Furniture is one of the biggest purchases a centre makes, and every piece shapes children's posture, safety and independence through the day. Here's what to look for in materials, sizing, layout and budget.
Start with four priorities
Safety, correct sizing, durability and easy cleaning. Childcare furniture is climbed on, dragged across floors, spilled on and stacked hundreds of times a year, so commercial-grade construction pays for itself quickly.
Materials
- Solid hardwoods such as beech, which are dense and resist splintering.
- Low-emission board products for storage and tops.
- Water-based, non-toxic finishes.
- Rounded, smoothly sanded edges and corners for children under five.
Sizing
Furniture at the wrong height leads to slouching, dangling feet and poor concentration. As a rule, a seated child should have both feet flat on the floor and elbows roughly level with the tabletop. Our size guide matches children's heights to chair and table sizes.
Durability and cost per year
Solid beech chairs and laminated tables usually outlast cheaper options by years in a busy centre, and stackable designs reduce wear from daily pack-up. A higher upfront price often works out cheaper per year of use.
Storage and zones
Open shelving at child height supports independence and faster tidy-up. Mobile storage and dividers can define quiet corners, construction areas and reading nooks, and can move as your program changes.
What a room of 20 children needs
- Seating and table space for everyone at mealtimes.
- A reading corner with soft seating.
- At least one role-play area; a play kitchen is the usual choice.
- Enough open shelving that every resource has a home.
Want it worked out for you? Try the room planner or send us your floor plan.
Quick answers
What chair height suits which age? Roughly 17 cm for 1–2 year olds, 21 cm for 2–3, 26 cm for 3–4 and 31 cm for 4–6, with feet flat and knees at about a right angle.
Why beech? It's dense and splinter-resistant, which is why it's common in quality European-style preschool furniture.
Do you deliver? Australia-wide, with quoted delivery to New Zealand and other Oceania countries. Contact us about larger fit-outs.