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.
Design types of sofas
Universal models are the most popular, for example, a folding children's sofa bed. This is convenient in a one-room apartment and in a small children’s bedroom, where after unfolding there is almost no space left for games. It can be folded for the day by storing the blanket and pillow in the appropriate place under the sleeping block.
Manufacturers of children's furniture produce a huge number of children's sofas of a wide variety of designs.
By the way, a very useful detail is a drawer or niche for linen and bedding. It is not always used for its intended purpose; you can put it there:
- children's clothing;
- toys;
- bed sheets;
- seasonal clothes and shoes.
If the baby is prone to falling out of bed, when buying children's furniture with a sofa, look for samples with a side that prevents falls. Some models provide for fixing soft blocks or sofa cushions using Velcro tape. This will protect an active child who often turns over and spins in his sleep.
When choosing the height of the sofa, you need to focus on the height of the child
Before purchasing a sofa for a child's room for a schoolchild or teenager, it is worth understanding the transformation mechanism. But what to do with an active baby who runs around like crazy all day, and by nightfall sits down and falls asleep? Then a children's folding sofa is not the most useful model.
For an active baby who falls asleep anywhere but in his own bed, it is better to make the children's sofa for bed in advance or not fold the bed at all. And wash the baby in advance, give him dinner and change into pajamas.
It happens that there is no one to spread out the sofa, the baby sleeps in any position where sleep has “caught up” with him. Then it’s better to have a regular bed or a sofa-like sofa with a small backrest. A high sofa is a certain inconvenience for a child, even if a ladder, stool or large cube is placed next to the sleeping area.
Colorful design helps the child quickly get used to the new sleeping place
For schoolchildren and teenagers, they buy folding “transformers” or “folding bed”-type sofas. An important nuance is that the model should be light and stable, convenient for independent transformation.
Drawout models
The most convenient mechanisms are on wheels, where the sleeping block is pulled out from under the seat and filled with the soft sides of the backrest. It is pulled towards you by grasping a special loop.
The simple and convenient design of roll-out sofas allows children to independently handle their furniture
There is another, more convenient option - on roof rails. These models are usually more expensive, but when the lower block is pushed, the corresponding mechanism independently moves the sleeping plane. The sleeping place can be laid out in length in 3-4 steps. The device is completely safe; transformation does not require effort or time spent getting ready for bed.
Compact roll-out sofa with storage space for bedding
Many parents dream of a small children's sofa that folds out on its own. Such models are suitable for both a girl of primary school age and a guy with poor health. Also in the catalogs you can find sliding modules controlled from a remote control; they operate on an electric drive. The child does not make any effort when laying out such a place to rest.
Corner
There is no need to adapt corner models to your conditions or refuse a purchase if it is “in the wrong direction.” Children's upholstered furniture is produced in 2 modifications:
- right corner;
- left corner.
Most often, one corner product item is displayed in the showroom. Surely, the manufacturer offers both design options. These sofas usually have a “dolphin” layout - the lower plane seems to emerge and fill the space of the corner to a rectangle.
Corner sofa with a sleeping place, reminiscent of a cheerful crocodile design
Folding sofas
The transformation method is especially important for a small children's bedroom. The design of a small sofa for a nursery is not the most important criterion, although this is what children pay attention to. Parents often look at the price tag, dimensions and conversion of samples. They transform in length, others are more like a double chair - they move forward.
When choosing a folding sofa, special attention should be paid to the quality of the transformation mechanism, because this is the weakest point of furniture of this type
If the child is forced to unfold the sofa on his own, it is better to choose it in the sales area together with the future owner. The method of transforming the sofa bed should be shown by a consultant, and the daughter or son should repeat it a couple of times to make sure it is comfortable.
Today there are about 30 varieties of folding mechanisms for upholstered furniture. Not all of them are used in children's models. But there are those where one sofa turns into two full beds. Some have sleeping places next to each other or opposite, others fold out like two-story compartments.
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”
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
Tree
As a frame for furniture, wood has been very popular for centuries, and this is understandable, because it has a number of advantages:
- Beauty. Furniture made from such material will look great in any interior.
- Strength. A properly chosen wooden frame will perform its function for many years.
- Purity. This material is the most environmentally friendly, does not have any harmful impurities and will not harm health.
