How to choose a children's sofa: 7 main parameters to choose

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Sooner or later, all parents are faced with the question of how to properly furnish a children's room. Of course, every element is important - work and play areas, a closet and chest of drawers for placing things, lighting... But special attention is still paid to the sleeping area, because, as you know, complete and high-quality rest is the key to vigor, health, and good mood. Children's sofas are in particular demand; they are many times more compact than beds, fit into any size room, and successfully zone the space. When choosing such furniture, it is important to pay attention not only to the design, but also to the materials from which it is made, the transformation mechanism, and many other points. The material collected in the article will tell you what a sofa for a child should be like.

Functionality

When choosing a sofa bed for children, parents try to save space. Usually, little ones' rooms are as tiny as they are, and fidgety kids want to play a lot. A regular single bed can be bulky for a small room and simply not fit into the interior. Furniture manufacturers have long understood this dilemma, and now offer entire catalogs of sofas that transform into a bed. Buying a sofa bed for a children's room meets all the requirements of parents, and most importantly functionality.

They are very comfortable and suitable for children of different ages, but you need to choose them carefully and correctly.

What nice features can be noted:

The sofa fits into any interior.
For sofas for children over 3 years old with sides, folding mechanisms allow the product to be placed above a wall or window, built into a long closet, etc.
Sofa beds have special soft sides that prevent small children from falling.
A pallet often has one or two drawers in which to store bedding, toys, and other items.
A folding sofa can serve as a place for games or reading during the day.
There are sofas that become quite large when unfolded. They can easily fit two children or a mother and baby.
Shelves for books or toys can be made on the side of the sofa.

The high functionality of sofa beds for children's rooms makes them attractive to parents and their children. Moreover, there is always the opportunity to save money - buy a sofa, bed, bookcase and linen drawer in the form of one piece of furniture at an affordable price.

As a rule, a child receives his first sofa when he is 2–3 years old.

Important! When choosing a children's sofa, you need to look not only at its functionality, but also at its comfort at night. No matter how beautiful and multifunctional the item is, you should not take it if the child is not comfortable sleeping.

Additional equipment

A children's sofa is used for relaxing, meeting with friends, communicating, and playing. To increase functionality, manufacturers are constantly adding useful devices to this category of furniture. Thus, shelves can be provided in the side panels for convenient storage of your favorite books, magazines, and photographs.

Often, sofas are equipped with drawers or a box for bed linen, which allows you to free up space in the closet or completely abandon it in favor of a compact chest of drawers. A small lamp on the side back looks good. It can be used as a night light if the baby is afraid to sleep in the dark. Older children will be able to read books in comfortable conditions.

Criteria for choosing a sofa for the kitchen, optimal placement options

A small armrest table for a laptop is a great option for teenagers. A folding tabletop with universal parameters can be easily unfolded and put away. It will be safe and convenient to work, since you will no longer have to place the equipment on your knees.

Transformation mechanism design

A folding sofa always has a mechanism made of iron or steel (very rarely plastic). The service life and ease of use of the furniture depend on its type and quality. What criteria should it meet:

It moves easily - without squeaks, fidgeting, does not leave marks on wood or sofa upholstery, and does not catch the floor.
Does not unravel with frequent use.
Easy to repair if broken.
Made from quality material.

The furniture cannot have sharp corners, protruding parts, protruding nails or springs.
The transformation mechanisms are located parallel or perpendicular to the back of the sofa. Both options have a right to exist, but you need to take into account that the child will not be able to open the sofa himself if the mechanism is located under the back and requires effort.

Children often jump and fall on the sofa while running, so this piece of furniture simply must be strong and reliable.

Note! Sofas with a perpendicular arrangement of the transformation mechanism are always more comfortable. This is due to the fact that the depth of the seat is greater, because initially it was conceived as the width of the sofa, and only then as a component of the bed.

