Time flies quickly, and now the child no longer needs a crib in the nursery, but a completely “adult” sofa. How to choose it? Which furniture is suitable for a playroom and which is suitable for sleeping?
In the range of upholstered furniture, children's sofas are products of a special category. They have increased requirements in all respects. Fortunately, this does not scare manufacturers. They willingly manufacture such furniture and, moreover, constantly improve it. Consumers are also interested in transformable sofas. Increasingly, in a children's room you can find a sofa instead of a bed. Why are sliding children's sofas and armchairs so in demand, what is the secret of their growing popularity?
Scandinavian-style attic playroom for a large family
One of the most popular transformation mechanisms that children can handle too: roll-out
Stylish asymmetrical sofa for the playroom
If we consider furniture from a design point of view, then, obviously, the bed is inferior to the sofa in terms of artistic diversity. The soft details of the sofa give room for the designers' imagination. Lots of colors, variety of shapes, colorful images. They are as bright and cheerful as the world of childhood itself. In addition, sofas fit perfectly into the interior of a children's room. They have increased functionality and excellent performance; children's sofas offer ease of placement, comfortable sleep and colorful design.
However, for a competent choice of a product, admiration for the appearance alone is not enough. You need to delve deeper into the topic and understand exactly what kind of transforming sofa your child needs. What is important to consider when buying a children's sofa, and what design details should you pay special attention to? We have a broad topic to cover with many questions and answers.
Criterias of choice
Psychologists and pediatricians are unanimous in their opinion, calling the bed the optimal sleeping place for a child under three years of age. It is ideal for sleep and daytime relaxation. If your baby has crossed this threshold, feel free to look for a transforming sofa for him.
The general impression can be made from the photos of the models. To make your final decision, use the following criteria:
- simplicity, safety and reliability of the sliding mechanism of the product;
- environmental friendliness of materials;
- absence of sharp corners and hard bulges;
- correct product size; pay special attention to the length of the sleeping place: for healthy sleep it should be 50 cm longer than the child’s height;
- level sleeping area, no height changes
Advice! When choosing the height of the sofa, be sure to focus on the age of the child. Choose the lowest for children from 3 to 5 years old.
Add to the list of criteria the desired color and shape, combination with the interior, the child’s personal preferences, and his gender, and it will become clear that the choice ahead is serious and difficult.
Children's sofas come in adult sizes and without a transformation mechanism. They are distinguished by their design, colors and materials.
How to choose?
When purchasing furniture for children, you need to pay attention to such details as: The smell of glue and paint
Beds should not emit synthetic harmful odors; Reliability and absence of traumatic fastenings and neatness of upholstery stitches It is important that all fastenings are made of high-quality fittings, then the furniture will last a long time. Ease of use. The ability to independently clean the coating from stains, ease of use of the sliding mechanism
This is especially true for children over five years old who strive to be independent and independent. Materials from which the furniture is made. It is better to give preference to sofas made from environmentally friendly, natural materials. For boys, a sleeping place is suitable, characterized by increased strength due to their restless nature. Sofas with springs are suitable for children over 7 years of age due to the high likelihood of their inappropriate use - for jumping. During operation, they should not make any extraneous sounds or creak. Safety. It is necessary to choose furniture taking into account the age of the child. For children from three to seven years old, models without sides and with a high place to sleep are not recommended. The dimensions of the bed must correspond to the height and weight of the child. The transformation mechanism should not jam, and the elements of the sofa should not warp during use.
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Advantages and disadvantages
Since the sofa is purchased for more than one year, you should consider all its pros and cons. Knowing them, it will be easier to make a decision to purchase a product. So what is the advantage of a sofa over a traditional bed?
- Compactness. When folded, the transforming sofa is significantly smaller than the bed. Taking up little space, it frees up space for games
- Functionality. At night this is a full-fledged sleeping place, during the day it is an excellent place for games and relaxation.
- The sofa has drawers for linen and toys
- Safety. Soft upholstery on sofas reduces the risk of injury to a child.
A folding sofa also has its drawbacks, but they are more subjective than actually interfere with its purchase.
- The sliding mechanism of the sofa is not as durable as static legs and headboards
- Daily exercises of folding and unfolding a sleeping place are tiring
- It is believed that a sofa is not as comfortable for sleeping as a bed. A controversial statement, given that modern materials and technologies are aimed at consumer comfort.
The choice between a classic bed and a modernized new product is more likely a personal preference than clearly expressed pros and cons.
A dark gray sofa will fit perfectly into almost any brightly decorated children's room. The advantage of this is, of course, the least easily soiled color possible.
Designer modular series “Togo”
Which is better - a sofa or a bed?
