Some time ago, I was able to visit a factory in Sweden where very good box-spring beds are made. Impressive sleeping machines whose owners can stretch out on many layers of selected natural materials. At the end of the tour, I asked the nice Mr. Mattress Stuffer what would happen if a child had a, well, night-time mishap in such a miracle bed? The Swede diplomatically searched for words, but the answer was clear: it wouldn't be so good, at least if it happened more than once. A bed for the price of an SUV, ruined by a bit of children's pee.

Perhaps an extreme, but the message is in line with what I've noticed with myself and parents who are friends: until the children are out of the house, nothing is purchased that could be sensitive, expensive or, God forbid, simply beautiful. And we're not just talking about the children's room, but all rooms. Everything has to be multifunctional, antibacterial and made of thick spruce and pine wood or, even better, cleanable with a Kärcher. You say goodbye to the existing furniture as soon as you return from the delivery room: goodbye, you white sofas, you delicate floor lamps, you arthritic antiques - you'll soon be gone! A living environment with children must first and foremost be practical and secondly bearable. And despite these measures, a child hears the phrases a thousand times: Don't drink on the sofa, don't draw on the table, don't hop on the armchair!

I suggest we stop this nonsense tomorrow. Of course it's right to teach children the value of things. But even more important, I think, is aesthetic education - then the value of things will eventually become clear all by itself. (And maybe they won't be building such horrible detached houses in 30 years' time). So they should also experience live how their parents furnish their homes beautifully. They should be allowed to have a say when it comes to sofa colors or wallpaper, and learn to formulate why they like the old chest of drawers better than the new one. They should eat from the same china as their parents and not have to drink from plastic forever. They should grow up with art and design and with unreasonably large bouquets of flowers in the hallway. They should watch a table being built or a horsehair mattress being stuffed. And above all: they should realize that a beautiful home makes you happy. Especially with a few stains on the sofa and scuffs on the parquet. Because they say nothing other than: People live here.