Sizes depending on the age of the child

A children's sofa bed with or without sides must be appropriate for the child's age. It’s true that it’s better to rely on height, because 10-year-old children can have a height difference of 2 to 10 cm. You need to take a sofa with at least a couple of years’ reserve. If you are buying furniture for a child of kindergarten age, then you can safely take a sofa 1.20-1.40 in length. The width of the product must be at least 70 cm.

If it is assumed that the child will fold and unfold the bed himself, then the transformation mechanism should be as simple as possible.

Important! Please note that children love to spin in their sleep. A narrow crib will not allow you to roam around, which is why your baby may wake up several times during the night or simply sleep restlessly. Here each parent needs to choose individually for their own child.

On average, by age, sofa beds are divided into the following categories:

3-6 years.
6-12 years old.
12-16 years old.
16 years and older.

Each manufacturer has its own age categories, which may vary slightly. Sometimes on sale there are sofas for children from 0 to 3 years old. They have sides and soft protection so that the child does not fall out.

The sofa itself, all its components, as well as the filling and upholstery must be made from high-quality natural raw materials.

Another feature that should not be forgotten when choosing a sofa is its height. For children under adolescence, it is better to take a low sofa bed. The baby must climb and climb down on his own, not jump off, but become his legs. If the furniture is high, then it will be easier for the child to play on the floor than to conquer this “mountain”.

The design of the sofa should be such that the child can rest comfortably without causing harm to the spine.

Varieties

In the product line of any major furniture manufacturer, the range of sofas for teenagers is represented by a wide range. It is based on classic, time-tested designs, complemented by modern design elements and improved transformation mechanisms. Since at night a teenage sofa should serve as a bed, furniture factories offer the following design options:

Folding. The principle of its operation is to lift the seat up until it clicks, then pull it towards you until the backrest drops to a horizontal position. An alternative option: lower the backrest towards the seat until it clicks and move it to a horizontal position. The advantages of sofas of this type are the presence of a niche for linen, ease of changing positions, and a high level of sleeping space. But breakdowns of the mechanism also occur quite often; one of the halves may sag, resulting in the sleeping surface becoming multi-level.
Sliding - the seat extends towards itself, the legs folded inside the structure straighten, and the backrest lowers. The advantages are ease and reliability of use, the presence of a linen niche. The sliding of the legs over the support area is the main drawback.
Roll-out - the seat moves forward, its place is taken by the back of the sofa. Guaranteed service life - at least 10 years. The disadvantages are the small height of the berth above the floor level, a small compartment for linen or its complete absence.

Transforming models are characterized by:

ease of folding;
small dimensions when folded;
stylish and varied exterior decoration.

In addition, there is always the opportunity to choose the option of internal filling, which directly affects the characteristics of the sleeping place, or to supplement this upholstered furniture with an orthopedic mattress.

The most popular types of teenage sofas are:

An ottoman is a low, small sofa, partially equipped with a backrest. Alternatively, it may be completely absent. Also, the model does not have armrests, but does have a headboard. It unfolds by pulling out the second part. When unfolded, it is decorated with many pillows.
Sofa is a sofa in which the armrests and backrest are located on the same level. The seat is flat, hard, not wide and low, which will have a beneficial effect on the correct posture of the teenager. Small sizes are suitable for a single bed.

An equally popular furniture option for a teenager’s room is the “attic”. The model consists of two levels: at the bottom there is a built-in sofa, at the top, at a distance of 130 cm from the floor, there is a separate place to sleep. Usually its width is 80-90 cm, length - 190-200 cm. The original design makes it possible to get a “room within a room”: on the lower level during the day you can relax, receive guests, read, watch TV - it will become a kind of “living room”. At the same time, the upper tier is a comfortable and full-fledged sleeping bed that does not require daily transformation. In addition, the staircase can be multifunctional, made in the form of a chest of drawers, so the teenager gets additional storage space for personal belongings.

Sofa

Loft sofa

Ottoman

Filling and upholstery materials

The upholstery and filling of the sofa should not cause allergies in the child. Therefore, you should definitely ask the store for a quality certificate. The child should sit on the sofa before purchasing. You shouldn’t take it on the same day; it’s better to see if an allergic rash appears on your body.