The bedroom of a boy or girl aged 10-14 years is not only a place of relaxation, but also a way of territorial self-expression, where it is not recommended to invade without permission. That is why, when choosing a sleeping place for a child 10-14 years old, the very first thing you need to do is find out his opinion. As for functional characteristics, doctors give the following advice:
- the growing spine requires a hard surface for rest, which will keep the musculoskeletal frame in a physiological, anatomically comfortable position;
- for children at puberty, it is advisable to choose a sofa or bed of a slightly larger size, since children at this age grow unevenly and often spasmodically;
- teenagers are already large enough and physically developed to cope with any sleeping mechanism, so you can choose a variety of models - lofts, options with a lifting or transforming mechanism.
Considering all these requirements, choosing a suitable model is not at all difficult, however, many parents face a difficult choice between a bed and a sofa. Each type of furniture has its pros and cons. For many years, children's beds were an absolute priority. However, these days, sofas are equipped with all the important details for a good rest: an orthopedic base, as well as a reinforced frame and a spring mechanism.
The built-in transformation block allows you to achieve multifunctionality of furniture, which is why such sofas can be installed in a children's room along with traditional beds.
In order to make the right choice, you should familiarize yourself with the features of both options.
Bed:
- has the undoubted advantage of a smooth surface without any joints or seams, as well as irregularities that are often found in sofas;
- for beds you can always purchase mattresses with a variety of fillings (for example, “winter-summer” or according to doctor’s indications), a similar option is not available for the sofa;
- the bed has many more options in terms of price/quality ratio - manufacturers can use expensive solid wood, steel pipes, plastic or cheap chipboard material for the frame.
Sofa:
the advantage of this type of furniture is its ergonomics and ability to fit harmoniously into any design; An undoubted advantage will be its versatility, since the sofa is both a sleeping area and a platform for communicating with friends, as well as a place for games; sleeping versions of sofas, as a rule, have built-in sections for storing linen and bedding, while the bed does not provide such devices; If we take into account the age characteristics of teenagers, then a sofa will become a more suitable option for furnishing a room than a bed - the folding mechanism allows it to be used in different age groups, which is especially important when it comes to growing children.
Types of sliding mechanisms and their features
The ease of transforming it into a sleeping place depends on what sliding mechanism is installed on the children's sofa. Click-clack, accordion, roll-out, “dolphin” - all these are types of sliding sofa systems.
The withdrawable mechanism is considered the most reliable. It has a large margin of safety, long service life and high stability. It is designed for thousands of transformations. You simply pull the seat towards you, and the backrest moves out on its own. Please note that when unfolding a sofa with a roll-out mechanism, the sleeping place becomes lower than its assembled seats. For a children's sofa this is a definite plus.
Withdrawable transformation mechanism: diagram
The accordion is easy to transform. It is based on the principle of an accordion, when it is enough to pull the loop on the back of the sofa, and the entire structure will take a horizontal position. Children 7-8 years old can easily handle the “accordion”. Differs in compact sizes.
“Accordion” transformation mechanism: diagram
Click-klyak was invented by the French. Its sliding mechanism operates silently and allows the sofa to be folded into three positions: sitting, reclining and lying down. For a child under 8 years old, such a transformation system is complex; he cannot do it without the help of his parents. Older children can easily master click-clack and lay it out themselves. Girls really like him.
“Click-click” transformation mechanism: diagram
Dolphin is used in corner sofas. One half of the berth is under the seat. To pull it out, just pull the special loop at the bottom of the product. When purchasing a children's dolphin sofa, you should make sure that the structure is stable. There is a risk of the pull-out bed falling through if the mechanism uses low-quality roller systems.
“Dolphin” transformation mechanism: diagram
Advice! Taking care of the safety and convenience for a child under 8 years old, choose sofas with a roll-out mechanism or an “accordion”
Transformation mechanism of the “dolphin” sofa: photo in the interior
Sofa instead of bed
If the child’s room is small or does not exist at all (often the nursery has to be combined with the living room or parents’ bedroom), it is tempting to buy a small sofa. It looks more aesthetically pleasing and compact. This solution seems practical and more comfortable for living. However, you need to think not only about design, but also about the child’s health.
Children, up to the age of high school students, should sleep on an orthopedic base. After all, their posture is still developing. She already suffers during the day from sitting at a table for a long time, in transport, on uncomfortable sofas, etc. So let your body rest at night on a mattress that allows it to take an optimal position. If a child sleeps with a straight spine, he develops correct posture.
Does this mean that a sofa for children's sleep is taboo? No, if it is an orthopedic sofa bed equipped with a spring block or at least a latex base. But it’s better if it’s springs! Such sofas allow the body to take the correct, healthy position.
