When we set out to design our dining room, we wanted to create a place that would keep friends and family at the table for long conversations and belly laughs. The word “gather” was used often, as our dining room is the heart of our home, connecting the kitchen and dining room. We wanted it to be cozy with plenty of old photos that might inspire the telling of a story or two and we needed it to be a high-functioning place that would be inviting to adults and kids alike. Sounds like a tall order, right? Here’s how we made it happen!

1. We ditched our upholstered chairs.

In the summer, we usually have a group of people wrapped in beach towels running in and out from the pool so we wanted to find chairs that would hold up to wet bums and dropped pizza. We already had a set of two white metal cafe chairs that we loved so we bought four more on Overstock.com (on sale) for $100 a pair.

You can find similar chairs at Target or if you’re local to the Cincinnati-area, you may find them at Bargains and Buyouts for as little as $15 a chair according to Emily at Go Haus Go. We got the seat cushions at Big Lots for $8 a chair. To compare, a set of two Marian Metal Dining Chairs from Ballard Designs retails for $359 plus $59 per cushion.

2. Shhh. We bought our captain’s chairs in the lawn and garden department.

We knew we wanted to add something a little special to the mix and had been considering Ikea’s BYHOLMA armchairs but getting them to our house was a problem. We found and ordered this set of two wicker dining chairs from Target. They are comparable to Pottery Barn’s Palmetto All-Weather Wicker chairs, which are currently on sale for $347 each. The Target duo was only $239 and shipped for free. Plus, Target gets bonus-points for their excellent customer service! I cannot say enough good things about these chairs. They are super-comfy and easy-to-clean.

3. We keep kid-friendly toys within arm’s reach.

The locker baskets hold crayons, coloring books and chalkboard blocks and are kept where our four-year-old can easily reach them. We love to take things slow on Saturday mornings and linger around the table after breakfast to color or build houses. This also gives the kids something to do while I cook.

4. We got tricky with our lower shelves.

The items on the bottom two shelves only look like glass. We shopped places like Marshall’s and Home Goods for pretty plastic pieces that would blend well and hold up to constant rearranging by little hands.

5. The family photos inspire conversation.

I love that when we’re eating dinner, our daughter wants to talk about the family photos on display. We spent an entire morning swapping stories just because of a question she asked about one of the photos. To me, having a space where we’re face-to-face with our kids, telling stories and laughing is what it’s all about.

What tricks do you have for keeping your spaces kid-friendly?