The furniture covering should be pleasant, not scratchy. You shouldn’t take something that is very fluffy, as “bald spots” will quickly appear, and the fluff will be crushed where it is permanently sitting.

Experts advise choosing only orthopedic furniture for children, since the baby’s skeletal system needs proper development.

Attention! Buying a leather sofa for children is impractical and dangerous. It will quickly tear, and a very small one can chew part of it.

The choice of sofa fillings is now large. Buyers are offered padding polyester, holofiber, foam rubber, latex, durafil, padding polyester, Periotek, felt and others. It is impossible to clearly give priority to one thing. But you need to choose a sofa so that it does not sag from the weight of a child and, preferably, a moderately well-fed adult. Such a sofa bed will perform an orthopedic function. If it is very soft, then the child may have incorrect posture, and his back may hurt after sleep.

In small apartments where a child cannot have a separate room, a sofa bed is very popular.

The frame must be made of natural wood material. If the wood is painted, there should not be a repulsive odor. The paint itself should not peel off.

Important! Request documents from the store confirming that all materials have been tested and found safe.

Types of sofa beds

The shapes of children's sofa beds are:

Classic - a sofa with a back and side cushions or cushions (optional). Easy to unfold and wear less.
Corner - have additional support for the back. They are suitable for rooms where there is very little space and the sofa has to be crammed into the corner.
Island ones - have sides on all edges and one “exit”. You can fit it into the space if the room is spacious.

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.
The furniture also differs in its folding mechanism:

Eurobook. The sofa has a backrest and seating area that are the same in size and type. The “seat” is pulled forward and the backrest is folded down. There is a linen drawer below, plenty of space for sleeping at night. The mechanism can withstand heavy weight – up to 240 kg.
Accordion. There is a strap inside the sofa by which you need to lift the seat. The sofa will open and stand on hidden legs. This option is not suitable for children who must unfold it themselves, as it requires effort.
Dolphin. This is a corner whose long side first extends and then rises. There is a linen drawer. The downside is that the sofa quickly squeezes on the pull-out part, especially if the child decides to jump on it.
Click-clack. To open the model for night sleep, you need to tilt the wall back and then lower the seat down. Such sofas are not expensive and are comfortable for daytime relaxation. You just need to place them at a distance from the wall so as not to move the furniture every evening.
Cot. The model has several sections that fold out one after another. This option for a child’s room is not the best, but it is suitable for spontaneous guests who need a place to sleep.
Roll-out. A very popular mechanism for children's furniture. The seat moves forward and the backrest moves down towards it. There are also more options, where the seat extends, one part of it rises and lies in the middle, and the back forms a headrest.

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. You need to choose a sofa bed together with your child. He will look at what he likes in appearance and choose an option that can be easily unfolded. And parents will be able to verify the safety and functionality of the product.

It is better to choose high sides, since low ones do not guarantee one hundred percent protection.

Popular models

The most popular are straight, corner, modular sofas. Design features depend on the age of the children. Miniature sofas with protective sides are suitable for children aged 1.5–5 years. In appearance they resemble large soft toys. Children 7–8 years old like unusual shapes and asymmetrical modular designs. Any variations are relevant for teenagers: straight, angular.

Direct

A classic option, practical and reliable. Harmonizes with any interior, fits into spacious and small rooms. The advantages of direct structures include:

resistance to high loads;
variety of transformation mechanisms (retractable, folding, unfolding);
versatility - can be used as a seat and bed;
Possibility of installation against a wall or in the center of the room.

Among the disadvantages is the need to leave additional space in front of the front part or on the back side, depending on the built-in mechanism. Floor coverings are damaged during use. To avoid this problem, it is recommended to select sofas with rubberized casters on the pull-out sections.

Corner

They are sofas in which a pair of seats forms a right angle. Models can be supplemented with armrests and transformation mechanisms. The list of advantages:

saving space in the room;
creating a cozy corner for relaxation;
more seating compared to straight sofas;
variety of colors and designs;
adding several sleeping places after moving apart.

