Today’s function-conscious kids want a bedroom that stands up to the way they live. Their parents want a sound investment that is well-built and safe. It’s possible to satisfy both when shopping in today’s youth bedroom market.
Function
Our young people have far more media equipment than their parents grew up with. Video games, mp3 players, TVs and video games have increased the amount of time kids spend in their rooms, and they need compatible furniture for toys and electronics.
Nightstands come equipped with charging stations for laptops, phones, and other devices. Desks with pull-out keyboard drawers or laptop storage were designed with computers in mind, and often include handy electrical outlets. Built-in nightlights or reading lamps are practical features for a bedroom set that work great from childhood through adolescence.
Trundle beds offer a space-saving solution for accommodating overnight guests. Underbed storage options reduce clutter and maximize space; a shelf or drawer unit makes a good place to store books, sweaters, or games. Having a place for everything may encourage your child to keep a tidier room. Hidden compartments in dressers, chests, and even mirrors make fun use of space. Older kids can keep valuables safe from younger siblings, or enjoy a secret place to store a diary.
Grow with Your Child
No one sets out to purchase a room full of furniture that their child will quickly outgrow or wear out. Looking for quality solid construction pays off as a dependable, long-lasting investment. Classic styles have been adapted for younger consumers, and are intended to stay stylish over a lifetime. The pieces are designed for kids’ use, but incorporate strong design elements that will grow with your child and with your home.
You may want to consider purchasing a full-size bed, as opposed to a twin. You may gain a longer life from your investment if it serves all the way through childhood, the teen years, college – and even beyond. After the kids have moved out, it can be re-assigned as the spare room bed.
A bunk bed doesn’t always need to be kept in that configuration; convert it back into two side-by-side beds. Alternately, a loft bed with a desk or work space underneath is a space-saving and flexible option for any student’s bedroom or dorm room.
Safety
Safety-conscious manufacturers have designed extra features into their pieces to prevent tipping, breaking, or pinching. Electrical cord management keeps floors free from tripping hazards. Drawer stops prevent drawers from falling out if they’re opened too far. Rounded edges and corners can save your kids from bumps and bruises. Anti-tip hardware in dressers, chests, and desk hutches helps keep pieces stable.
Smart designs eliminate spaces where a hand could get caught, or moving parts snapping shut on little fingers. Look for furniture that’s been tested and certified by the American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) or the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
While function and style are important, your child wants to make his room his own. Kids will feel involved in the design process if they help with selections for the room.