We can say that a modern orthopedic sofa bed is a good mattress on a folding frame.
Sofa bed
Sofa for a child instead of a bed: pros and cons
Pros 1. Two in one: at night - a place to sleep, during the day - a comfortable sofa for relaxing, including with your parents. 2. Soft back along the length of the sofa. During the daytime, the child does not press against a bare wall. If the baby sleeps on the assembled sofa, the back protects him at night.
Cons 1. The mechanism wears out quite quickly when the sofa is constantly unfolded. The bed usually lasts much longer. 2. Having to disassemble and reassemble a sofa every day is tiring. If you decide not to make the bed or fold the sofa, then what is the point of purchasing it and not a bed?
What to look for when choosing a sofa for a child?
The folding mechanism must be reliable. Please note that cheap sofas do not have super high-quality mechanisms.
The upholstery should be durable, with not too tight tension. Bright colors of upholstery fabrics are achieved using chemical dyes, which can cause allergies. It is best to buy a modest-looking, minimalist sofa with neutral, plain upholstery for your child.
A leather sofa seems very reliable and durable, but it is absolutely not suitable for children. The child freezes on it or, on the contrary, sweats. And in general the level of comfort is low.
For a baby, you need to purchase a sofa without sharp corners, strongly protruding hard parts, etc. The sofa must be safe on all sides.
If it seems that the sofa is not hard or soft enough, you can buy a special thin mattress for the sofa - a topper. It rolls up easily and stows away in a closet or drawer. With its help, you can not only change the level of rigidity of the bed, but also level its surface if it is uneven.
Mattress-mattress from Askona
Children's sofa designs
Design is perhaps the most striking and attractive characteristic of a children's transforming sofa. The color solutions surprise and delight. Fabrics of all colors of the rainbow are used for upholstery. Striped and floral, with prints of animals and cartoon characters, checkered and polka dots. Very often, designers resort to contrasting combinations. From a psychological point of view, such decisions are ideal for positive perception by children. So, in a roll-out model, the seats can be the same color, and the bed can be upholstered in a different fabric.
In the interior of a children's room, a sofa can play the role of a separate art object. Some models are so realistic that in the photo the children's sofa car does not look like a piece of furniture at all.
Interesting artistic images are realized in click-clack sofas. In them, the designer has the opportunity to give a certain shape to several parts of the product at once. In the dolphin and accordion, the designer’s imagination extends to the back and armrests of the product. The seating typically supports a theme with color.
What you won't find in sofas for children are boring, monochromatic colors and heavy designs.
Another feature that children's folding sofas have is the ability to choose different ones for children of both sexes.
What fabric to choose for a sofa
The choice of upholstery should be approached as carefully as other parameters. Interestingly, 60% of the price of the sofa comes from it. So, what upholstery should you choose for your sofa?
- If there are pets or children in the house, choose durable and environmentally friendly fabric.
- Upholstery fabric should be easy to care for. Choose practical, easy-to-clean materials so that maintenance is hassle-free. For everyday use, you should choose dense fabrics - chenille, jacquard, tapestry. As we have already said, the presence of Teflon impregnation will provide the material with protection from moisture and dirt.
- The sofa should fit organically into the general direction of the interior and its color scheme.
The texture of beautiful upholstery made of velor or flock is very noble, but, alas, it wears out quickly. The material is “balding”. A simpler and more wear-resistant fabric is jacquard. The best option for mid-range models is combined materials; this is a practical and attractive solution.
Models for boys and girls
The tradition that associates girls with pink and boys with blue began many years ago. A pink ribbon is used to tie the “envelope” with a girl in it, and a blue stroller is bought for a boy. The same principle works in the production of children's sofas.
Children's sofas for girls
What do manufacturers offer little princesses? Modern children's sofas for girls can be styled to resemble the most unusual objects. The magical pumpkin carriage turns your little girl into Cinderella. The fairytale flower evokes associations with Thumbelina. Pillows in the shape of hearts and flowers create a special atmosphere in a girl's nursery.
Cozy children's room decorated in Scandinavian style
Bright decor will make the interior more contrasting
The color scheme, as a rule, is dominated by shades of pink. But this does not mean that your girl will necessarily be happy with this color. At three years old, the baby accepts the choice of her parents, but it is better to consult with an older girl. Perhaps she has already lost interest in pink tenderness, and has another color in her favorites.
Fuchsia sofa with multi-colored stripes on the seat
The folding mechanism should be light and simple so that the girl can handle it on her own. Choose a click-clack or an accordion for your princess. They are silent and do not require much effort when unfolding.
