look at some of the Smartstrand cpts from Mohawk. They are very soft and stain resistant but come in a frieze style so they will look good. Most kid proof type carpets you will find are made from olefins which are scratchy. The softest nylon is Tactesse but its not totally stain proof. you may have to get a carpet remnant then just have it bound. I doubt any area rugs you will find are made from these fibers.

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate all your suggestions. I guess my downfall is that I'm a 'researcher' - I have to see ALL my options out there before I make a decision. Definitely no impulse buys for me - ha! But then of course, it drives dh bonkers because it takes me FOREVER to make up my mind! :) I was actually thinking of a warm cream or light yellow. Dh really wants to paint the floor sage green (which I don't really love, but I rarely let him have his way - haha). So do you think a pale yellow would look ok with a sage green floor? Does anyone have examples or pics of a nice soft yellow (I don't want anything TOO yellow). teacats, I love your art idea! I do really like some of those animal prints or we might even try to paint some ourselves. I was definitely thinking of having dh build a bookcase w/ colorful bins for storage, then I also want to have an arts/crafts area (with a dry erase wall to write on) then also a kitchen/baby doll area, reading nook w/chairs, sports area w/balls & bikes, and then a dress up area too. My problem is I have so many ideas - I just have trouble executing them all! Does anyone know of any cute kids rugs (bright stripes or some type of motif) for under $200? Thanks again for all your help!

This is already so helpful. Thank you all! Sammy, YES about the cords. There are two in this room that I need to cap or otherwise "disappear." To answer your question, the brick is old and really sharp. (I know that sounds weird, but it's true.) I wonder if NoSoccerMom's idea about bookcases/storage could happen around it. My3Dogs, that's a great question about the radiators. We haven't had to use the heat yet, but we might soon! I'm hoping that they don't get too hot, as the covers don't touch the actual radiators much in the front. And good news is that the covers have backs, so I'm hoping they're not falling hazards. Cawaps -- Great ideas! Thank you! Yes, a new rug is in order! I'm torn between going with one of those foam square things in fun colors and keeping it more "grown up" with a low-pile rug. Either way, I'll try pulling the wall color into the floors without getting things too dark.

I've got the sofa downstairs now. I covered it with what I had on hand - a huge black blanket and a smaller white one. The red thing behind the sofa is a mattress. It's a safe place for the baby to sleep at night (I block the way out). Now I'm wondering if it makes sense to buy a table and a lamp for the armchair. This part of the living room could be the actual 'living' part, while the other side is dedicated to children and their play. How about some kind of a wall art? I'm sorry, and it probably sounds like I don't know what I want, but I would like this room to look more 'finished'. Do I expect too much? Maybe it would be best to wait for four or five more years and then redesign this space? But can I wait that long? I wish this house was arranged and I didn't have to worry about it all anymore! :( We've been living here for three years now and it upsets me that everything looks so awful. We don't even have a hardwood floor upstairs - just go with carpets on concrete floor. We are currently having a bathroom made, but imagine living all that time with temporary solutions :( There are only a few things that we actually bought for the house - the rest are hand me downs - nothing matches, everything old and not to my style. I'd like to turn this house to home at last. Maybe I should go to ikea, look at those timy flats they have there and order everything there is!!! I'm sorry I just needed to vent :(