Synopsis: Whether you want to make quick-and-dirty painted furniture that will stand up to child use, or an heirloom piece that matches an adult table or chair, designing furniture for children carries its own set of rewards and challenges. There are many design considerations that revolve around how children see and interact with furniture, and a whole set of opportunities to incorporate fun and whimsy into your work. But kids’ furniture also requires a special emphasis on safety, whether you are building a dresser, a crib or cradle, a bunk bed, or a toy chest. Here are a tips on building furniture that will bring out the kid in you and inspire the kids around you.

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Whether it’s for your children, grandchildren, or the children of other family and friends, making things for the kids in your life can be uniquely satisfying. But there are challenges as well. How do you know what will be appreciated or what will be safe? Children’s furniture differs from the adult variety in many ways, much as children themselves do.

A whole set of design considerations revolves around how children see and interact with furniture. But these are opportunities— new creative avenues for designer and builder. Kids’ furniture also requires a special emphasis on safety that should guide you every step of the way.

Exercise your creative freedom

There are several approaches to designing furniture for children. All are fun in their own way. For example, children love having their own version of a special adult piece. It makes them feel grown up, even though they’ll certainly use the furniture in some rather un-grown-up ways.

On the other hand, many successful designs have an element of whimsy, such as bold shapes and bright colors. I believe children see the world as bright, new, and exciting. This can be inspiring—and liberating—to adult designers. Just don’t leave out a healthy measure of taste when you add in the whimsy.

You can’t always know what sort of playful role a child will find for a piece, but you can certainly encourage one. This is the impulse behind things like a bed with a race car, animal, or castle theme, but the play element also can be more subtle. One of my more successful designs is a “Marble Chair,” which has a back that is a marble race. It is endlessly entertaining, although definitely not suitable for children under 3 years old.

Some pieces serve new roles after the kids outgrow them: A play table turns into a coffee table; a baby’s changing table becomes a sideboard for the dining room. Guidelines for safe construction Foremost in your mind should always be the overall safety of the furniture. There should be no sharp edges or corners. I’m not fond of rounded-over edges, but in this case they’re a very good idea.

From Fine Woodworking #194

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