Children's sofas for boys
Stylish children's sofas for boys are cars, boats, rockets. By the way, it’s easier to agree on color with boys. They are more attracted by the external attributes of the product. Blue, brown, green - it doesn’t matter, the main thing is that there are wheels, a porthole or a steering wheel. And then the transforming sofa becomes a participant in children’s story games.
Boys have a natural passion for all mechanisms. They will be interested in the click-clack, the accordion, and the roll-out system. Teach your child to lay out the sofa correctly, and he will be happy to do it himself. If your child is overly active, and the sofa will have to withstand more than one raid, give preference to the roll-out mechanism as the most reliable.
Look at the photos of the models with your child so that the future purchase will bring joy to both you and your little treasure.
Psychologists advise avoiding clichés and choosing neutral colors for children's sofas. Yellow and brown, blue and green, white and red are suitable for both girls and boys.
The black children's sofa looks very stylish
Dark blue color is quite strict and versatile, suitable for furniture in the room of schoolchildren of both sexes
Original models
There is a huge variety of shapes of sofas for children, so as not to get lost in this sea of interior delights, we recommend choosing a sofa taking into account the age, gender and character of the child. Little children will be interested in sofas that resemble toys in shape: in the form of cars, carriages, soft toys. For example, the panda model.
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Girls who love cats and style will be interested in sofa models made in the style of Hello Kitty, a character who became so popular among children and teenagers thanks to the Japanese artist. For boys, you can consider a gnome sofa, Winnie, Chunga-Changa, Makvin.
Children of primary preschool age will be interested in models made in the form of a house or a rainbow.
A child wants to live in his own fairy-tale world, in which there is a place to sleep and play. Boys of primary school will be interested in bed models in the form of racing cars, ships or an exotic model. Their hearts yearn for adventure. But at the same time, the sofa should also be functional, filled with drawers, and should transform in an interesting way.
Important design details
Special requirements for the design of a children's sofa are designed to ensure safe operation of the product in all areas. The first thing that is necessarily observed in the design of the sofa by the manufacturer is absolute protection from serious injuries. The piece of furniture is located in the child's territory. Until a certain age, children do not fully have a sense of danger. Noisy and active games make up a large part of their life. They run, jump, spin, using all the space in the room. Friends come over, and the load on the sofa increases significantly. All this must be taken into account in the design of the product.
A high-quality sofa is one that meets the following requirements:
- Avoid sharp corners and hard surfaces that could cause injury
- The transformable sofa is not allowed to have protruding parts made of hard materials.
- The upholstery should use environmentally friendly fabrics and dyes.
- Material with a sliding surface is not suitable for children's sofas
- Frame reliability
Corner sofa without protruding sharp parts
The reliability of the frame is a critical element of the design. A good sofa frame for children is made of natural wood or metal. These are the most durable and environmentally friendly materials. Some manufacturers offer models made from MDF. In such models there is a danger of using harmful compounds for gluing parts. In addition, they have low strength and durability.
The sleeping bed should combine comfort and the right rigidity. It cannot consist of separate parts (pillows). Only a flat surface, without the slightest changes. The upholstery should not be stretched as tightly as in an adult product.
A neutral light gray sofa with two seats in the room of an infant who is still sleeping in a crib. Excellent, very versatile in terms of future room design, a choice for growth
Bed fillers
The correct formation of a child’s posture depends on the filling of the sleeping place. At a young age, when all the baby’s bones are actively forming, he should not be allowed to experience obvious discomfort while sleeping.
Manufacturers use two types of materials to fill the sleeping bed: springs and polyurethane foam.
Sofa with a drawer for things and toys. Suitable for older children. Ensure proper quality of material. Toxic chipboard - excluded
Spring blocks can be dependent or independent. The first ones are outdated designs and are not at all suitable for a children's sofa. The interconnected springs are monolithic, and sleeping on them is uncomfortable. In an independent unit, each spring stands separately, packed in a special bag. This distribution of springs allows the body to take a comfortable position. And yet, for a child’s sleeping place, a spring mattress is too harsh. To improve the comfort of the product, purchase an orthopedic mattress for your sofa.
Important! The thickness of a mattress intended for sleeping a child must be at least 8 cm
Polyurethane foam is ideal for sleeping space, the main thing is that it is of high quality. The material is environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, easily takes the shape of the body, and just as quickly restores a smooth surface after sleep. It breathes well and does not accumulate or emit dust.
Both types of filler have a long service life, but there is a difference in price. A high-quality spring block is more expensive than polyurethane foam.
