What are the best furniture materials for children's rooms?

Furniture materials may not be the only thing on your list to consider when selecting furniture for your children. But it might be one of the most important. When considering material, let's include safety, appearance, cleaning, durability, and miscellaneous.

Your child's SAFETY is probably the most important criteria!

Good design avoids most dangers. But furniture materials might leave you with concerns about splinters and cuts from wood, composites, metal burrs or sharp edges. Certain plastics and composite wood materials may also contain chemicals that are harmful. Paints always come with the risk of chemicals such as lead, especially if your child is still teething. (See this article on a recent recall). Porous surfaces are susceptible to mold and bacteria. Finally the surface may be hard (to bonk against) or there may be sharp edges.

Now here is a 14 month old girl safely using the One at a time Toy Cabinet.

Appearance is the next thing that comes to mind for furniture material.

"Does it fit with my decor?"

This is largely a matter of taste but there are about 5 general categories when we are considering just the material.

Natural surfaces - Wood is very pleasing and often copied in plastics. A "natural" surface includes the texture of some woods like oak. Staining is usually (but not always) done to make a less expensive wood look like another, ususally darker wood. Transparent finishes such as varnish, shellac, polyurethane or just wax are usually added to protect the surface.

Painted - Obviously the key criteria here is the color, but the texture and sheen of the surface are also important.

Pattern - This includes painted patterns, painted designs or drawings, and engravings or embossings in the surface. Stickies or even an upholstered surface would also fall into this category.

Contrasts - Different parts of the furniture having different colors, materials, patterns, etc.

This photo shows examples of both painted and clear finish One at a time Toy Cabinets.

These are the material appearance considerations. Combined with the style, design or shape of the furniture they provide or detract from the overall attractiveness of the piece.

Keeping up appearances:

Being able to clean (after spills, crayons, etc.) and durability (breaking, denting, scratching, wear/discolor) vary from one material to another.

Obviously, you would like what looks good in the store, catalog or coming out of the box to remain that way.

Small parts

Although not really part of what you might consider the "material" many pieces of children's furniture are connected with screws, nails, bolts, pins, etc. or have visible small parts (knobs, latches, hooks, etc.). They may contribute to the above factors of safety, appearance and keeping appearances discussed above.

This photo shows example "crystal" knobs and wood dowels, which are both safe for children and enhance the appearance of the furniture.

So what are some alternative furniture materials used for children's furnishings?

Here are the most common furniture materials used for kid's furniture, listed more or less in order of popularity.

Wood-like composites

This is the most common material for inexpensive furniture. This includes particle board, medium density fibreboard (MDF), masonite and even cardboard. This furniture is usually either painted or it has a plastic veneer that usually simulates wood on the surface.

Plywoods and veneers

These materials are a step above the previous composites. The insides are layers of either soft or hard wood. The surface is usually a thin layer of hardwood. This layer is sometimes stained and it is usually coated with a clear polyurethane finish.

Soft wood (such as pine)

The nice thing about pine when used in furniture is that is is actually real pieces of wood. Pine is about the most inexpensive kind of wood and is often sold in furniture "kits" and in unfinished furniture. Much of the better painted furniture is made from soft woods. The manufacturer will usually advertise if it is solid wood, rather than plywood or other composite.

Plastics (PVC, corion)

Not all plastics are "cheap". In fact "inexpensive" should be the proper term for well made plastic furniture. Unfortunately poor design and poor quality control has led us to often associate plactic with "cheap".

Finer plastics such as DuPont Corion(R) and similar material often used for counter tops can be made into fine children's furniture, bringing the same benefits this material brings to the kitchen.

Hard woods (oak, cherry, walnut)

This is usually the best material for fine furniture whether for children or in the living room. Walnut and Oak were recognized as solid, durable, rot resistant materials eons ago. And much of the furniture made centuries ago is still around.

Metal (steel, aluminum)

Occasionally sheet metals or tubes are used as the prime ingredient for children's furniture.

How are these materials typically "finished"?

Painted. Can include a design or picture. Covers defects in the underlying material or disguise what the material is. Is usually easily cleaned.

Unfinished. Aluminum, plastics and woods can all be left with no special surface treatment.

Example of clear shellac and bee's wax on solid walnut hardwood.

Clear finish. Allows the beauty (or lack) of the base material to show through. Protects that material and makes it easier to clean.

Upholstered. Mostly used to soften the surface. Also conceals the sturcture underneath. Finally it's appearance may be considered for esthetic purposes.

INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A TOY CABINET IN THE VIDEO?

You can Click here for models, prices and availability

These wooden toy chests are made from the best kids furniture materials. They help in picking up toys unlike any normal pirates chest or other childrens wood furniture. The very best in kids toy organizers.

The world's best wooden toy storage! This childrens wood furniture improves kids toy organizers to eliminate messy kids rooms.

Psychologists say that each additional excess toy "devalues" all the others a little bit, until the toys become just "pieces of broken plastic" almost like dirt. In fact, some kids find dirt more interesting than most of the toys in their own toy chest.

Modern Childrens Furniture doesn't have to be expensive. Besides the style and different furniture materials there now exists kids furniture with new functions appropriate to the parents busy schedule.

Funky Kids Furniture is not just offbeat appearance. How about a different feature? Say, getting kids to pick up their own toys?

Why does childrens wood furniture leave us with such good memories? How does this furniture material meet the needs of parents and children alike? Where can you find good, safe, reliable furniture for your family?

See how this green childrens furniture gets kids to pick up their own toys. Free up Mom's time with this toy storage system.

Solid Wood Kids Furniture really looks good and feels good. When you consider the durability and safety of solid wood it's unsurpassed.