One family's DIY home makeover

There are no ifs, ands or buts about it – the way you use and decorate your home completely changes once you bring home a baby. Function immediately rules over fashion, and areas once destined for a home office or a guest room quickly becomes headquarters for bouncy chairs and baby swings, and later, for toy land.

Now that my boys, Jacob, 6, and Cooper, 4, are growing up, my desire to create both pretty and useful spaces has returned. My foyer, basement-turned-playroom and Cooper’s bedroom were all in need of a refresh. Here’s how we conquered the clutter and satisfied our need for more space.

Above: Sarah with Cooper (left) and Jacob (right)

A version of this article appeared in our September 2013 issue of Today's Parent with the headline “Room to grow,” pp.104-108.