Plastic
As for this material, most likely it will not be the frame itself that is made of plastic, but the external parts, decorations, armrests, etc. Children will like this option due to the variety of colors and designs; a sofa with plastic parts will look bright and beautiful. However, you need to understand that plastic is an artificial material; when buying furniture with plastic elements, you should not skimp, as cheap material may contain toxic impurities. In addition, it is quite fragile, which also does not speak in its favor when it comes to children and teenagers, so you need to choose things with such a basis very carefully.
Metal
Folding mechanisms made of metal are not yet used very often, although it is safe to say that this will not last long, they have already begun to gain popularity. Metal, like wood, is one of the most suitable options for the frame of a folding sofa; it also has many advantages, and in some respects, a metal frame even outperforms a wooden one:
- Style. A sofa with metal elements will look very fashionable and modern, which a teenage boy will certainly appreciate. Metal fits well with any upholstery and can itself be painted in any color.
- Wear resistance. Durable and stable, the metal frame is perfect for active teenagers and can withstand heavy loads. If such a frame does break, repairing it will not be difficult.
- Safety. The entire frame is hidden inside, which eliminates the possibility of injury when interacting with furniture. In addition, the metal does not ignite and is resistant to changes in humidity.
- Purity. Like wooden frames, metal frames do not contain any harmful impurities.
- Low price. In addition to other advantages, metal furniture will have a very reasonable price without sacrificing quality.
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.
Color solutions
There are a huge variety of color options for children's sofas. You can choose them to suit any interior.
The entire palette of colors is presented here, and you can also choose any print from geometric shapes, polka dots, flowers to cartoon characters. For a boy, the overall color of the sofa plays a minor role. It can be blue, gray, brown green. Drawing is more important to him. It would be ideal if there were steering wheels or rockets, but he won’t refuse cartoon characters either. If you turn a sofa using color into a part of a play complex, for example, a ship, then your tomboy will definitely not remain indifferent.
What kind of sofa definitely has no place in a nursery is a white one. A children's room remains a child's room; there may be spilled juice, paints, and markers. Even from the most modern coating it will be difficult to wash all this. And if you still decide to buy a white sofa, immediately buy a cover for it. The only place where a white sofa is acceptable is the room of a very pedantic teenager.
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
Which color should I choose?
For a teenage boy, you need to order a sofa in soothing colors:
- grey;
- black;
- blue;
- green;
- brown.
The sofa for boys should be dark not because they are not always neat and can spill something on it. It is during adolescence that a boy begins to develop a masculine character, his own life rules and habits. The formation of character is also influenced by the interior in which a guy grows up.
If there are too many dark colors in the room, the teenager’s emotional state may worsen, so if the room is made in neutral colors, there may be one dark spot in it - the sofa, and if the wallpaper, floor and ceiling are dark, then the sofa should be light gray or beige .
For a teenage girl, you can choose a sofa in pastel or bright, rich colors:
- pink;
- olive;
- lilac;
- turquoise;
- blue.
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.
Wide range of models
Nowadays, the range of furniture for children's rooms is so wide that both parents and little future owners of sofas can get confused. If you give your child the opportunity to choose upholstered furniture for his room, then most likely he will choose a bright model, with a colorful print or stylized as a fairy-tale hero, an animal or some type of transport. But for parents, the quality of materials is much more important (and most often for sofas that look like large soft toys, it is low) and the size of the model, which should not easily fit into the capabilities of the room, but also meet the requirements of ergonomics and ease of use.
Many parents like frameless models of sofas and armchairs, made in a modular modification. Fewer frame parts (or lack thereof) means fewer reasons for breakdown. But it is obvious that such pieces of furniture are only suitable for sitting; you cannot sleep on them. A corner sofa made up of several blocks will provide the maximum possible number of seats, and will take up little space in the room.
You can make a sofa, or rather its original likeness, yourself - put a soft backing on the console standing on supports and ensure the softness of the “back” with the help of several pillows. Of course, you can’t sleep on such a sofa, but in the lower part you can build shelves or cells for storing toys, books or sports equipment.
If the space in the children's room and the budget for arrangement allow it, then you can implement even the most original ways of creating a soft recreation and play area. The following structures can hardly be called sofas, but one thing is obvious - children will be delighted with such soft cells where they can retire, but at the same time remain within the range of hearing and visibility of other children or adults.
