Here’s an article about how you can involve your children in your home or apartment decorating before the crayons hit the wall…

Tyke-Proof Décor
New York Times
By Mitchell Owens

Q. I'm moving into a new apartment with my two young sons, and I'd like to have stylish rooms that we all can live in. Is this possible?

A. The most effective solution, of course, is boarding school, which may explain why so many houses in England keep their good looks.

But seriously, with so many grime- and spill-resistant fabrics on the market - not to mention family-accommodating modes of decoration - there's no reason to send the tykes away until graduation.

Indeed, there's no reason you can't have your sons contribute something to the design scheme, which would help foster pride of ownership. Large sheets of high-quality paper from an art supply store and enough watercolors to keep them busy for an afternoon can result in admirable examples of homemade Abstract Expressionism. (If color coordination is crucial, simply limit the range of watercolors.) Take the best of the results, have them identically matted and framed and hang them above the sofa in a large grid. More...