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How to Buy
Children’s Furniture
Table of
Contents
Bedroom
Accessories
Play
Furniture
Rugs
Overview
INTRODUCTION
Children are the
most important part of your life, so furnishing their room deserves special
attention. It needs to be safe, comfortable, and functional. It should not harm
your children or place them in positions where they will be uncomfortable.
Therefore, always consider their height when shopping for furniture. The
furniture should also be sturdy, as kids often climb or jump on any piece of
furniture they have (especially the bed). Also, keep in mind that, just like in
life, children’s furniture should have a happy medium. It should not seem too
childish or too mature because your children would, respectively, either outgrow
it or not learn to appreciate it. Now that you found out about some of the
basics to keep in mind when shopping for children’s furniture, it is time to
discuss the different categories that kids’ furniture falls into.
BEDS
Beds are the
most essential part of your child’s room, as they will spend a plurality of
their time in them. Therefore, it is crucial that a bed fit your child’s needs
and interests. However, it is also important to take into consideration the
layout of the room. If there is little room, economically spacious beds would
work well. If there is too little furniture, on the other hand, purchasing a bed
that stretches out to take up a lot of space is a good idea.
Types
There are
many types of beds for your children’s room. They main ones are: panel beds,
bunk beds, daybeds, canopy beds, and sleight beds. Let’s take a closer look at
each type.
Panel Beds
These are the most common and
basic types of beds, but are nevertheless practical and functional. They consist
of a flat bed that may or may not have a footboard. They often come with drawers
underneath, which provides a great source of storage that does not take up space
in a child’s room.
Bunk Beds
Bunk beds are a very popular
choice and are often what people think of when they hear “kids’ furniture.” One
of the main reasons is that children’s rooms are often relatively small and
space is limited. So, bunk beds are a practical choice because they do not take
up a lot of space. Because they are so popular, there is a lot of variety in the
type of bunk beds that are on the market.
 Basic
This is the classical bunk bed
design. There are little to no ornate decorations, but it is still sturdy and
practical. It is available in twin-over-twin, twin-over-full, or full-over-full.
 Futon
This bunk bed features a futon
on the lower level and a bed on the upper level. Usually, the futon unfolds into
another bed, thus increasing functionality.
 Trundle
This bed is deal in situations
when space is significantly limited. The space beneath the bunk pulls out into a
bed when extra space is needed. This bed is also ideal if your child hosts a lot
of sleepovers, as it creates a convenient sleeping space. It is also known as a
pull out bed.
 Loft
This design comprises of a bed
hanging over either an open space or another bed perpendicular to the upper one.
The open space is often occupied by something that can be used for storage, such
as a desk or shelves.
When buying a bunk bed, make
sure that it is ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) certified. This
means that the bed will have safety precautions such as sturdy guard rails. The
space between them ensures that it is too small for a child’s head to be stuck
and too large for extremities such as hands and arms to be stuck within the
rails.
Daybeds
Daybeds are another functional
solution. They are in the shape of couches and, in the case of children’s
daybeds, usually unfold to become a bed. When buying daybeds, make sure that
they are sturdy enough to endure the jumping and climbing of children. This is
especially crucial when the daybed is in the shape of a couch because kids often
climb onto the back panel.
Canopy
A canopy bed is elegant and has
four poles coming out of its four edges with some type of covering over those
poles. The covering options are versatile and you can find canopy beds with tops
ranging from wood to drapes. Canopy beds are popular choice for young girls and
often have light, neutral colors that are perfect in a little girl’s room.
Sleigh
Sleigh beds feature scrolled
headboards and footboards. These beds are great to create a holiday theme in
your child’s room. A sleigh bed will make them think of Christmas and develop
their imagination by letting them think they are constantly riding in Santa’s
sleigh.
