What materials are safe for children's furniture?

2019-06-16

Author: Belfan

From this article you will learn:

• What should an ecological children's room be like?
• What is the most environmentally friendly and safe material for children's furniture?
• What types of wood to buy ecological children's furniture from?
• How to choose the right ecological children's furniture

The atmosphere in which a child lives directly affects his health. The right microclimate will help to grow it strong. When arranging a cozy nest for your baby, it is important to use reliable furniture made from high-quality raw materials. After all, the use of synthetic materials in home improvement negatively affects the condition of a growing organism. We will tell you in our article what ecological children's furniture should be and how to choose it correctly.

We rely on age

The main emphasis here is on the age and gender of the child . If the room is for a boy, then you will need more space for active games and more furniture for growth. This means that it is better to choose chairs, chairs and tables with adjustable height.

How much furniture there will be in the room and what type of furniture you choose depends on the size of the room. However, even if the children's room is quite spacious, there should not be many pieces of furniture in it. The best option for saving space would be sectional furniture, as well as various transformers. Armchair beds or bunk beds with a play table built underneath will be an excellent solution for a child's room.

Children's furniture should be as durable as possible, functional and not cause any complaints during operation.

Furniture drawers and doors should be easy to open and close, and fastenings should be made of metal. It is better to avoid plastic, since it is not as reliable in terms of strength.

Varieties

Furniture for a children's room includes many elements, each of which has a useful purpose. Here the child studies, is creative, plays, invites friends and just relaxes. There is no need to talk about careful operation of products, so each item must function reliably. Typically, a set of furniture in a nursery consists of the following elements:

1. Wardrobe for clothes, linen, school uniforms, backpacks, bags. The filling should be planned so that the child can reach and get the necessary things himself. The closet needs drawers for linen, shelves, a hanging bar, and space for shoes.
2. Wall shelves - you will need a lot of them: for educational supplies, books, textbooks, gadgets, crafts, drawings, toys. They don't have to be rectangular. Geometric shapes, houses, tree shelves are relevant.
3. A bed is a necessary element that can also be made useful by placing storage drawers at the bottom. The structures can be two-tier, combined with a furniture complex, with sides, folding ones or with an additional pull-out bed.
4. A desk is needed as soon as school age begins. This item is given special attention, since it is expected that the child will spend a lot of time on it. You need to choose a convenient location for the table and organize high-quality lighting.

Tips for choosing and placing children's furniture in the room of two boys
This is a standard furniture set, which is supplemented depending on the gender and age of the child. Thus, rooms for girls are additionally equipped with a full-length mirror and dressing table. A newborn and a child of the first year of life only need a cradle or crib, a chest of drawers with a changing table, a playpen, and a play mat. In preschool age, a child’s room can be equipped with a play or sports complex, or a wall bars.

Upon entering school, part of the nursery is allocated for learning space - a desk, cabinets, shelves, racks. Adolescence is still a time of intense learning, but a significant part of a child’s life begins to be occupied by his hobbies, which also require space. Musical equipment, instruments, sports equipment, hobby accessories - all this can be placed on cabinets, shelves, consoles.

Closet

Wall shelves

Bed

Desktop

Dressing table

Cradle, chest of drawers with changing table

Swedish wall

Cabinets

Shelving

The best types of wood for ecological furniture

According to the hardness of the species, wood is:

• Soft: alder, birch, pine.
• Medium hardness: oak, cherry, beech.
• Hard: maple, merbau and others.

In addition to strength, timber must be moisture resistant. Hardwoods do not always tolerate moisture well. While soft varieties can calmly react to water. Because of this capricious behavior of wood, a new method of processing timber was developed. Using high temperatures (more than +200 °C), the saw cut is processed and hardened. Thus, the new thermowood hardens and becomes resistant to moisture.

