Families in Mind Design ~ Family-Friendly Interior Design

My name is Penny Miller and I’m so glad you’re here.

I’m an Interior Designer and Stylist based in Kew (Melbourne, Australia), with a background in child development and family mental health. I’m also a mum to two young children, so I know how much the way a home functions can shape everyday family life.

I specialise in helping families create beautiful and functional homes on a budget and without the overwhelm. I’m a specialist in curating environments that support regulation, sensory needs, independence, and connection, especially for children who experience the world more intensely.

Alongside my design work, I’m passionate about helping parents understand how thoughtful, neuroaffirming home environments can reduce everyday friction and help families thrive.

Why should you work with me?

There are a few things that set me apart from other interior designers. I am committed to providing advice and solutions that are sensible, budget-friendly, and practical and which meet the needs of the average Australian family, including those with additional needs.

budget-friendly

I work with Australian families to provide in-home solutions to their chaotic homes but without the crazy price tag. I proudly use low-cost brands like IKEA to solve furnishing dilemmas without breaking the bank.

super practical

My services focus on creating practical, durable, and comfortable home environments. My design choices are suitable for families, avoiding impractical suggestions such as white fabric couches or exorbitantly priced items.

meets your needs

My goal is to solve the everyday problems faced by busy and average Australian families through thoughtful home design. I do this by drawing upon your values and priorities and imparting my wisdom to ensure your home is working for both the children and adults within.

NEW MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY - LAUNCHING 17th MARCH 2026

The Developing Home is a supportive community for parents who feel their home could help their child more.
Through practical guidance and shared conversations, we explore how small environmental changes can support regulation, independence, and calmer family life.

as featured on...

how can I help you?

I offer three core services, starting with a low-cost, remote Zoom consult, working up to something completely customisable tailored to your needs. In all of my services, there is a thread of child-friendly design woven throughout, which means my advice and suggestions will intentionally cater to home life with busy, active and curious children. Read on to discover how my different options can transform your home into a space where your family can thrive.

remote mini service

A 60-minute virtual consult to workshop any area of your home – from bedrooms and homework nooks to hallways, bathrooms, or shared living spaces – with practical, budget-friendly changes that boost functionality, wellbeing, and development.

one-off walkthrough

In-home troubleshooting for 90 minutes. I come to you and see what you’re working with. You get solutions and action steps ON THE SPOT, plus a summary of our consultation emailed to you afterwards complete with hand-sketches, links to buy any mentioned products, and a plan.

Full design service

Comprehensive interior design solutions tailored to create cohesive and personalised family homes. Includes colour and style advice, improving room layouts, selection of furniture and furnishings and help connecting with trades.

Curious but not sure if I have a solution for your needs? Book a FREE 15-minute Discovery Call. Let’s chat and create a plan tailored just for you – I only work part-time and have lots of projects on-the-go, so secure one of my limited spots today!

Not ready for a 1:1 personalised service? Here are some ways you can learn on a low budget, in your own time!

DOWNLOADABLES

If you like highly-sought-after information, packaged neatly into free and low-cost digital downloads, then check out my resources page. There are webinar replays on how to set-up your living room to accommodate kids, e-books for where and how to shop smarter, and even a guide for designing spaces for neurodiversity.

BLOG

In addition to regularly posting content on my Instagram page, I love sharing my thoughts and evidence-based information on topics relating to development and design over on my blog. Find topics such as “Why should I hire an interior designer?” and how to choose the right colours for a family home.

want to get something for the kiddos?

My children’s book, “My Home Has a Heart“, takes children on a journey to explore the profound connection between their actions and their home’s wellbeing.

Written with children aged 3-7 years in mind, the story follows a little girl as she learns that there are things that make her home feel sad, worried and stressed. She will discover that she has the power to be responsible, respectful and kind, and this will make her home’s heart happy!

previous australian homes that I've helped design

ALPHINGTON, VIC

Achieving a child- and adult-friendly aesthetic:

This client didn’t know what their style was or how to make their adult preferences suit their children’s spaces. From our work together, we were able to narrow down the colours and aesthetic they were drawn to, which informed my design choices going forward. This Colonial-inspired style embraces earthy tones with strong accents of blues and oranges and draws upon eclectic patterns to create interest. The personality combined with the grounding colours results in a cool and calming vibe, suited to adults and kiddos alike.

I prepare concept boards like these for every project, which helps to make sure we start on the same page.

hear from my previous clients

Let’s look at what other Australian families have had to say:

After some significant changes in our world, including a new home and the addition of two beautiful children, we were looking to invest in some new pieces and ensure that our home was practical, safe, stylish as well as being a true reflection of us. We were unsure about our own style and with a newborn, we were also time poor, so we outsourced to Penny. And gosh, we’re so glad we did! She listened to us, put together Pinterest boards, worked within our agreed budget and made the entire process so seamless. We really appreciated her design skills, eye for detail, practical thinking, open communication and flexibility. We absolutely love the finished product and would highly recommend her ❤️

We moved into our family home and were overwhelmed at the task of planning, decorating, and utilising the furniture we had for our growing family. As a new mum I knew I wanted to buy pieces that would last but also that I would not be precious about with grubby fingers! Penny was able to envisage and cohesively piece together ideas and items, taking into consideration our older styled house and layout. Penny worked with the items we had and the style we wanted for our home recommending complementary pieces that were not only affordable but beautiful. The mood boards were so helpful to show me see how everything just worked! Penny was always available to bounce ideas off and able to help us prioritise what we wanted to complete first and always having guidance or advice for our growing family and what we might need for the future. Our home is slowly feeling homely and we can’t thank you enough! I would recommend her service to anyone who doesn’t know where to start and needs some advice on making family friendly homes!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I desperately needed assistance after moving house with infant twins, a toddler and another young child. Safe to say my brain was mush. Penny asked all the right questions to ensure the spaces she designed would actually work for us. She used any furniture and accessories we already had and worked with them, allowing us to save money and only purchase items we really needed. What I loved most was that Penny designed spaces for the children that were absolutely gorgeous and CHILD FRIENDLY too! Her knowledge of not only interior design but of the needs of children and families, makes her a perfect choice for anyone wanting or needing assistance in this area. Friendly, reliable and at a good price point!

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upcoming masterclass

From Chaos to Calm: Creating Homes That Support Learning and Life Skills

If you’re done with messy rooms, frantic afternoons and kids who won’t settle into homework… in 90 minutes I’ll show you how the right environment can change that, and what to do right now.

With 10+ years in child development and family-focused design, I’ve helped dozens of families go from chaos to calm. Join me to learn how to make simple, evidence-backed changes that reduce stress and build lasting confidence, for your child and for you.