Can you really raise three energetic kids in an apartment?

When it comes to apartment living, I honestly never thought I would be a taker.

About 4 months ago Mirvac offered my family and me an opportunity to try apartment living in their newly built apartment block on Claremont Oval called The Grandstand. My initial reaction was, well clearly they haven’t met my kids, there’s no way that my super energetic children will survive in an apartment, hell I won’t survive! But before turning the offer down I started to ask around. I figured apartment living with kids is not a new concept, I just had to get my bearings and some advice from the people that had done it before.

A massive drawcard for me was the location. I spent my teenage years growing up in a house literally around the corner. I also owner built a renovation around the corner just before I had Autumn. I had my first two children there and part-owned and worked in our restaurant Beluga in the Claremont Quarter. Safe to say I knew the area like the back of my hand so at least from that aspect I was sure we would be entirely comfortable there, it was bringing my three kids into a three-bedroom apartment that I had to wrap my head around.

Eventually, I said yes. I was ready for a new experience and totally up for the challenge.

I knew a huge factor in our move would be making a commitment to live a minimalist lifestyle and until I moved into the apartment, I kind of thought I already was. We got rid of everything we didn’t need and off we went. It’s such a cathartic experience selling and chucking your belongings, the kids got right into it too.

Eventually, I said yes. I was ready for a new experience and totally up for the challenge.

Our apartment in Claremont is three bedrooms. I don’t have a study (I work from home) and I don’t have an extra ‘kids space’ so I had to plan out the best way to make this work for us. The boys love to share a bedroom so I gave them the biggest of the rooms and installed bunk beds to save on space. I also purchased a TV screen and set their room up like a little kids loungeroom. This was something I ummed and ahhed about as I’m not a fan of TVs in the bedroom. My decider was that it was just a screen and can only be used when streaming from my laptop which gave me total control of when they could use it. There’s also a little nook where I can have my printer and file all my work out of the way.

One of the massive game-changer for me was being on Claremont Oval itself. Not only can the kids use the oval anytime they want but my balcony has the most amazing green outlook, it honestly makes everything seem too much more expansive. With the weather warming up Autumn has utilised Claremont Pool a few times already, she loves swimming laps. Half her luck hey!

We walk into the Claremont Quarter on the reg and quite often jump on a train to either the city or Fremantle but what I most like about this place is that when I finally get a few days to myself, I feel like I’m living in absolute luxury. I feel really safe and the apartments are so easy and quick to clean.

My honest opinion on apartment living with kids? Here are my big three points to consider.

– Embrace the minimalist lifestyle! When you live in a big house it’s so easy just to find somewhere to chuck everything. It’s so liberating to really only have what you need.
– Be really selective about where your apartment is. The oval is a game-changer for us. My kids are old enough to let themselves up and down the lift and they love having a footy oval as a backyard. I’m not sure how we would go without the ability for them to run around whenever they want.
– Set the bedrooms up as little sanctuaries. We all need a place to retreat to and if I’m having a wine with a girlfriend and we want to chat and listen to tunes, it’s great that the kids have their own space to chill out in and let’s be frank, leave us alone for a minute!
– Be creative with your space. Define each space and set it up accordingly. When you live in a small area it’s important that everything has a place. The more specific about where things go and what space is used for the easier it is to keep your apartment tidy and the kids will be able to take the reigns with that too.

In summary, if you follow my Instagram account @rayneembley you will know that we haven’t moved, we are still here. That has to say something right! Well, clearly it does. We enjoyed our short stay so much that I asked to stay on and we signed a lease.