Quite unexpectedly, the moment has come when your baby has already outgrown his crib, and it’s time to think about purchasing new, more adult furniture for him to sleep and relax.
Buying furniture for a child is a matter that must be approached very carefully, taking into account all the nuances, from the convenience and functionality of a new bed to its cost.
A children's soft sofa is an excellent option that combines compactness, comfort and original design.
Features, advantages and disadvantages
As a rule, a child receives his first sofa when he is 2–3 years old. It is at this age that many parents begin to wean their babies away from cribs with sides. For the adaptation process to be successful, a children's sofa must have a number of features and meet the following requirements:
- safety - there cannot be any sharp corners, protruding parts, protruding nails or springs on the furniture;
- stability - children often jump and fall onto the sofa while running, so this piece of furniture simply must be strong and reliable;
- simplicity of layout - if it is assumed that the child will fold and unfold the bed himself, then the transformation mechanism should be as simple as possible;
- functionality - since the baby needs to start teaching order from a very early age, drawers for linen and other things in the sofa will not hurt;
- environmental friendliness - the sofa itself, all its components, as well as the filling and upholstery must be made from high-quality natural raw materials;
- convenience - the design of the sofa should be such that the child can rest comfortably, without causing harm to the spine.
Experts advise choosing only orthopedic furniture for children, since the baby’s skeletal system needs proper development. The advantages of orthopedic sofas are obvious and are as follows:
- withstand heavy weight;
- durable;
- comfortable, provide healthy and restful sleep;
- allow you to completely relax your muscles;
- are the only option for children with back problems.
The only disadvantage of orthopedic models is that they are much more expensive than regular sofa beds. And if we talk about the disadvantages of sofa beds in general, we can note that such furniture will have to be updated frequently, since children grow quickly, and it is not worth buying a large sofa in advance. In addition, many consider the weak point that you have to completely collect the bed linen every time, while other sofa models allow you to simply cover the bed with a beautiful blanket or cape.
Varieties
Despite the fact that particularly high demands are placed on the production of children's sofas, their manufacturers do not seek to reduce the number of products produced. On the contrary, sofas for children are being improved and their range is increasing.
First of all, sofas are divided into two groups:
- Sofa bed. Sofas that, in addition to their main function, are also intended for sleeping.
- Sofas where you can only sit.
Among the first group there is a sofa Baby. It is perfect for a small room, as it takes up very little space when folded.
When unfolded, there is a full-fledged sleeping place. The Baby Sofa or, from some manufacturers, the Baby Sofa is an excellent solution.
When folded, it usually looks like a very small sofa, more like an armchair with a slightly larger seat.
Usually such a mini-sofa moves forward, but there are options when it folds out to the side, thereby lengthening the seat and allowing the child to sleep quite comfortably on such a sofa.
Expert opinion
Romanova Ksenia Petrovna
Interior design expert and fabric store manager
Another representative of this group is a transformable sofa, which is usually used for an apartment. If the room is large, then you can easily fit it into it.
Such a sofa would be especially appropriate in a room with a baby, when parents have to spend nights there. A transformer is usually chosen for children with a version of the Eurobook mechanism.
It allows you to easily unfold the sofa, and even a small child can handle it.
An excellent option for a boy’s nursery would be a sofa with an orthopedic mattress. This will not only be a place for games, but also a full-fledged comfortable bed, which is important for a child’s spine.
Such child-shaped sofas are usually very similar to a bed, only they have three wooden backs. Supplementing it with pillows, we get a beautiful and fashionable sofa.
But there are sofas that are not intended for sleeping. They are mainly used for play corners. In the play area, frameless forms are best suited, which pose little risk of injury and will fit perfectly into any nursery interior. But there are sofas that are not intended for sleeping.
It is also very convenient to equip the lower tier of the loft bed with a sofa. The child will have a place to sit with a book and play.
The attic sofa is convenient because there is a bed with a sleeping place suitable for your boy, and on which neither the child nor his friends have to sit, and at the same time, the sofa does not have to be disassembled every day for sleeping. And if your child has sleepover friends, there will be somewhere to accommodate them.
Main advantages
Photos of children's sofas are very diverse. Therefore, before buying furniture, parents need to study the advantages and features of popular varieties and make sure of their excellent quality. The advantages of sofas over standard beds are obvious.
Such furniture:
- allows you to free up space in the child’s room;
- as safe as possible. High-quality children's sofas with sides will guarantee that the child will not fall out of bed while sleeping;
- very functional. Sofas are often equipped with comfortable shelves and drawers, which can be used to store things and bedding;
- features a wide variety of designs, shapes, and colors. Therefore, you can always choose furniture that will delight your baby.