Each tree species is unique. Some people value hardwood for its strength and durability, but furniture made from softwood also has its fans. What types of wood should I buy ecological children's furniture from? The ones that have proven themselves best in furniture production are:

• Walnut timber. Given their hardness, they are easy to work with. They are often used for carving. Walnut wood comes in a variety of colors. The most expensive type is black walnut; it is used in finishing unique pieces of furniture. This material has several dozen types of wood.
• Birch. A very popular raw material due to its availability. Birch groves are a symbol of our country. Karelian birch is especially popular. Its texture resembles marble and has a unique pattern. Paints and varnishes adhere well to birch products. They also adhere well and can be polished. Birch wood is often used to make veneer. The disadvantage of this material is fairly rapid deterioration by small insects and bacteria.
• Oak wood is used to make strong and durable furniture. It has a wide palette of colors: from light yellow to yellowish-brown. Despite its hardness, it bends, polishes, and drills quite easily. This material is easy to varnish and paint. Carving oak is difficult, but at the end you will get a real work of art. Oak is the most popular wood material. It withstands the destructive influence of microorganisms.
• Beech furniture is very strong and durable. At the same time, beech is very plastic. Bent furniture made from this wood is especially popular. Shades of this breed come in both yellow and reddish-brown. Beech is easy to work with: it sands, glues and polishes well.
• Larch furniture has a positive effect on human health. This material accumulates biologically active substances that help fight viruses and make it easier to endure colds. This role is taken on by phytoncides or natural antibiotics released from larch. The color palette of this breed is very rich and includes more than ten shades. Not only is furniture made from larch, but it is also used in finishing work.
• Pine has a special softness and light shade. This raw material is popular among cabinet furniture manufacturers. Bacteria, humidity, and temperature changes are not dangerous for pine trees. In addition, furniture made from this wood has a unique pine smell.
• Maple is rarely used for making furniture. Its wood is dense, strong and heavy. More often, this material is used as veneer when finishing luxury types of furniture. The most popular is Canadian maple. The veneer of this tree has a bright, unusual pattern.

Manufacturing materials

The materials used for children's furniture are the same as for any other - wood, MDF, chipboard, plastic, metal. They all have their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Solid wood is an environmentally friendly and expensive material. In addition to its safety, wood furniture has useful properties, for example, coniferous trees release essential oils into the air. Most often, wooden furniture is made from softwood, so it is susceptible to mechanical damage and requires careful handling.
2. Laminated chipboard - made from furniture board covered with laminate. The main disadvantage is the presence of formaldehyde in the composition. The advantage is an affordable price. When choosing products, you need to pay attention to the safety class: for residential premises, E0, E1 are acceptable. For a child’s room, it is better to choose E0 - this material contains almost no harmful substances, and when covered with laminate or veneer, it is completely safe.
3. MDF is a chemically safer material, but its cost is slightly higher than laminated chipboard. Durable, less susceptible to mechanical damage, does not absorb moisture. In addition, the film that covers MDF boards does not fade for a long time.
4. Plastic - children's tables, chairs, baskets, chests of drawers and toy boxes are made from this material. Plastic children's furniture is made from safe materials and undergoes mandatory control. Its main advantage is its lightness and smoothed corners. If a child drops a high chair or hits a plastic table, he or she will not receive serious injuries or bruises.
5. Metal is used to make profiles, frames or individual elements (table legs, handles, fasteners).

The most popular materials for making children's furniture are MDF (due to its safety and durability) or laminated chipboard. When choosing, you should take into account that high-quality laminated chipboard of class E0 is not much inferior in price to MDF.

Solid wood

laminated chipboard

MDF

Plastic

Metal

Children's furniture studio "Sandbox"

Let's figure out why:

• Natural materials are used: birch plywood and Italian water-based paints, certified for children's products.
• The paint on the ends is applied in four layers.
• According to laboratory tests, VOC values ​​are four times lower than the European E1 label.
• MDF is used in combination with plywood sheet. This material is much safer than particle board, since the production technology makes it possible to do without harmful resins.
• FSC certificate guaranteeing the legality of the wood. Order an individual project. Adequate pricing.

