Furniture in your children’s room can be a challenge. Either you like and they don’t, or they outgrow it so fast that neither of you enjoy it! In recent years furniture manufacturers have put more marketing and production effort into kid’s room furniture. From nursery furniture to teenagers, their furniture can be unique and appeal to you both. Here are tips for helping you choose furniture that can be fun, decorative and not break into their college fund to buy!
- Determine your budget for kid’s furniture: Like any furniture, children’s room furniture ranges in price from inexpensive to expensive. The range is wide spread but so is the quality and the versatility aspect. Decide how much you are willing to spend, and then factor in more or less if you find furniture online for shipping and handling. Higher priced furniture stores may throw in shipping, but you are paying more already.
- Get your child’s opinion: Unless you are decorating a nursery, children age 3 and up can tell you what they like and don’t like. This doesn’t mean you let them pick the wall color, window treatments and flooring! It does mean that this will be their room, and they will enjoy it more if they had a say in how it looks. For ease of conversation, pick themes, colors and ideas beforehand and present a few options. Then have them choose from your options. If you are stuck as to where to start, look to furniture manufacturer magazines and online resources for inspiration.
Versatility for longevity: The mindset behind buying children furniture is slightly different than adult furniture, for the mere fact that children grow. Along with your budget, you need to decide if you’d rather pay a higher amount for furniture that can take a child from a crib into pre-teen years. The other alternative is to buy furniture at each stage in your child’s growth. This option may be better if you plan on changing décor, moving homes, etc… and want the furniture to change with the current time.
Be prepared for change: Along with the versatility of furniture, remember kids do grow, and the reality of needing new furniture is real. Especially for children who grow taller quicker, you many considering buying them a larger sized/adult size bed earlier to prevent waiting until they are uncomfortable sleeping. Another factor could be family changes. An addition of a sibling to the family, or a college student returning home can be life changes that furniture can be versatile enough to endure change.
Make it fun: Children’s rooms are one room in the house that it’s ok to not play by “decorative” rules. If your child likes bright colors, infuse them into decorative bedding, area rugs and matching lighting fixtures. If your child loves a color that you aren’t crazy about – consider painting the room in a neutral tone, then adding your child’s color to a piece of furniture or their bedding. If you want to save money, consider online classifieds or garage sales to paint or fix-up furniture. There is no limit, so be creative!
The furniture in your child’s room should reflect their personality of who they are… or would like to become! Remember, your budget and family lifestyle will dictate how much you spend and how much longevity you need from their furniture. Some people buy furniture to past down for generations, while others only need the piece for a few years. Decide what is right for your family and the child that has to live in the room. They ultimately should be happy and love to retreat to their room, just as you do in your sanctuary.
source : www.freshome.com