Types of execution
Children's sofa beds can have different types of designs.
- In small apartments where a child cannot have a separate room, a sofa chair is very popular. This model, when disassembled, is a full-fledged sleeping place, and when assembled, it is an ordinary chair that can be placed in a corner. The only drawback of this choice is that the sleeping place is low, and not all children like it.
- Sofas with a headboard look homely and cozy. Girls like these models more because they look airy, light and complement a variety of types of interior designs. It is better to place such furniture units in separate and spacious rooms. In addition, they are often supplemented with drawers where the child can put laundry and personal items.
- There are also models that do not have a soft back at all. They are called couches. As a rule, couches are rarely folding and are not very popular. But they can be used as a budget option for a child’s room.
Models for children of different sexes
If everything is clear with the gender differences of models, but what will you choose when you have to furnish a room for opposite-sex twins or the same age? The best option is your favorite characters or animals. Some people love dogs or cats, others dream of a panda or a raccoon.
The sofa can play the role of a separate art object in the interior of a children's room
It is not necessary to fill the room with soft toys on a given theme; it is better to buy children's sofas like “Dalmatian”, “Deer” or “Nemo the Fish”.
Great joy and consolation is a sofa toy, which can “revive” any boring design of a children’s room. These could be sofas with the theme “Angry Birds” or “Masha and the Bear”; today, children’s furniture catalogs are full of these models.
Sofas are produced in different color options and differ only in the theme of the upholstery - separately for boys and for girls. There is also upholstered furniture on a general theme, which differs structurally - a good opportunity to furnish the room in an original way according to the principle of zoning.
A plain dark blue sofa is a suitable option for a room for mixed-sex children
If you are interested in undefined children, you can opt for simple models with “children’s” upholstery colors. Favorite characters will appear - the children's room can be supplemented with themed soft toys and sofa cushions with cute faces of the characters.
When choosing a sofa, you should consult with your children, letting them understand that this furniture is intended only for them
Today, many universal models are produced that are convenient for sleeping and children's games. There are also utilitarian sofas - only for sitting (without a sleeping layout), and soft armchairs transform into full-fledged beds. The sofa, armchair and bed can be made on a popular theme - “Shrek”, “Little Raccoon” or “Luntik”.
Functionality
It is very important for every child to have their own sofa, because sometimes such a piece of furniture is not only a sleeping place, but also a kind of play area. Let's consider what additions can be equipped with children's sofa beds.
- Models with drawers. Such boxes are convenient to use not only for storing bed linen. You can also store seasonal shoes, your child’s personal belongings, and toys in them. All this saves a lot of space and prevents clutter from forming.
- Sides. This is a must for restless babies who fidget in their sleep and want to fall on the floor. In this case, it is better to choose high sides, since low ones do not guarantee one hundred percent protection.
- Products with a cabinet . These options are convenient for small rooms where you need to make the most of the space. The sleeping place is located on the second floor, below there is a table and a wardrobe with all the necessary contents.
- Table-armrest. This solution is suitable for older children - from about 10 years old. On a comfortable table you can put your laptop, watch a movie or surf the Internet.
- Lamp . You can place a small lamp on the side of the sofa. It will help preschoolers and primary schoolchildren cope with their fear of the dark, and for older children it will become a source of light for reading before bed.
- Pillows. Decorative pillows placed on the sofa can radically change the look of the room and give it coziness. In addition, they are comfortable to lie on while reading a book or watching a movie.
- Mattress cover. Beds with a mattress are a convenient solution for children's sleeping space. To ensure that this item is clean and hypoallergenic, it is best to purchase mattress covers. They will allow you to keep your sofa in order without resorting to dry cleaning.
Features of choice
A modern sofa for a children's room is an excellent solution for children of all ages. However, when purchasing it, it is important to pay attention to many nuances.
First of all, experts advise taking into account the age of the baby. For the little ones, it is best to choose low models with sides. They will protect them from falling and will be as comfortable as possible.
To ensure the safety of the child, care must be taken to ensure that there are no hard corners or sharp protruding parts. The armrests of the sofa should be soft and round in shape. If there are drawers in the sofa, you need to ensure that there is special protection against pinching.
The size of the furniture is of great importance. For small rooms, transformer models are ideal because they are as compact as possible when folded. A corner sofa will also help save space in the room. It can be compactly placed in a free corner of the room, freeing up space for the baby’s active games.
