What Kind of Material Should I Choose for My Child's Bed

Made from recyled materials, engineered woods are processed by using heat and pressure to glue wood fibers together. One type of engineered wood is medium density fiberboard or MDF. MDF is more affordable than solid wood, but just as strong and durable. For bedroom furniture in a child’s room that is easy to care for while having the look and feel of real wood, select a bunk bed or headboard made of MDF and a combination of veneers and/laminates.

Laminates are produced by pressing layers of plastic, metal or wood together, then sealing them with a thermosetting resin. They are often used as a finish for bedroom furniture because they are durable, easy to care for and economical. Since laminates don’t fade and have no grain, they are easier to match when adding additional pieces to your child’s bedroom set.

Wood veneers are created by a similar process as in the making of laminates. Thin slices of real wood are glued to the piece of furniture using heat and pressure. Since it can be applied to any smooth, flat surface, this is a popular material for bedroom furniture like a sleigh bed. Since it is not as expensive to manufacture, it also gives furniture the texture and appearance of genuine solid woods, while keeping costs down.

Considered to be the most durable material for furniture, real wood furnishings are constructed from wood cut from the trunks of trees like pine, mahogany or oak and are more expensive than engineered wood products. If your budget allows for a four poster made of solid wood, it will be something that you will prize for years to come. Although, do keep in mind, that as a construction material for children’s furniture, it will be the most labor intensive. Because is has a grained surface, it can be scratched easily. If you want to add pieces at some time in the future, it might be more difficult to match with your other furniture, even if produced by the same manufacturer, due to factors like variation in wood density and discrepancies in the thickness of finishes.

Metals are a popular material for children’s beds because they are strong and easy to keep clean. Pure metals are generally too soft, too brittle or chemically reactive. Alloys refer to metals made by combining two or more elements. The purpose of creating an alloy is to make the metal stronger and more stable. Since all metals are subject to the effects of time and oxidization, you want to choose a metal twin bed with a durable finish or one that is made of scaled metal, which means it has been treated to resist corrosion. Frames made from sheet metal are more solid than ones made from tubing, but a bed made from heavy gauge tubing will retain strength and durability, while being lighter and less expensive to ship.