What to shop for when furnishing kids' bedrooms

Kids' bedrooms are all about fun and function. These are the spaces where kids play, study, and sleep, so it's important to furnish them well. Knowing what to buy in advance can help make your shopping experience quick and easy, so take advantage of these tips when shopping for kids' furniture.

Beds

If you're looking for a bed for a child's room, you have an array of options. A captain's bed comes with built-in drawers and cabinets in the base, and because it features a platform style, you don't have to purchase a box spring. This type of bed is ideal for a smaller room where you need double-duty storage to keep things organized.

If you have two children sharing one room, shop for bunk beds to save space. Children should be 6 years of age or older to sleep on the top bunk, and products with guard rails on both sides offer maximum safety. Before buying bunk beds, make sure to measure your space. Allow at least 3 feet between the top mattress and the ceiling.

Nightstands

Perched next to a child's bed, a nightstand offers space for a lamp, a clock, and a few favorite books. For more storage, choose a nightstand with open shelving, drawers, or a cabinet. To get the right size, the height of your child's nightstand should come close to or equal the height of their mattress top.

Dressers

The dresser you choose for your child's room depends on what needs to go in it. A single dresser features one column of drawers, and a double dresser features two side-by-side columns. To house all of your child's clothing, from socks to sweatshirts, choose a dresser with drawers of varying sizes. When shopping for dressers, look for products with child-friendly pulls, sturdy wood frames, and dovetail joinery at the faces and backs of the drawers. For style, balance, and affordability, choose a matching bed frame, nightstand, and dresser.

Desks

A desk offers a place for your child to draw, paint, or do homework. For elementary school kids, a drafting-style desk with a tilting top offers the perfect study space and art area rolled into one. When shopping for these types of desks, look for products that contain a built-in foot rest and a few drawers for supplies. These help keep kids comfortable and organized while they work.

Table-and-chair sets

Your child will love a little table and chair set for arts and crafts time, afternoon snacks, and tea parties. Tables and chairs in wood, metal, or plastic make good options thanks to their durability and easy-clean finishes, and many come in a variety of colors so you can choose your child's favorite. Choose a lighter plastic option if you plan to move the table around to other rooms in your home.

When shopping for these products, make sure to get the right size. Most children's chair seats measure between 10 and 18 inches from the floor. To get the proper chair size, your child's legs should bend at a 90-degree angle when they're seated with their feet flat on the floor. For the correct table height, allow about 9 inches between the chair seats and the tabletop.

Storage

Few rooms in your home need extra storage your kids' rooms. A number of handy products can help to keep these spaces clutter-free.

A bookcase makes a great home for your child's favorite reads, and it's also a good place to store toys, trophies, framed photographs, and other collectibles. While a tall bookcase offers more storage capacity, make sure to anchor it to the wall for safety.

A spacious toy box is also a must-have for a child's room. Purchase toy boxes made from wood or plastic with handles for easy portability. Look for designs with safety hinges to prevent pinched fingers. For toddlers, choose a plastic toy box on wheels, a toy box that doubles as an art table, or a toy box with a fun shape ��� think cars, animals, or treasure chests.

Teen furniture

As kids approach their teen years, it's time to change out their furniture. Replace toy boxes with large bins for sports equipment like balls, soccer gear, and tennis racquets. Trade a tiny table and chair set for lounge furniture like bean bag chairs, gaming chairs, and cave chairs. Allow teens to study in style with a grown-up computer desk. For the ultimate study space, pick a corner desk with drawers and a cabinet for notebooks, pens, pencils, and other study supplies. For superior quality, shop for a desk featuring a kiln-dried hardwood frame and dovetail joinery. This can last your teen through college.