Options for girls and boys
Structurally, a sofa for a son and a daughter are no different; often it’s just a different color of the upholstery or a characteristic pattern. Many boys are close to the marine theme, especially when their parents often take them on vacation. Upholstered furniture often reflects the corresponding theme:
- river transport;
- cruises and travel;
- cartoons about the underwater world and its inhabitants;
- exotic countries;
- pirate romance.
Pillows with anchors and a white wooden frame are a suitable sofa for a child's room in a nautical style.
Children of all ages are attracted by the interior in the style of a pirate's or "sea wolf's" cabin. You shouldn’t refuse a child if he dreams of ringing a bell, standing on the captain’s bridge, looking through binoculars, tapping a Morse code, or turning a real steering wheel. All this can be added to the interior. A child’s dream can easily be realized by purchasing a model on this topic, if it is feasible for the family budget.
Among the inexpensive models, you can choose an interesting option with a convenient storage system
Today you can find nautical-themed sofas for the youngest sailors in catalogs:
- "Boat."
- "Dream".
- "Wave".
- "Ship."
- "Steamboat".
- "Ship."
A children's boat ottoman will be an excellent solution for a preschool boy's room
The design of multifunctional furniture for children gives great scope to parents who want to furnish their children's personal space according to a given theme. In addition to the nautical theme, there are many other boyish options:
- Cars (beds and folding sofas for children).
- Airplanes and rockets.
- Space.
- Sport.
- Funny animals.
- Neutral children's furniture with themed upholstery.
- Heroes of your favorite cartoons and superheroes from the world of cinema.
Spectacular designer models are not always offered with exorbitant price tags, so don’t rush into choosing a sofa for your daughter. Childhood is fleeting, our “little princesses” deserve the best, so we shouldn’t deny them aesthetic things that form impeccable taste.
Wooden sofa with drawers in a girl’s room, decorated in Provence style
Such a purchase can be the equivalent of loving a baby. Girls often want a sofa with the image of “The Little Mermaid”, “Barbie” or “Bratz”. Often in catalogs you can see folding models, where a sofa bed for a girl looks like a cradle for a doll or a little princess.
Watch the video: Children's soft sofas
If you decide to buy a sofa for a child’s room to decorate a child’s bed, then the optimal solution would be to choose upholstered furniture with the following mechanisms:
- • Book;
- • Eurobook;
- • Click-clack.
A distinctive feature of these mechanisms is reliability and durability, so even with frequent use, this furniture will not break. See children's sofas photo examples:
When choosing a sofa transformation mechanism, it is important to pay attention to the movement of the lower part.
Children do not think about the integrity of the floor covering, so sofas equipped with roll-out mechanisms or the dolphin system will quickly scratch linoleum or other floor covering.
However, furniture of the above-mentioned type attracts with its original design and will appeal to both kids and teenagers.
To protect the floor covering, you need to lay a carpet on the floor or put special rubber pads on furniture wheels.
In order not to worry about the flooring or if you don’t want to fold and unfold a children’s mini sofa every day, you need to give preference to bed-shaped models with protective sides.
What you need to pay attention to
Firstly, the furniture must meet all safety requirements. It is better to give preference to low specimens, without hard armrests and sharp corners. Children's sofas with soft sides are available for sale; they perform a protective function, preventing the child from falling to the floor.
Secondly, the quality of the materials used for manufacturing should also be at a high level, they should not include harmful chemical impurities; it is better to opt for furniture made from environmentally friendly raw materials.
Thirdly, special attention should be paid to the fabric with which the child’s future sleeping place is upholstered. Furniture stores offer a wide variety of upholstery materials.
It is better to give preference to natural fabrics rather than synthetic ones. The choice of color scheme for a sofa for a children's room is made based on your taste preferences. However, it is better to avoid too bright, provocative colors.
A sofa for a child should have a base made of polyurethane foam or a spring block. Since a child spends more than a third of his life sleeping, the base of the bed should be orthopedic. This will avoid possible health problems.
If you choose a folding children's sofa, then pay attention to the number of kinks in the surface; the more there are, the worse it is for the child. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the layout mechanism.
The least amount of unevenness is observed with such furniture layout options as “dolphin”, “book”, you can choose the “click-clack” layout.
Dimensions
The size of a children's sofa should be determined by the child's height. As a rule, you need to add about 50 cm to your initial height to make sleeping and relaxing on such furniture comfortable. In general, the dimensions can be as follows:
- up to three years old choose mini sofas - 600x1200 mm;
- from three to six years: 700x1400, 700x1600 mm and more, depending on height and build;
- after seven years, it is better to select teenage models, for example, 800x1900 mm.
