Apart from your home itself, the next biggest investment you can make is the furniture that you decorate it with. And ideally, you want to furnish your home with items that will last a lifetime. But more often than not, a table will become wobbly, a lamp refuses to light up, and a couch begins to show years of wear and tear — and that’s even before you have kids. That’s right, kids can quickly speed up the life expectancy of any armoire or side table. That’s why you need to know how to buy kid-friendly furniture so that it has at least a fighting chance.
But that can be easier said than done, particularly when you have a toddler with a penchant for using your couch as their own personal trampoline. And no matter how many times you tell your child to stop doing somersaults on the loveseat, they’re still going to catapult themselves from it. Does that mean you’re destined to have fugly furniture until your kiddos are ready to move out? Absolutely not. You can have a lovely arrangement of furniture that will work with your aesthetic — and survive some spit up, too. Here’s how.
Purchase Furniture In Person
Sure, there’s nothing like seeing the Amazon truck coming down your driveway, but when it comes to couches and cushions, you should still strive to purchase your furniture in person. It’s by far the best way to gauge quality, see where there might be some water damage, or test the comfort of the piece. Of course, it might be more time-consuming to shop in person, but you’ll save some serious time (and stress) by knowing that you’ve picked a piece that will last long enough for you to feel like you got your money’s worth.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
While extremely low and comparable prices might catch your eye (and be more appealing to your budget), it’s not always a good idea to buy from a company that you know little to nothing about. Instead, save up for a piece from a respected company. At the end of the day, you’ll actually save more by not having to buy a new piece to replace the one that’s falling apart, thanks to your child crashing running their toy truck all over it. So take your time and really search for the best quality. Plus, once you decide to get rid of the item and it’s still in decent condition, you might even be able to sell it.
Browse Estate Sales
It’s a fact: buying new furniture is expensive. That’s why it’s always a good idea to look for what you can get second hand first. Estate sales can be one of the best places to find amazing deals. Why buy a $200 plastic table that will likely fall apart, when you could spend $150 on a used solid pine one that’s still in very good condition? Apps like Chairish, Letgo, Wallapop, or even eBay let you browse used furniture pieces for a fraction of the cost.
Test It Out
It’s one thing to see a beautiful bedroom set in the store, but it’s entirely another to lie down on it. So when you’re shopping for furniture, don’t be afraid to give it a test run. Not only are you looking for comfort, but in the event that you find your kid crawling all over your new kitchen table, you want to make sure that it can withstand the monkey climbing.
Be Realistic
Yes, you might have your heart set on an all-white sofa. But if you have young children, getting a pure-white couch might just be like putting a big bullseye on it. That’s why you need to consider your current lifestyle. Does your kid go crazy with a Sharpie? Have they colored all over the walls? Or do they leave a trail of crumbs wherever they go, including in between all your couch cushions? While you still want your space to have style, you’re going to have to concede a little in order to not feel frustrated if your once-white couch is now a sensational shade of spotty grey.
While some things in life might be disposable, you definitely don’t want your furniture to be one of them. So take the time to learn how to buy kid-friendly furniture, and you’ll have quality pieces in your home that will look great both now — and even if someone accidentally pees on it, too.