Upholstery material
The quality of the upholstery material should be determined before the sofa arrives at your home. You most likely don’t want to see a brown stain from a chocolate candy on an orange seat in a few days or bright blots of green watercolor on a pink back that cannot be removed. It is advisable that the fabric does not fray for a long time and does not fade; so that it is pleasant to the touch and does not cause discomfort to the baby.
Miniature copy of an adult sofa for two
Velor is definitely not suitable for children's upholstered furniture. It has a delicate surface that wipes quickly. The same flaw is inherent in flock. The best fabrics for upholstering a children's sofa are tapestry and chenille. Natural, breathable, they will not harm your baby. It is easy to remove dirt from them.
Leather and leatherette substitutes can be used in sofa upholstery, but it is better to avoid them. Genuine leather is expensive, but there is no guarantee that your child will not damage it. It’s not a shame to damage the leatherette, but you’ll pay a pretty penny to restore the upholstery.
Important! For a children's sofa, choose fabric with Teflon impregnation. It is impervious to stains and leaves no marks on it.
White color of the sofa in the children's or playroom? Yes, this is possible - with the help of a removable cover
Useful additions
Transformable sofas with a roll-out mechanism and accordions are complemented by plywood drawers. They are convenient for storing bedding, toys, and various children's little things. Such devices are especially relevant for small rooms where it is difficult to find space for a spacious closet.
The decorative pillows included with the sofas are good for a child's daytime rest. It would be great if they have removable covers.
Overview of types of stairs
Loft beds are available for different age categories. Stairs for small users differ from teenage models. They are reliable, stable, have strong railings and gradual ascent of steps, while large beds are equipped with devices with vertical lifting.
All stairs have the same requirements:
- stability and reliability of the stairs themselves;
- strong connections to the structure body;
- steps made of non-slip material;
- minimum of traumatic protrusions, corners and protruding fasteners;
- For children's options, railings are required.
- The ladder must correspond to the age category of the bed model.
Lifting devices can be of different types; let’s look at them in more detail.
Vertical
This type of lifting device is designed for adults, as well as children of older and middle age categories. It takes up minimal space and is suitable for models for small spaces. Ladders can be located either from the front of the bed or from the side. They are not always equipped with handrails.
Attached
Unlike vertical ladders, ladders are located at a slope towards the bed, making them much easier to climb. Sometimes such models have small railings, but more often they do without them. The product can be removable or stationary. Removable models are firmly fixed and do not pose any danger.
Catwalk
The flight of stairs in such models only reaches half of the loft bed and ends at a small platform, the so-called podium, from which it is not at all difficult to climb to the upper bed.
Ladder-furniture
The most popular, safe and practical type of climbing to the upper bed is organized by a comfortable ladder, each step of which is equipped with a drawer or open shelf. Such designs can be combined (with open and closed cells). They can look like a rack or chest of drawers.
Selecting a sofa by age
The age factor is very serious when choosing children's upholstered furniture. Children from 3 to 5 years old need a children's sofa bed with sides that will protect the child from falling while sleeping. They usually have a soft base, creating comfortable conditions for sleep and relaxation. If you do not have the opportunity to place a sofa, buy a folding chair with sides. The photos of such models clearly show the role the sides play.
“Click-clack” as a spare sleeping place. Bed for daily sleep - above it
For children over five years old, it is recommended to purchase a sofa or chair “for growth.” When purchasing, measure the length of the bed and choose with a margin.
Children over 10 years old can buy sofas with any sliding mechanism. The boys prefer a roll-out or accordion, explaining their choice by the speed and ease of transformation. Girls are often amused by the operation of the click-clack mechanism. If there are two children of different sexes and different ages in the family, it is better to buy for them two armchairs or transformable sofas that move out of the wall.
Sofa built into the closet. This option, by the way, is also popular among adults for arranging a bedroom in a small one-room apartment
Age also influences the choice of product shape. Three-year-old children like sailboats, animals, cars, and flowers. These images are clear to them, familiar, they bring them joy and dispose them to a pleasant sleep. Six-year-olds and older children gravitate toward asymmetrical shapes. Pillows of different sizes, square, round, diamond-shaped. Two-level back of the sofa, armrests of different heights. Sofas with such details look stylish and grown-up.
Teenagers, unlike younger children, prefer minimalism among other forms. However, if you have Gulliver growing up, and at the age of 12-13 his head hits the chandelier, then the roll-out mechanism will not help here - you need ordinary adult dimensions.
Varieties
Before choosing a children's bed with such a wide variety of models, the first thing you need to do is decide on the place where it will stand. It is not always possible to place a child in a separate room, then the ideal option would be a sleeping place combined with a desk. This will not only save space, but also give you the feeling of your own corner.
