With autumn term on the horizon, we’re all starting to get organized in the home, ready for the back to school season.
Whether it’s for an all important year of exams at school, or transferring from Primary to Secondary school, a decent school desk can help smooth any yearly transitions and allows for an independent space to be designed in which to study and chill out – just for them.
When choosing a school desk for your child, you might like to think about the priorities for the study area.
Here are some of the key things to consider when it comes to selecting a desk for your child:
1. The size of the room
The amount of available space in the room will guide you in terms of the size of child’s desk you require. It goes without saying that for a larger space you can install a larger desk, but also consider desks with storage and those on castors as alternative options.
Top tip>> When measuring up for a desk, ensure that you allow space for a chair and also space to move the chair in and out from under the desk, too.
2. Location, location, location!
If considering an independent desk set up, take a look at the available light in the room. As much natural light as possible is usually good when it comes to desks, so position close to windows, preferably with the light source coming onto the side of the desk so as to avoid glare on screens. However, you don't want the window to be used as cause for distraction, so it is important to think through this aspect.
Top tip >> When planning the room layout, it is worth using some grid paper and drawing birds eye view scaled icons of the furniture in the room. Lay the icons down onto the room (a box drawn to the same scale), and move them aound until you reach the optimum layout.
3. Whether you need a bed and a desk in one.
If the whole room is being redesigned, you may want to consider a new bed as well as a desk. If space is compromised, and studying is a priority, then a high sleeper or mid sleeper bed with desks included underneath are likely to be decent candidates for the job.
4. Think about their school subjects
For older children, the type of desk you select may be dictated by their subject choices at school. For example, a long desk that is fixed beneath a high sleeper loft bed is especially great for Art or Design projects that may require a little more spreading out of equipment and supplies.
5. Clever storage
For school subjects that require a lot of physical note taking, it would be a wise investment to buy a desk with storage. These desk styles typically include storage shelves or cubby holes underneath the desktop, or sometimes a shelving system that sits on top.
An alternative to built-in storage within a desk, could be to position a freestanding bookcase on to the end of the desk; ideal for GCSE and A-level study aids, folders and exercise books.
6. Consider the chair
We would always recommend buying a wooden chair made from solid hardwoods. This way, it will last longer and be super sturdy and fully durable.
Top tip >> Look for a coordinating kids desk and chair set for better value. This way, you will also know that the chair size is appropriate for the desk that you are buying.
What’s so great about kid’s desks anyway?
We love that they promote independence and help them shape their identity. Their own space to create, make and just be.
They help prevent clutter from building up on family furniture such as the kitchen table or sideboards.
Desks help keep children focussed on the task at hand. By creating a permanent study station, they can get used to the discipline of studying only in that space, and putting everything away afterwards. This helps them associate desks with working, and helps them to leave homework for certain times, if they have a habit of doing too much studying!
If you buy one good quality desk that’s a decent size, you shouldn’t need to replace it during the child’s education years.
A few FAQs:
How tall should a child’s desk be?
A child’s desk needs to be approximately 70-77cm tall. This is a standard height for desks, and will allow a standard chair to fit underneath. The beauty of choosing a desk designed for older children is that it can then also be moved into the spare room once the studies are over (yes, ours do last that long!)
What material is best for a kids' desk?
Desks come in all manner of shapes and sizes nowadays, but we like to do things properly here at Little Folks Furniture. We believe that wooden furniture, painted with a few coats of our special kids' safe paint will do the job nicely (and after the school years, too!)
All of our Little Folks Furniture kids desks are designed to organize your child’s room, and keep their art, work and gaming spaces free from clutter, giving them the space to enjoy their environment.
Take a look at our full desk collection here.
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