If you are looking for beautiful, but at the same time environmentally friendly, interior items, and even at a reasonable price, then do not ignore plywood. This is a technologically advanced, versatile and at the same time clean material that will delight you for a very long time.

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Colors and design

The coloring of a children's room is of particular importance. Colors should be combined in warmth and brightness, balancing each other. Some combinations should be avoided:

1. Red, orange, yellow - they overly activate the psyche, making it difficult to relax in such a room.
2. Green, purple, blue - on the contrary, have a depressing effect and reduce activity.
3. White, blue, gray - distract attention; it is difficult to concentrate in such colors.

Characteristics of furniture for newborns, tips for choosing

When choosing a color scheme, it is better not to follow outdated stereotypes. Furniture for girls does not have to be all shades of pink, and furniture for boys does not have to be blue. You can stick to calm basic colors: beige, yellow, brown, light green, gray, adding bright decorative items to them.

The interior in soothing colors will remain relevant for an older child; it will be enough to change the accents and decor. When choosing furniture for two children, you can use colors and design to divide the room into zones. This maneuver will allow you to avoid disputes over territory between children in the future.

The facades of furniture for a children's room can be made in unusual solutions. For example, a desk can imitate a shark, and a pencil case can resemble a wardrobe from the fairy tale about Beauty and the Beast. Shelves are often made to look like multi-colored cubes; a wardrobe for toys can resemble a store or even a house, with lighting in the windows and flower pots.

Which finish is suitable for walls in a nursery?

The main requirements for finishing materials for children's rooms:

• absence of harmful impurities – materials without toxic substances;
• fire safety - the finish does not support combustion;
• breathability - the material breathes;
• easy replaceability - small children can easily ruin the coating, and older children may get tired of the drawings “for little ones”;
• visual hygiene.

Images on the walls should not be aggressive or cause emotional overload (this is not only a playroom, but also a bedroom, place of study). At the same time, their task is to develop the child’s good taste and awaken positive emotions in him.

Listen to the opinion of psychologists about the impact of color and ornament on the nervous system.

There are two main finishing methods that are suitable for a children's room - paint and wallpaper. We do not consider another type - plaster, since its texture can injure a child during games, and it is quite difficult to correct a damaged part (for example, if it has been painted on or picked apart).

Venetian plaster: pros and cons

People who see properly applied Venetian plaster for the first time often do not believe that it is not marble or even a stone finish. The next phase of surprise: “Is she glowing?!”

Tips for choosing

Furniture in a children's room should be multifunctional, safe, and attractive for the child. Before choosing products you need:

1. Plan the room, outline zones: play, study, relaxation, sleep.
2. Accurately measure the room and carefully calculate how much space is allocated for each piece of furniture, taking into account wiring, switches, and sockets.
3. Study furniture manufacturing materials, safety classes, signs of low-quality products.
4. Consider the filling of cabinets, cabinets, chests of drawers, taking into account the needs of the child.

How to choose furniture for a teenager in a modern style, tips for parents

In addition, it is necessary to inspect the fittings - hinges, handles, legs, fasteners. It is useful to request and review quality certificates. When going to look for furniture, it is best to take your child with you to make sure that he will be comfortable using the purchase.

Plan a room

Outline zones

Measure the room and make a thorough calculation

Study materials, safety classes, signs of low-quality products

Think about the contents of the furniture

Ceiling finishing

Many parents, under the influence of advertising, dream of installing suspended ceilings in their children's rooms. No matter how their safety is advertised, it is better not to do this. When the child grows up, then you can think about synthetic ceilings.

A plasterboard ceiling is quite safe, but is prone to dust deposits. It is impossible to wash it, so refrain from this option.

