A number of qualities that make kids furniture good apply equally to furniture for all ages. Good design, durability, affordability and sustainability all feature. However, the particular needs and desires of children introduce an additional layer of benchmarks in the way of good furniture.

Durability and safety are two key tenets of good kids design. Children’s belongings get put through their paces, and often by more than one child. It is important their furniture is sturdy, will last the distance and is designed in a way that is sensitive to their way of being.

Children are our future and while environmental sensitivity has hopefully bought into the mainstream for all furniture design, it is especially important with kids furniture. Here we are talking more than just what materials the product is made out of, as important as this is. One can consider if the product has been made ethically, in terms of working conditions, support for local economies, in addition to whether environmental factors have been taken into account in the manufacturing process (and location), what happens to the product at end of life etc.

Consumers don’t necessarily have the time Cialis Jelly nor inclination to explore all these features when making a purchasing decision, but some are interested and environmental/ethical information has become more commonplace on company websites, not all of which is greenwashing.

Multifunctionalism is not essential but it does score many points when it comes to kids furniture. In part this is about designing a product so that it can be used a number of ways at any particular point in time. Moreover, it involves designing a piece to have the flexibility to be used by the toddler once he/she becomes a preschooler, moves into school and beyond. In Your Room’s Tablebox – a toybox cum table cum benchseat – is a case in point. It was designed predominantly as a child’s toybox, but is really modular, mobile storage that is equally at home in an adult’s bedroom or home office as the nursery. This longevity in the product’s use was not an afterthought, it was a critical component of the design process.

Well designed kids furniture that fits the contemporary aesthetic is going to be right at home in the modern bedroom or family zone. The increasing popularity of modern designer furniture is testament to this.

Furniture, like toys, can sometimes offer opportunities for imaginative play. Take the Shortstop Child’s Stool as an example. First it is a stool, mini table, footstool, stepstool (see multifunctionalism above). However, add a bit of imagination and maybe a piece of cloth or cardboard and it becomes a horse stable, tunnel or garage. Turn it upside down and it’s a book caddie or a cradle to rock a doll in. Get the idea? Kids certainly do, and they don’t need to be shown!

Value for money is another important factor. Note this is not the same thing as cheap. Sometimes a very good piece can be made economically and without complicated machinery or systems. However, at times the methods or materials used come at a price. A particular item may not be cheap, but it can still be a good buy if it represents value for money when its design, versatility and quality are taken into account.

A related question to that posed by this article “what makes kids furniture good?” is “who makes good kids furniture?”. The answer, in short, is many people. Charles and Ray Eames, Harry Bertoia, Kristian Vedel and Alvar Aalto are all designers from the mid 20th century whose names are synonymous with cleverly designed and generic viagra 50mg well executed child’s chairs, in the main still available. The past decade has witnessed an exponential increase in interest in the kids market and kids furniture is no exception. Many companies and designers are producing high quality furniture for children, ranging from cots to kids tables and chairs and storage for children. As an Australian designer with a particular focus on kids furniture, it is gratifying to see that a number of other Australian designers are producing exceptional quality pieces. Many design and kids magazines as Silagra well as design destination stores and independent kids retailers proudly display kids furniture designed and made in Australia alongside their overseas counterparts.

Author Bio: Keryn Hughes is the owner and designer of Sydney based contemporary furniture business In Your Room. She designs and creates moulded plywood furniture for kids tables and chairs, childrens designer furniture including side tables and toybox

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: contemporary furniture, designer kids furniture, kids table and chairs