Modular
Beds for children over three years old vary in assembly. Previously, cabinet furniture was mainly in demand. It was a solid structure, not attached to the wall. If there were various compartments and cabinets, they were all fixed together.
Currently, modular furniture is increasingly used for interior design. It can consist of several different items, each of which represents a complete separate unit. Such a product, made of high-quality materials, is expensive.
Transformers
Transformable beds are very convenient to use in small apartments. Some models can be transformed into a table or other piece of furniture. There are children's beds with sides that can be used from birth until school age. When the baby grows up, parents remove the high sides and buy a larger mattress. High-quality furniture of this type can be used for up to 10 years.
Roll-out
For older children, choose beds with a pull-out bed. During the daytime it hides in a niche. Most often, such products have two beds, sometimes even three. Each of them extends further than the top one, forming a staircase. Such original children's beds are not very high, it is almost impossible to fall out of them, but they rarely come with sides. Convenient for large families.
Bunk
This model was popular back in the USSR. During this time, production technology and design have changed greatly, and the safety of this piece of furniture has increased. This bed has two sleeping beds and a ladder. It is ideal for families with two children and limited living space. This way you can save space for the play area. A bunk bed can have a corner design. In such models, the sleeping places are located perpendicular to each other, and the product is additionally equipped with drawers and shelves.
Standard singles
Lovers of the classics will love the standard single bed. It has one berth, there are no additional functional elements on it, except for the sides. Such a model will cost less than its competitors, since its production requires much less material. The optimal choice for one child living in his own room.
It will not be difficult for a parent with carpentry skills to do it by hand. Such a homemade crib for a child over 3 years old will look no worse than a store-bought one.
Thematic
If you want to please your baby with something fabulous, then you should pay attention to thematic models. Such a piece of furniture will develop a child’s imagination and give him many magical hours of play.
Usually these products represent a specific item. Recently, a bed-house for children over 3 years old has become very popular. Its roof has a sloping shape, often there is an attic space. It is recommended to purchase a canopy and soft sides as a set. The child will feel comfortable there, and the sunlight can be shaded during daytime sleep.
A bed with sides for a boy from 3 years old is a car or special equipment
All products have bright, eye-catching colors. Children's beds for girls from 3 years old can be designed in the form of a carriage, water lily, fairy house
Manufacturers are able to fulfill any child’s desire.
Loft bed
A loft bed is convenient for use in a small room, as it saves space. There is a sleeping place on the top bunk; you can get there by stairs. The lower tier is often reserved for a desk or computer desk. Sometimes there is a sofa bed for children over 3 years old. This option is suitable for two children.
Loft beds are often purchased for schoolchildren, since the structure itself is quite high. At the same time, the sleeping place differs in functionality. There may be small drawers in the steps where you can put toys or stationery.
Where to put the sofa
Before buying a transforming sofa, take measurements of the room. Please note that when unfolded, the length of the sofa will increase. Correlate the resulting room dimensions with the dimensions of the product you have chosen. Determine a place where you can put it.
Standard sizes of children's sofas range in length from 180 to 200 cm and width from 60 to 80 cm. Manufacturers are not limited to the specified parameters and offer customers non-standard products. Look in different stores for the model that will fit best in your child’s room.
Place the sofa along the wall, separate from the child’s work area. Do not place it near a window where there may be drafts. Consider the floor covering. The dolphin and the roll-out mechanism have wheels. In order for the sofa to move apart easily, they should not cling to the pile of the carpet or rug. For an accordion or click-clack, this aspect is not important. Another reason to think about which sliding mechanism to choose.
Corner sofas for two boys in a small nursery, minimalistically decorated in white and green tones
Advice! Draw a floor plan of the room, place furniture in it, and see where your sofa will fit optimally for comfort.
Which sofa is better to choose: straight or corner
Straight sofa
They can be straight classic or have a complicated geometry, which depends on the presence of a transformation mechanism and the chosen style. Furniture can be perpendicular or longitudinal, depending on its location in relation to the wall. The first variety is slightly longer than the second, and it does not have transverse seams.
The main advantages of a straight sofa include deep seats, the ability to choose dimensions and select optimal parameters based on the size of the room, and the presence in many models of a transforming mechanism that will turn the sofa into a comfortable bed. The modern assortment includes thousands of original items.
Corner sofas
Designed for medium to large sized rooms. This type of furniture is also suitable for zoning space. In small rooms it may look out of place if other items are present. Like straight ones, corner sofas can also be equipped with a transformation mechanism to transform them into a full-fledged sleeping place.
