The basic pieces of kid furniture. .
- The bed - The most important piece of kid furniture. Whether you get a bunk bed, headboard only or complete bed, it's the mattress that's the most important. This is the beginning of the life of your child's posture.
- Clothing storage - A closet organizer is really handy, but not necessary. At least hang a rod low enough for your kids to reach easily, and get them hangers sized for their clothes.
- A dresser is a pretty standard piece of kid furniture, for storing folded clothes, especially the small pieces. And if you're tight on money and/or space, if you get one low enough, you can use it next to the bed instead of a nightstand, or to hold a TV.
- Nightstand - It's always handy to have a piece of furniture next to the bed for a lamp. And if it has drawers and/or a cupboard, it's great to store the most favorite bedtime books and toys, and even a flashlight.
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Toy storage - Books, toys and games all need a place to be stored where kids can reach them, and easily put them away. A toy box can double as a writing surface and a sitting surface.
There are many different configurations of the popular shelf units with the colorful plastic bins for you to choose from. When the kids are young, it's nice to have storage that you can close to hide the mess, such as cupboards or drawers.
Kid furniture pieces that would be nice
to have, but they can live without . . .
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Mirror - Although not really a piece of kid furniture, and not really necessary if they have a bathroom handy, kids always like to look at themselves in the mirror. Especially when they are role playing, or playing dress-up.
And there are baby safe mirrors too that you can put low so your baby can see in it. - Desk & Chair - Again not an absolute necessity if you have another place in the house for doing homework, but it's nice for the kids to have in their own rooms.
- Art/play space - You can save room by combining the desk & chair with the art space. There are many pieces of multi-purpose furniture. But on the other hand, if you have the room, there are some really nice kid furniture sized play table and chair sets.
Teen Furniture . . . .Dare to be Different!
As your child grows and matures so does his tastes. The closer they are to young adults when you are purchasing new kid furniture, the more you need to consider the longevity of the furniture. I know, that sounds backwards, but bear with me.
Are you furnishing their rooms with the intention that the guests will use this kid furniture when the kids move out, or are you buying them quality kid furniture that they can take to their first home away from home? This makes a huge difference in the quality and price you should be shopping for.
Read my article about what kind of furniture to get for your teens . . . .!
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Tips and Hints for Kid Furniture
Tips on Buying Wood Kid Furniture:
From Pop's Furniture
Solid Wood means that all exposed parts of the furniture are made of solid board, either softwood or hardwood lumber. No veneers or particle boards are used.
By following a seam to the end you can always identify solid board, where you will find the "end" grain. Veneers are glued over the edges to look like solid wood, but are always faced on the end and show no end grain.
Remember: "All-wood furniture" is not necessarily solid wood. Click Here for more information on this topic.
Wood or Plastic Kid Furniture?
There are many kid furniture items made from plastic. They are durable, fairly inexpensive and easy to clean. But I still prefer wood.
The reason is that wood can be repaired and repainted. Good wood furnishings can be purchased for not too much more than the plastic. Especially if you purchase them unfinished and do your own paint job.
Older wood pieces are also a good buy. Even if it's not classified as an antique, it's most likely made better than a lot of what you can purchase today, for the same amount of money.
However! The only drawback I see with plastic kid furniture, is it tends to fade and crack. If you want to purchase the plastic items, they too can be repainted with the new paints made specifically for plastic, but patching the cracks is a little harder. AND you get can some great second hand deals!
Top Reasons for Buying Your Furniture Unfinished
From Pop's Furniture
All wood furniture starts out as unfinished furniture. But a piece of unfinished furniture gives you more options with your decor and budget. Listed below are several reasons why.
- See What You Are Getting
When you buy a piece of unfinished kid furniture, you can see what you are getting. Does the wood have knots, discoloration, obvious weak points or other defects? With finished furniture you would not know until your new piece of furniture began to wear poorly. Unfinished manufacturers must use a higher-grade lumber in furniture production because they know they can not "hide" such defects under a finish. - Save Money
Purchasing a piece of kid furniture and finishing it yourself is almost always less expensive than purchasing an already finished piece. However, as discussed above, paying less does not mean buying lower quality. - Match your Decor
The selection of stain and paint colors is almost limitless and is easily accessible. You will be able to select one at your local hardware store or paint center which will match your existing furniture and woodwork. You can finish your furniture item in the exact hue to match drapery, carpet, or other furnishings. - Get a Better Finish
The spraying process in the factory may have missed spots or been applied unevenly to finished furniture. This can begin to show up in a few months as poorly finished kid furniture begins to blister and peel. When you finish your own kid furniture you can be assured that the finish is applied evenly and thoroughly, for a durable, long life of use. - Create an Heirloom
Finishing furniture is an enjoyable and relaxing hobby shared by millions of people. There is a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes with finishing your own furniture. When friends ask about it you can say, "I did that myself!". You can put to use all your creative ideas, from a simple stain and varnish finish to a more elaborate tole-painted or stenciled finish. Kid furniture, custom finished by you, is a family heirloom for future generations.