These are standard sizes, but due to the wide variety of shapes and designs, product parameters may vary greatly. In any case, you need to come to the store with your child to be sure that the sofa is suitable for the height and weight of the child.
Spectacular examples in the interior
You can not only play with the heroes of your favorite fairy tale, but also sleep in an embrace. This toy sofa can replace your baby's first crib. Such a model will immediately attract attention, so it is advisable that its color be combined with the overall color scheme of the nursery.
Most likely, a child over 3 years old will enjoy sleeping next to cartoon characters. Then the sofa will become the central object in the nursery.
A sofa with a laconic shape and fairly calm colors is also suitable for a children's room. The butterfly pillows make him look like an adult, but not at all boring.
Option for a small nursery. During the day, a bright, comfortable sofa will decorate a teenager's room. And at night it turns into a bunk bed.
Folding furniture is convenient not only as the main place to sleep. This compact chair-bed is a spare option for guests.
To learn how to choose a children's sofa, watch the following video.
Children's sofa design
Catalogs of furniture stores and factories are replete with various models of children's sofas, from simple, plain options to chic, designer solutions.
When choosing a sleeping place for your baby, do not forget to include him in the choice, because the future owner must like the furniture.
Perhaps your little one will resist a sofa in the shape of a pink convertible, but will want to fall asleep in a racing Ferrari, and your little boy will prefer a sofa in the shape of his favorite fairy-tale hero to a black Mercedes.
Rich, colorful colors will complement the style of the children's room, decorate and transform it. Don’t forget to choose original covers and bright pillows for the new sofa; this will additionally decorate your baby’s room and create a cozy and warm atmosphere in the nursery.
When choosing a sofa for your child, try to find a model that attracts not only its aesthetic appearance, but also its contents, will be made of natural materials, is safe for the baby, and will have an orthopedic base for a relaxing and comfortable rest.
Useful tips
If you are buying a sofa for a 3-year-old child, do not rush to remove the bed from the nursery. Give your child time to get used to the new sleeping place. Watch for yourself how he masters it and how comfortable he is on it.
If you are concerned about the integrity of the upholstery, buy a ready-made cover or a nice bedspread that matches the interior.
The best materials for upholstery in the room of active children are tapestry and chenille. Faux leather is also a good choice
Expect to use the sofa for 5-7 years. If the dimensions of the product allow it to be used further, re-stretch the upholstery. Choose the color of the sofa based on your child’s temperament. For the passive and lazy, bright colors and patterns are suitable. The activity of fidgets will be calmed by blurred drawings and muted colors.
It is not necessary to buy two children, even if they are twins, sofas with the same color and shape. It would be more correct to choose the upholstery color and shape based on the wishes of each child.
A sofa with a dolphin mechanism and an unusual corner sofa-chair with a round-shaped seat
To consolidate the information received with a clear example, watch this video:
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Shapes and design
Standard sofa shapes include 3 varieties.
- Straight . This is an ordinary classic sofa that is placed near the wall. Common models are a sofa-couch or a sofa-ottoman. In addition, a carriage tie is very often used, which is mainly loved by girls.
- Angular. This solution is suitable for a room of any size. The sofa is placed in the corner and saves space. More children can be accommodated here if friends come to visit the child.
- Ostrovny. The good thing about such sofas is that they can be placed anywhere, even in the middle of the room. However, they look best in larger spaces.
The range of sofas is not at all limited to standard and familiar forms. Every year, manufacturers release new models, inspired by the demands of modern children and their imagination. For boys, a car-shaped sofa is a win-win option. Young representatives of the stronger sex will also like models in the form of an airplane, tractor, or ship. Many children choose characters from their favorite cartoons and films.
Girls will love the fabulous sofa house and sofa carriage. An excellent choice would be furniture pieces that represent animals.
Children really like bears, dolphins, cats and dogs, and African animals. You can always choose just a bright version of the sofa, decorating it with pillows of various shapes.
Photos of children's sofas
Color solutions
The choice of sofa color should be based on two factors: the child’s desire and the overall color scheme of the room. If everything in the room is bright, it is better to choose a neutral color option, and vice versa. For girls, good colors would be:
- beige;
- pink;
- blue;
- light green;
- turquoise;
- lilac;
- yellow.
Suitable for boys:
- blue;
- red;
- brown;
- blue;
- orange;
- violet.
The older the child, the less defiant the tones should be. For example, bright pink color in adolescence should be replaced by dusty or powdery pink, rich lemon - vanilla or banana. Blue and purple shades are available throughout the palette.