The main disadvantage of corner sofas is their higher cost compared to straight models. Children's options come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Furniture factories often produce original products made in the form of cars, ships, and animals.

Modular

Open up wide possibilities for modeling. Such kits are a “constructor”, elements of which can be added, removed, swapped, or used separately. Among the advantages of the design:

possibility of moving sections;
multifunctionality, because the kits include drawers, cabinets, storage compartments, tables;
The dimensions of the sofa vary depending on the area of the room.

Among the disadvantages are the high cost and the possibility of combination only with modern interiors. Modular designs are convenient to use, but are somewhat schematic. Many people rightly believe that identical sectional elements look uncomfortable, as if soulless, but designers are constantly working to eliminate this drawback.

Standards and variations in sizes of corner sofas of all popular shapes

Advantages and disadvantages

The bed is comfortable, spacious, and does not require any action to prepare for sleep. Throw off the covers and you can sleep. This is not the case with a sofa, but they are being purchased more and more often for children’s rooms, and all because of a number of advantages:

Small in size.
Multifunctional.
They have a bright design.
Fits into any interior.
Safe.
Easy to repair.

Among the disadvantages of such furniture, one can highlight only the need to change the sofa according to the height, weight and age of the child. That is, one model can last a maximum of 10 years. Then you will have to buy a larger option if you didn’t immediately buy an adult sofa.

The size of a children's sofa should be determined by the child's height.

Additional Information! You should not rely on reviews on the Internet. Every adult and his child feel differently on one or another sofa. Therefore, you need to look only at your own comfort.

Rules for choosing a sofa bed and mattress

The issue of choosing a children's sofa bed should be approached thoroughly. Parents' attention should be drawn to the following details:

Durable body materials. The child will jump, climb, play, have fun with friends, and he should not suddenly fall down.
High durability of the coating. It should not tear quickly during active games. It is desirable that the sofa is easy to clean. The baby will draw, eat, drink here and will definitely get the furniture dirty.
Rounded edges. There are no sharp wooden corners that could easily hit a child during play.
Having a cozy space. The unfolded crib should not be large, otherwise the baby will be uncomfortable. Imagine the child in star pose and add another 20 cm from the outstretched arms and legs.
Beauty. If the child does not like the look or design of the sofa bed, then he will have trouble sleeping and will not want to sit during the day. Therefore, it is impossible to choose furniture without the person for whom it is intended.
Thick but not hard mattress. It should not be very springy or sag under the weight of the child. There must be cross bars or a solid board that will prevent the filler from sagging.
Availability of sides. This is appropriate for cranky children who may fall out of bed in their sleep. There is no such thing as too much security.

As a rule, you need to add about 50 cm to your initial height to make sleeping and relaxing on such furniture comfortable.
The presence of a linen drawer, shelves or a soft back will be a plus. The more functions the furniture performs, the more profitable it will be.

Choosing a model

Mandatory criteria that should be taken into account when buying a children's sliding sofa:

base;
filling;
folding mechanism;
upholstery material;
gender of the child.

Children's sofa bed frame

The base of the children's sofa is frame. The frame can be made of wood, resin plywood, chipboard, MDF, or mixed materials. Wood is considered the most environmentally friendly material; beech and birch are preferable for wooden bases. Be sure to check the wood for cracks; if there are any, it means the base is made of raw wood and will not last long. A slatted base made of wooden spring battens is located on a metal structure; before purchasing a sofa, be sure to check the welding points.

Spring mattress only

For children's sofas, their filling is no less important. If we were talking about a guest-type sofa, and not about a sofa bed, then we could consider options of varying degrees of rigidity made of polyurethane foam (furniture foam rubber) as a filler. But we are talking about a children's sofa that will be used for daily sleep.

“We choose a children's sofa bed for sleeping only with an orthopedic spring mattress!”

