Building Children's Furniture

Children and Heirlooms

Once upon a time, children used the same furniture as their elders once they outgrew the crib. Child-sized furniture like the century-old rocker above was rare and became a treasured heirloom. Today we can buy almost anything in age-appropriate sizes, but the furniture people pass down to their children will be something that their own parents (or grandparents) made for them. When choosing a project, remember that it may be kept for generations and, though childhood is short, kids are hard on furniture. A good plan for children's furniture should be straightforward with traditional joinery methods and simple details. Children outgrow specialized furniture almost as fast as they outgrow clothes, so, like jeans and coats, make furniture a bit larger and let your child "grow into" it.

Build it Safe

Kids need basic furniture that's safe to use. The spindles and finials of the late Victorians were designed for a day when children sat quietly in their own little places while the grownups talked. Today's children bounce off everything. If you can find unique plans that also provide unusual stability, so much the better. A table top set on an "H"-shaped base is more stable than one set on four legs. High chairs should have bases half-again as large as the chair seat that rises above. Corners and edges should be rounded to soften the occasional "bash and crash". If you choose to use spindles, they'd better be close enough that an infant can't push his head between them. Install a mesh "seat belt" on all seating for very young children and a safety rail on beds for young children; its removal will mark the achievement of "big boy" or "big girl" status. Always add spring-tensioned supports to toy box lids and rails to older children's "uppers" on bunk beds or lofts. When we stopped requiring children to behave like little adults, we accepted the responsibility of building furniture that they could use without injuring themselves.

Build it Sturdy

Children's furniture should be sturdy, so use traditional, simple methods. Rent or invest in a table saw and router if you intend to build a lot of furniture---they will save considerable time and aggravation. Make mortise and tenon joints rather than blocks and screws and use dowels instead of screws; never nail furniture together unless you want to start all over again in a few months. Birch and ash are preferred woods for furniture because they're easier to work with than oak (lighter, too) and won't splinter and fragment like softwoods (such as pine). All wood furniture should be sanded and sealed, minimizing the risk of splinters, and all sealers, stains, paints and varnishes should be, if not edible, at least non-toxic. Designs for trundle beds, bunk beds, rocking chairs and even child-sized Adirondack chairs have remained unchanged since our parents were children for a good reason; they're simple to build and kids can use them for years.

Resources

• Free woodworking Plans
• Chidren's furniture and toy plans
• More free plans and links