The corner can be on the left or right, its formation is carried out using a chair element, a cabinet, as well as a “canape” type structure with elongated or standard dimensions. The shape can be U- or L-shaped. Recently, modular designs have been in demand, which allow you to change the location of blocks at any time with the help of specialists or independently.
Fit into the interior
Considering the variety of designs of children's sofas, it is not difficult to choose a model for the finished interior. Of course, it should support the overall style of the room.
Soft sofa for a girl's room
A children's room is one of the most difficult rooms in the house in terms of furnishings. It combines: a workplace, a play area and a bedroom. The task of parents is to organize the child’s living space as convenient and comfortable as possible. First, decide on the interior style.
For marine motifs, a boat-shaped sofa made in blue, yellow, and light blue colors is suitable. It would be great if it was stylized as a boat or a toy boat. Boys love this style. If your child loves everything cartoon, decorate his room in the style of some favorite cartoon. The “Dalmatian” chair will fit perfectly into the interior of a little fan of the famous film.
A room a la Barbie is an interior in pink and gold tones. A sofa with pink upholstery and heart pillows will go well with it. A classic roll-out sofa with stripes or with a clear separation of colors will favorably emphasize your child’s seriousness, focus on learning and passion for intellectual games. For a girl who is passionate about nature, of course, decorate the room in a theme, for example, a forest clearing.
Advice! Pastel colors of upholstery will help visually expand the room and give it airiness. Heavy dark and very bright shades have a negative impact on the child’s psyche.
Dark blue “navy” color is a great choice for a boy’s room
Optimal sizes
When choosing a sofa, you should choose the right shape and size, for this you should proceed from the age of the baby. The youngest kids will love sofas in the shape of animals, cars or boats. Outwardly, they look more like large toys rather than a sleeping place, so they invariably delight a child, who can use such models not only for comfortable sleep, but also as a place for active games with friends.
For older children, the purchase of such sofas is probably no longer justified; models with elements of geometric asymmetry are suitable for them - they are more stylish and mature, and therefore suitable for teenagers. However, even in this case, try to choose products with rounded corners - safety comes first, even if your child is not even 3 years old anymore
When buying a sofa, it is important to correctly correlate the dimensions of the entire product and a separate sleeping area. If you don’t pay special attention to this, then the baby may feel either too cramped or, conversely, too spacious, so in the store you should unfold the sofa and evaluate the parameters of the place to sleep
The most important thing is that the resulting area is sufficient for comfortable sleep. Depending on the manufacturer, the width of the product can be different, but most often models are produced with parameters 130, 140 150, 170 190, as well as 200 cm, the width of the berth is slightly narrower. For children, the optimal dimensions are 70 or 90 cm.
Small and large room
When we hear the word “sofa,” we imagine a large room. Fortunately, the children's sofa lives up to its name in size. But when choosing a model, you cannot help but take into account the dimensions of the room where it will stand.
It's great if you have a large children's room. A sofa with any sliding mechanism will fit into it. A great option for a spacious room is a children's corner sofa. It will add coziness to the room, maintain the ergonomics of the room and become an excellent sleeping place. In a large nursery, two sofas with an accordion system, which is considered the most compact among sliding mechanisms, can easily fit. If you have children of different ages, you can place a chair with sides and a click-clack sofa in the children's room.
It is more difficult to choose a model for a small room. In this case, parents are inclined to buy a folding chair. But you can also choose a sofa. For example, a small roll-out model or a small click-click.
The chair is also relevant when there is no children's room in the house, and the child sleeps in the living room. Here again the choice falls on the accordion, but you can also take the click-clack.
A two-tier transformable sofa is furniture for a small children's room with two residents. During the day, the structure is retracted into a niche, forming a single whole with the wall. At night, the beds can be pulled out and children will happily fall asleep on them.
A roll-out sofa is a comfortable place for daily sleep, as well as for watching TV and playing games.
Design features
Caring for children is a vital part of many people's lives. The design of a children's room should not only take into account the interests of raising a child, but also be reliable and functional. When working on its design, you need to take into account the following rules:
An important design element when there are two or more children is zoning. For each of them, a separate living space should be designed, provided with everything necessary for a comfortable existence.
Area 14 sq. m will allow the use of architectural design techniques for decoration: pilasters, bas-reliefs and others. At the same time, the design should be beautiful not from the point of view of adults, but appeal to children.
An important factor for children's development is color variety. Using a large number of bright, colorful and harmonious details will not only please the child, but will also contribute to his development.
Using a variety of designs and patterns to decorate walls and furniture in the nursery. Such details will arouse curiosity and delight kids.