This is the most preferable option from the point of view of the orthopedic properties of this type of furniture, and a prerequisite for a sofa bed, which is purchased for a child over seven years old. We are talking about a mattress of medium hardness, which will provide the child with the correct position of the spine while sleeping. Spring mattresses come in two types: with a regular spring block and a block with independent springs. The latter type optimally distributes the child’s body during sleep, but is much more expensive than the first option. The filling for a spring sofa is preferably natural.

A springless mattress can only be considered as an alternative for children under seven years of age, provided that it is filled with medium-hard or hard polyurethane foam. You can check this by simply applying pressure; if the dent on the surface disappears instantly, the sofa’s padding is hard.

Upholstery material

When choosing a material for upholstering a children's sofa, you should consider its practicality and safety.

Popular materials for adult sofas - velor and flock - are quite delicate, but with intense children's games, sofas with such upholstery will quickly wear out. For upholstery of this type of children's furniture, it is better to choose natural or mixed fabrics that can ensure proper heat transfer. From this point of view, tapestry and chenille gained recognition. In addition, they are sufficiently durable, do not wear out for a long time and are pleasant to the touch.

Optimal size

One of the most important criteria for choosing a children's sofa is that the size of the sleeping place matches the child's height:

The length of the bed is calculated as follows: the child’s height plus fifty centimeters;
The minimum width of the bed is 80 cm.
The optimal size of a sleeping place is 190x90.

Let the child, even the smallest one, take part in the purchase. You will not just have an expert with you who can be placed on the sofa of your choice, he will be your assistant when choosing the color and shape of the model. In addition, by taking part in the purchase, the baby will become more careful about the sofa and will be happy to fall asleep on it.

For a sofa in a child's room for a girl, there are many shapes and colors; here preference is given to pink and lilac tones, bears, dolls, hearts, and pillows. As for models with sides for little ones, girls will be very happy with a sofa in the shape of a house.

Boys are more interested in shape than color. Here the priority is cars, ships, steam locomotives, and unusual folding mechanisms.

Top Brands and Models

The most popular among children's sofas is the Umka model. It is a roll-out sofa, which, when unfolded, is approximately a meter long and 80 cm wide. The sofa bed has small sides at the edges and comes with 2-3 pillows in the same style.

There is also a great demand for roll-out sofas with a side and back side. These corner models come in a variety of designs. They are often sold under the name “Baby”.

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.

Next in the line of popular children's models is a folding sofa. These cribs are made in the shape of fish, bears, bunnies, dolphins and have corresponding names. Their additional advantage is the presence of a niche for bed linen.

But other types of sofa beds are almost never used for children and teenagers; they are usually made in large sizes for adults. Relying on the brand when choosing this furniture is absolutely pointless. Each furniture company produces a small range of folding sofas for children.

The range of sofas is not at all limited to standard and familiar forms.

A children's room is a place where a child plays, studies, relaxes, has fun with friends, draws, runs and does a hundred other things at the same time. Since the baby gets tired during the day, he needs a good sleep at night. This can be provided by a sofa bed, which does not interfere with play during the day and allows you to rest comfortably at night.

Style and color of upholstered furniture

Does your child imagine himself as a superhero?
This model is definitely for him. In a children's room, a sofa serves not just as furniture, but as a decorative item. Therefore, it can become a bright color accent in a room decorated in neutral colors. Striped or plain, with a bright print or photo printing, choose upholstered furniture - it’s better to decide together with the child, because this is his room.

The bright pink color of this sofa will appeal to the little fashionista.

The type and color of the sofa will depend on the overall design style of the room. So, in a classic interior or modern minimalism, monochromatic models will look better, while romantic shabby chic and Provence dictate the need for a “floral” interior, and cotton fabric is the best option.

The theme of the sofa bed model can be any, even marine.

The fashionable Japanese style, with its laconicism and practicality, would prefer plain upholstered furniture of simple shapes, and in a high-tech style, a sofa can become a bright element of the interior.

The presence of several pillows will add coziness to the sofa.