The role of a sofa can also be played by a large pouf of any shape, placed against a wall equipped with soft panels. Such a soft corner can become not only your baby’s favorite place to retire, but also a highlight of the interior, raising its level of uniqueness.
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.
Some useful tips
It is quite difficult to explain to a child that the sofa he or she likes cannot be bought due to finances, dimensions or other reasons. It is better to offer to choose from pre-selected models.
If color or pattern becomes a sticking point, you can choose furniture with interchangeable covers to suit different tastes. An additional plus is ease of care. A cheaper option is the upholstery chosen by the parents and a beautiful bedspread (pillows in the shape of animals), in accordance with the wishes of the baby.
Choosing a children's sofa is a difficult process, because both adults and children should like the purchase. Compromises are achieved thanks to a wide range, and some tricks.
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.
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
Other types of children's upholstered furniture
A classic ottoman with a backrest is considered a universal choice for a schoolchild. This variety will organically fit into any interior. There is a place for it in any room - it is not burdened with excessive structural details.
Stylish ottoman with a soft back on a wooden frame
Designers have worked hard to improve the simplest model, the new proposal is the “Euro-ottoman” (there is also a “Eurosofa”). The new look has an improved seat-forward layout, but there are also models that fold in half. These sofas are suitable for a teenager to get a good night's sleep. With high cushions, they are comfortable for watching TV, self-education on a laptop, or reclining handicrafts with knitting needles and crochet.
Children's Eurosofa with bright upholstery - a school-age girl will definitely like this furniture
A daybed is another classic option that resembles a bed. An excellent model for a good rest for school-age children. This is a single model with a small backrest that turns into a headboard on low legs. Designers periodically return to well-forgotten classics, offering mixed options, such as an ottoman-couch or a sofa-sofa. They have a well-balanced bed rigidity.
Children's sofa-couch with folding bed
The sofa is also a classic - a model that came to Europe from the Ottoman Empire. The main difference from the hard ancestor, which required a large number of flat pillows, modern children's sofas of this type have an ergonomic plane, which is recommended for children with a slight curvature of the spine. Modern proposals - with or without transformation, the backrest reclines to accommodate the seat displacement. There is often a niche for linen or drawers for clothes.
Turquoise sofa with carriage frame in a girl’s room
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.
Structural sophistication: transformable sofa
Technically, the sofas whose designs we just looked at can be classified as convertible sofas, because they transform from a regular sofa into a bed. But this is far from the most impressive transformation - developments in recent years allow you to buy in one piece of furniture:
- Sofa and bunk bed. This is an excellent solution for a small nursery where two children of the same age or the same age live. During the day, the sofa will serve as a place where you can drink tea and watch TV, set up a blanket tent, or play quiet board games together. You can turn it into a fortress or just take a nap on it after a hard day at school. But when night falls, you can turn the sofa so that the back rises and is a meter above the seat. A small ladder is included with the design. In the morning, you can roll up the bed linen, put it in a drawer under the bottom and roll the beds back into one sofa.
- Sofa and table . This is also a good solution for a small nursery, where the size of the room - or its layout - does not allow arranging a more complex workspace for the child. When folded, the tabletop is stored behind the back or under the seat. But it is enough to use the mechanism so that it ends up in front of the seat and takes the place of the table. And then it’s a matter of technology. Place a lamp to the child's left, take out notebooks and books, and you can calmly prepare for tomorrow's school day. Here you can drink tea, play a board game or draw.
- Sofa and wardrobe . A solution for a child’s room where there is simply no room for a separate closet. It looks like a wall cabinet, in the middle of which there is a sofa attached to it. There are drawers around it, and shelves above it. At night, when no one needs space on the floor, the sofa folds out and the child can go to bed. During the day, bed linen is put away in one of the drawers.
- Sofa and two beds . This is an option for a home with two children. Instead of putting two beds in the room, which will take up most of the space, you can put a transforming sofa, which has two options. In the first, it is simply a roll-out sofa, the sleeping places of which are separated by a seat element. In the second there is the same roll-out sofa, from which two sleeping places are obtained - one closer to the floor, the second where the seat used to be.
Having finished choosing a sofa based on technical characteristics, you can delve into more subtle and interesting matters - convenience for a particular child and design delights.
Option for a boy
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.
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