You need to remember the importance of quality lighting. There should not be insufficiently lit areas in the nursery. You need to pay special attention to the lighting of the table on which the child prepares his homework. It is believed that it is better to use incandescent light bulbs to operate a table lamp, as they provide more natural and comfortable light.
You need to adhere to a certain design style. One of the successful solutions, for example, would be to highlight the design or color of one of the walls and decorate it with drawings or caricatures.
When planning finishing, you need to discuss it with each child.
Checking a sofa in a store
The interior style has been determined, the dimensions have been agreed upon, the shape and color of the sofa have been chosen - it’s time to go shopping. When you arrive at the store, consult with the seller. Then go to the selected model and carry out the following manipulations:
- Feel the sofa. It should be soft in the area of the seat, armrests and back, and harder along the rest of the perimeter of the structure
- Are you planning to install a sofa in the middle of the room? Pay attention to the color of the rear façade material.
- Be sure to fold and unfold the model several times to ensure that the sliding mechanism is working properly. Have you noticed the slightest snagging or suspicious creaking? Move on to another sample. Make sure that the sofa can be folded out easily and the child can do it himself.
- Look at the sleeping place unfolded. It should not have any height differences.
- Find out the type of filler.
- Sit down on the sofa. If the sellers allow it, lie down. This way you will experience the comfort of your sleeping place.
- Ask the seller about the type of upholstery fabric. Check it for defects; also check the neatness of the seams and fastenings of the upholstery.
- If the sofa has drawers, move them. They should move easily and not jump out of the grooves.
- Check the dimensions. Make sure that the model fits exactly into the dimensions of the nursery.
- Check the stability of the sofa. Rock it, try pressing the back: if the sofa tilts easily, refuse to buy it. Installed in the middle of the room, it will definitely fall, which could result in injury to the child.
Do not hesitate to carry out such a check so as not to be disappointed in the purchase later.
What furniture is suitable?
The most famous method of dividing a room into zones, where both the bed and the sofa are located, has always been a large wardrobe; now it can easily be replaced with a compact wardrobe, the doors of which do not require space to open. The doors of the wardrobe can be decorated with photo printing or various interesting patterns; this solution will add originality to the entire interior.
Another convenient way to place furniture is to install a transformable bedroom, which will fit well into the interior of a room of no more than 18 square meters. m. The transformable bedroom can be easily folded and unfolded. Such furniture helps save space.
Another original method of combining two functional areas into one is the installation of partitions. This method will significantly save space and diversify the interior of a room of no more than 17 square meters. m. The partition can be: glass, wood, fabric. Zoning can also be done using a plasterboard partition; the shape and size of this type of building can be chosen independently.
For a one-room apartment, an excellent option for zoning the room would be to place various lighting fixtures in one or another zone. The bedroom can be separated from the living room using LED strips, table and wall lamps. Streams of light directed in different directions add uniqueness to the room.
We make to order
Have you looked through hundreds of photos, gone shopping, but still haven’t found what you need? Contact a furniture workshop. Experienced furniture makers work with any sliding mechanisms. They will make both a click-clack and an accordion, from materials chosen by you according to your taste.
In addition, when ordering, you can ask for side pockets made from upholstery fabric for the sofa; complement it with a pull-out basket.
Workshops are not limited in size and configuration - they will make drawings according to your drawing and make exactly the sofa you want. Of course, a custom-made product will cost more than a factory-made sofa in a store. But if you take a thing for growth, then it will fully justify the money you spent.
Useful tips
Tips for furniture placement
- A children's room should be safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.
- When arranging any nursery, take into account the height of the ceilings, their size, and the condition of the floor and walls.
- If the room is spacious and has a rectangular or square shape, you can divide it with a closet or partition and give space to each child.
- Cribs should be placed against opposite walls if the room is wide. The study area will be near the window. If the room is narrow, place a transformable bed or folding sofa there. Bunk beds are ideal for cramped rooms. For such rooms, a furniture corner set is suitable, which includes a bed, table, and wardrobe.
- When equipping a room in the shape of a rectangle, consider its ergonomics. Here it is necessary to arrange the furniture so that the minimum area is used with maximum comfort.
- If the room is square-shaped, using the following two options will be great space savers. The first is to place the cribs against opposite walls. The second is “head to head” at an angle. Using the first option, the personal territory of each child is emphasized, and the second option is very good for a brother and sister who dote on each other.
- If the nursery is narrow and elongated, place the crib along one line. Divide the headboard with a piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers or a nightstand, so that children of different sexes feel their own personal territory.
Content
The task becomes more complicated if there are 2 children living in the nursery, especially children of different sexes. Each of them needs their own space for proper development, where they can retire at any time. All of the above can be achieved with the correct arrangement of furniture.
