clean and accurate as possible.
Who it’s for: Paint and design enthusiasts Tool format: Desktop The details: Fans of paint chip walls will appreciate that you can scan through a virtual version of one in this app. You can also browse through curated color collections and color match from shots on your camera roll. If you’re just starting your color search, ColorSnap also has preloaded images of unique things, like plants and food from around the world, that you can pull inspiration from to begin building your dream palette.
Who it’s for: People who prefer a second opinion Tool format: Mobile The details: Thanks to its “edge-detect” system, this visualizer from PPG aims to prevent any weird colorfill and works to make your room look as realistic and true-to-life as possible. After you’ve compiled the colors that caught your eye, you can share them on Facebook, Pinterest, and through email to get your family’s and friend’s opinions before taking the plunge.
Melissa is a freelance writer who covers home decor, beauty, and fashion. She’s written for MyDomaine, The Spruce, Byrdie, and The Zoe Report. Originally from Oregon, she’s currently living in the UK.
