There’s no shortage of good quality children’s furniture on the market nowadays and there’s enough choice to suit most budgets and tastes.
‘Even so,’ warns Allison Crisp, one of our family experts, ‘choosing the right children’s furniture can be a tricky business. Aside from the safety issues that you have to bear in mind, there’s the fact that you aren’t just buying to suit your own taste. You have to keep your children happy too, and for a number of years to come. That means that unless you are prepared to keep replacing the items you buy, you should probably avoid too many themed creations. They might be devoted to a particular cartoon character now, but in a few years they are likely to find it childish and embarrassing.’
Naturally, alongside mental growth, you also have to allow for physical growth. Will bigger clothes still fit in that dainty chest of drawers? Will they still be able to sit on that small chair in a few years? Will they want to?
Moving through the ages
Plenty of furniture manufacturers take such issues into account and provide items that can be converted as your children’s needs change. There are cots that can be changed into beds, designed to last from infancy well into adolescence; and bunk beds that can be part converted into a desk for homework. Then there are nappy changing tables that turn into chests of drawers; and cupboards for toddler clothes that can later be altered slightly to store games and music. ‘Whatever you want, our experts will be able to direct you to the cleverest and most practical items within your budget range,’ Allison explains.
It’s a good idea to keep furniture plain to help ensure it remains useful as your children grow. ‘If a piece is tasteful and neutral it’s far more likely to age better. There’s also the fact that it will be easier to match it with other items as your child’s requirements change. It’s far easier to find a plain pine computer desk than a bright pink one, for instance.’
Making it unique and making it last
Plain furniture has the further advantage that it is easily personalised. In the past, our members have had a lot of fun allowing their children to add their own decorations. ‘Of course, there’s a certain amount of risk involved there,’ says Allison, ‘but some of our members find that it’s part of the pleasure. Plus, they can always redecorate in a few years. Setting your children loose on their furniture like this might sound a bit reckless – but it makes sense when you consider how much punishment the furniture is likely to endure over the years anyway.’ Call us for more ideas of creative ways that you and your children can work together to make their furniture unique.
Bearing that in mind, one of your primary considerations when buying children’s furniture should be durability. ‘It’s got to be tough if you want it to last,’ says Allison Crisp, one of our home experts. ‘Beds have to be strong enough to endure a bit of jumping around, desks are likely to be scribbled on, and cupboards will end up covered in stickers. So go for good old-fashioned solid wood, which generally wears best and can absorb a fair amount of mess while still looking okay. It’s best to avoid glass at all costs – a sheet of this on a dressing table or desk might seem like a good way to protect the surface – but it presents a major risk of breakage.’
Safety first
As far as safety is concerned, there are several other things to watch out for. As with any furniture purchase, you have to be mindful of general build quality and robustness. If you’re buying chairs you should also consider how likely they are to tip over. You need to be able to firmly anchor shelving and storage units. ‘Be careful about anything with a big lid,’ says Allison. ‘Small children love hiding in toy chests, for instance. This is fine, as long as they can get out as easily as they can get in. And beware of hinges that can catch small fingers.’
Particular attention should be paid to bunk beds. These are a real asset when space is limited, and you have children in the same room or are likely to have sleepovers. But they do present a few safety concerns. Ladders need to be solidly built and securely attached, rails shouldn’t be loose and you need to make sure that the mattress you use fits the bed precisely. Fortunately, there are stringent British safety regulations with regards to bunk bed design, so dangerous ones are now quite rare. When buying second-hand furniture in any form you should be certain that it complies with these regulations - call one of the team to discuss this in more detail.
Another of the key elements of bunk bed safety is making sure your children understand the dangers, especially relating to fooling around on the ladder, jumping on and leaning over the edge of the top bunk. Indeed, helping them to understand safety issues with all furniture is one of the most important things you can do. In all cases, our experts will also be able to advise you about the most suitable products, so call us to discuss what you’re looking to buy for your children.