An absolute contraindication for children's rooms are ceilings made of polystyrene tiles - they are simply dangerous for the child!

The best option for a children's room is a regular painted ceiling. The paint for it is chosen in the same way as for the walls.

Making the right choice for your baby's sleep

The bed is the main place for children to relax, where they immerse themselves in the world of joy, happiness and their interesting fantasies, and for this it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions. It is not always possible to provide children with two separate beds, so a bunk bed will be a great solution to all problems! In addition, this design serves as an excellent place not only for sleeping, but also for playing, thanks to its original design and various models. All parents know how important it is to make the right choice and purchase the necessary bunk furniture for children for their comfort.

Advantages of purchasing a children's bed

Probably one of the most important points is saving space and finances. Even despite popular belief, such a design is acquired not only when there are two children in a family. Of course, if there are two children in the family, then a bunk bed can solve all the problems, but even if there is one child in the family and there is not enough space, a loft bed can solve this situation. A loft bed is an original combination of a sleeping area and a work area, storage space and personal space for a child.

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When can you give your child bread: age limits, basic principles

Often, bunk beds become objects for games. The first floor serves as a “house”, and the second as a “roof”. Important: experts say that beds of this type are suitable for children with an age difference of no more than 4 years. It doesn't matter what gender they are. Staying on the same “territory” teaches children from the very beginning to negotiate with each other and seek compromises, which is very important in the future!

Pros of children's furniture:

• reliability;
• saving space;
• interesting design (which can suit both girls and boys);
• pleasant pricing policy;
• variety of models.

Wide range of models

The most common (classic) type of bunk bed is when two sleeping places are located under each other. Today, manufacturers offer a lot of different models, which include not only two beds, but, on the contrary, can consist of one bed, table, bedside table and even a wardrobe.

Bunk furniture for children of a typical design consists of two floors, but each of them has its own purpose. The first floor is often designed as a work area, and a table, a chest of drawers, a dressing room, children's furniture - a closet, in general, everything that is necessary for the development and play of a child is installed there, and on the second floor there is a bed. Such a project is quite functional and space-saving, and most importantly, the child has everything he needs.

Other popular models of children's furniture for bunk beds are:

• sofa bed;
• bungalow bed;
• transformable bed.

Sleeping area

Bed. The baby will certainly begin to explore the world around him from his own furniture. And he will definitely “test the crib.” Therefore, all items in the nursery should be made from natural or environmentally friendly materials that do not threaten the baby’s health.

Mattress. It is better not to buy cotton wool: cotton “cakes” and turns into lumps, the surface of the sleeping area becomes uneven. Dense and less uniform types of “stuffing” (sesame, coconut, seaweed) are much better. Foam rubber is not very useful for children. Over time, it is pressed through, and it is unpleasant to sleep on synthetics - sweating increases. A little better - cast polyurethane foam, more elastic and durable. The best option is spring mattresses with multi-layer natural filling: they are considered orthopedic and allow you to evenly distribute the child’s weight during sleep, promoting the formation of correct posture.

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On the picture:

When organizing a sleeping place for a child, you should pay attention not only to the material of the crib and its covering, but also to choose the right mattress, giving preference to spring mattresses with multi-layer natural filling.

Children's furniture made of plywood.

This is durable, reliable and environmentally friendly furniture. Previously, it was believed that it made simple and inexpressive furniture. But modern innovations have made their own adjustments. Using the flexibility of the material, manufacturers began to produce children's furniture made of plywood (usually tables and chairs) of fancy shapes and designs: to suit the most demanding taste of a design connoisseur.

In the photo: Elephant Eames Plywood model from the Vitra factory, design by Eames Charles, Eames Ray.

TOP 6 standards when choosing furniture for children

Choosing a bed is a crucial step. Children spend a third of their lives sleeping, which is why it is necessary to create maximum comfort and convenience, and of course, do not forget about the child’s safety. What is the ideal children's furniture?

