Flooring for Families: Where to Get Stylish Kid-friendly Tatami Mats

Moving to Hong Kong often means forgoing a playroom – we simply don’t have the room. For most families, playtime will happen in your main living area, so it’s essential to baby-proof the space. We find out more about Momomi’s new range of stylish tatami mats from Japan that are a perfect soft flooring option for families – plus details of a special offer for readers.

Baby-proofing your home

This isn’t always easy, according to Canadian expat mum Wendy, who has two young children. “It’s very challenging to baby-proof a home in Hong Kong. Generally, the spaces are very small, with lots of corners and edges. That means it’s hard to keep your eye on little ones and ensure they’re safe.”

It can also be an unsatisfying process for anyone who is design-conscious. After all, there’s nothing stylish about corner protectors and foam mats, no matter what pattern is printed on them!

Living room furniture: Soft-touch tatami mat in Chocolate, from $700, Momomi — Soft-touch tatami mat in Chocolate, from $700, Momomi

Wendy and her husband are in the throes of renovating their flat. “We’re at a stage now where the kids are getting a bit older so we’re trying to make our space reflect more about us, as opposed to two people who have kids.

Momomi’s Soft-touch Tatami Mats

Instead of foam mats, they’ve upgraded to a new soft flooring option from Japan, a soft-touch tatami mat by Momomi. These mats are now in Hong Kong and offer all the protection of foam mats, but they feel and look like a regular rug, plus they’re stain-resistant. It’s a brilliant design hack for families with young children.

Wendy says that her kids loved the Momomi mat right away. “They could roll around on it, they played blocks on it and we also had a cuddle and story time,” she says. “It was great because we got rid of the ugly foam mats and instead introduced flooring to our home that fits in aesthetically with what we want.”