  BEDROOM ACCESSORIES
In addition
to a bed, your child’s room needs furniture, such as a
desk or a nightstand, that can be used for storing posessions. Often, these items are sold with the bed or are included
in it (such as a desk in a loft bed). If, however, you are buying these items
separately, they should match the bed so that your child does not feel uneasy
subconsciously. Though children are young, they can sense it when things “just
don’t seem right.” So, to be on the safe side, the furniture in a child’s room
should go well together both for aesthetic and psychological purposes. Items
that should be considered for a child’s room are a
nightstand, a
desk, or a
dresser. A nightstand is a great place for a night light or a stuffed animal to
keep your child comfort. Meanwhile, a desk would be great for a computer because
it is never too early to prepare your child for the ever
technologically-evolving world.
PLAY FURNITURE
When
children aren’t sleeping, they should be playing. That is why play furniture is
essential to any kids’ bedroom. Though the term “play furniture” is broad, three
things permeate the different playthings that children enjoy: a table and chair
station, a dollhouse or castle, and a foam or beach bag chair. These three items
are most common because they are safe, durable, and provide entertainment and
comfort for children.
 Table/Chair Combination
A children’s
table and chair is always a good thing to have in a room. It is the perfect
place for a child to sit and read, color, or enjoy a meal. It is not the first
thing that pops into mind when you think of “toy” but a table and chair is
essential to any kids’ bedroom. When purchasing, take your child’s height into
consideration. His or her feet should be able to touch the floor when he or she
is sitting in the chair, and the table should be sturdy and not too high off the
ground because kids like to climb and jump off of tables. Take color into
consideration because the finish should match the décor of the rest of the
bedroom.
 Dollhouse/Castle
A dollhouse
is the prototypical toy for a young girl, while a castle serves the same purpose
for a boy. Therefore, it is a good idea to purchase these for your little one.
These toys spark their imagination and allow them to create stories of
adventure. Girls would dream of princesses with their dollhouse, while boys will
imagine knights in shining armor and tales of chivalry and nobility when playing
with their castle. When buying these toys, make sure that they are
age-appropriate and do not contain parts that are small enough for your child to
swallow.
Foam/Bean Bag Chairs
This furniture is
both affordable and entertaining for your children. It is a most comfortable
place for them to relax while being safe and sturdy because it is difficult for
a little child to break foam. When purchasing foam or bean bag furniture, keep
in mind that it usually lasts 10 years, after which point it stops being
comfortable. Also, foam is rated by density, firmness, and resiliency. The
density rating is most telling when it comes to judging the quality of the foam.
The denser it is, the longer it will last and the more resistant it will be to
lose its shape. Density ratings range from 18-32. Resiliency, meanwhile,
determines the lifespan of the foam. If it has a high resiliency, it will last
you longer than the average time. Finally, the firmness is purely a matter of
taste. A rating of 5-7, for instance, equals the firmness of a pillow, while a
rating in the 40s represents the firmness of a rigid mattress. Bean bag chairs
are made of crushed polyurethane foam, so the same ratings and terms apply when
determining what bean bag chairs are right for your child.
  RUGS
Rugs are an
excellent decorative option to consider when wallpaper or paint is too much of
an economical burden. Children have favorite toys and cartoon characters, and it
is advisable to incorporate them into the furniture. However, these favorites
change, and it is much simpler to purchase a new rug than it is to re-paint a
room or re-apply different wallpaper. When choosing a rug, look for one that has
an interesting design, not just a color. These days, rugs are available with
anything from planets to bridges and are thus a great way to encourage your
child’s imagination. Just like design goals, characteristics to consider when
buying children’s rugs are different than that of the rugs of adults. Buying the
softest rug is a mistake. Lower rugs are better because they prevent slips and
also provide easier cleaning, as your child is sure to spill something on it.
The rug should be less than 1/3 of an inch and made of either nylon,
polypropylene, or olefin. It also goes without saying that the size of your
child’s room should be carefully considered when purchasing the rug. Rugs are
available in all sizes and styles, so nothing should be compromised due to a
lack of selection.
OVERVIEW
Now that you
know a little bit more about how to properly outfit your child’s bedroom, it is
time to start shopping around. Compare prices and quality of furniture until
quality, comfort, and price are at a perfect equilibrium.
TheKidsFurniture.com
provides a plethora of children’s furniture that will help you achieve this
equilibrium. It is high-quality, incredibly priced, and is sure to fit perfectly
in your home. |