Safety

This is one of the most important and basic points. A bunk bed has very strict safety requirements, especially when it comes to the second floor. Such a design must meet a number of requirements - be as stable and durable as possible, and comply with all GOST standards and have a certificate of quality conformity for furniture products. The wood from which the body is made must be clean and safe for health.

Pay great attention to:

1. Quality of wood processing.
2. Its structure;
3. Blossom;
4. The smell;
5. There should be no protruding bolts or nails;
6. Availability of sides on the second floor, optionally on the first.

The height of the lower tier should not be more than 30 cm, but the height of the mattress must also be added to this figure.

Materials

Any standard states in black and white that when using a structure, no chemical elements should be released that could have a detrimental effect on the life and health of a person (in this case, a child).

Ideal options:

• natural materials;
• pure wood.

In addition, children's beds must be completely covered with environmental impregnation.

Ladder

The main requirement is that the ladder should not wobble under any circumstances. The ideal option is when the staircase starts from the very bottom (floor) and ends right on the second floor at the foot of the bed.

The distances between the steps should also not be large, but also not too narrow, so that the child can easily walk on them without his leg getting stuck or, on the contrary, falling through. It is desirable that the staircase have a railing, but this is quite rare in modern models.

Convenience of the entire design

Comfort is influenced by a very large number of different factors. This may be the distance between the second and first tier, it should be at least 80 cm, maximum 95 cm. This is necessary so that the child on the first floor can sit on the bed and stand up if he needs to.

In addition, when choosing a bed, you need to pay attention to the fact how convenient it is to make a bed on the second floor: is it necessary to use a ladder and stand on it, if the answer is yes, then such a design will not be a good option.

See how normal it is for your child to climb stairs. Pay attention to the size of the beds. This factor and its scale of convenience will depend on the age and height of the child.

Scale:

• For children from 3 to 6 years old, sixty by one hundred and twenty beds are perfect;
• from 6 to 8 – seventy to one hundred and forty.

Functionality

It is quite comfortable if the bed is intended not only for sleeping, but also has additional functionality - drawers for items, cabinets and tables. Of course, one of the best options is if the bed can be transformed. The lower tier can be a sofa for studying during the day, and at night - a comfortable sleeping place.

Design

Parents do not pay much attention to this, thus making the biggest mistake. Psychologists have proven that the color design of not only the room, but the furniture that is in it, is of great importance and affects the somatic development of the child. If there will be two children in one room at once, and they are of different sexes, then for children's furniture - bunk beds - you need to choose models that are presented in neutral colors. This way, you can avoid a quarrel and scandal over the fact that someone doesn’t like the color or design. If there are two boys, then you can safely use some rich colors; if girls, then it is better to stick to pastel shades.

Today, manufacturers provide a wide variety of models to choose from, which are interesting for their unique and unusual design. For example, two beds in the form of a whole house, where there are stairs, windows, doors and light and, of course, two beds or a loft bed, will also be able to capture the child’s interest.

Manufacturer

Choose those who have been on the sales market for a long time; ideal if the company specializes specifically in children's furniture. The organization must have all the necessary certificates, which will indicate the quality of the product and the purity of the materials. Many parents think that if a brand is foreign, it must be good. This is not so, and our domestic manufacturers make children's furniture of no worse quality.

Cost of goods

The price can be very varied, everything will depend on the manufacturer, what you choose, the materials you used and, of course, the model of the bed. The price often takes into account:

• complexity of the model;
• materials;
• exclusivity of design;
• additional decor;
• delivery;
• installation;
• suitable mattress.

By purchasing furniture from online stores, you can significantly save your budget. On average, the price of budget bunk beds starts from 10 thousand rubles and ends at 30–40 thousand rubles.

When choosing a bed, follow these standards, and then you can be sure that you will get a real comfortable, safe and healthy sleepover for your children! Have a nice shopping!