Every house has a coffee table, but not all of them mix well with kids. We’re here to share our tips for picking a kid-friendly coffee table and some tables that pass the kid-friendly test. We will also share how you can set and enforce furniture saving limits while being kind and firm.
In this post:
- Criteria for a Kid Friendly Coffee Table
- Best Kid-Friendly Coffee Tables
- How to Set Limits With Your Kids
- Ways to Save Your Furniture From Active Kids
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Put Nice Furniture into Storage
Kids want to be in the same spaces as the rest of the family instead of off in some playroom or their bedroom. You have probably taken great care in organizing their bedroom, but what about the rest of the house? If you spend lots of time in your living room or family room, this is going to be where your kids will be as well. It is best to find ways to accommodate them and you in those spaces.
If you have lots of nice furniture and little kids, we recommend putting your furniture in storage until your kids are older. You won’t have to worry about kids getting hurt or about furniture getting worn out or ruined. Storing furniture will limit the number of times you have to say no to your kids. You will create spaces in your house with them in mind. Of course, you still can and should set boundaries. See below.
- Looking for other great furniture for kids? Check out all our favorite quadruple bunk beds!
Criteria for a Kid-Friendly Coffe Table
Now that you have stored away your favorite furniture, it is time to pick a kid-friendly coffee table.
Here are some key things to consider when picking out a coffee table:
• Rounded Edges
Avoid tables with sharp corners. Or corners at all, for that matter. A coffee table is at the perfect height for a falling child to smack their face right on the corner, and corner protectors never stay on as well as you would like. Instead, opt for tables with a rounded shape. There are many circular and oval options available.
•No Glass Tops
We’ve all had a kiddo do some climbing in the 2 seconds we turned our back, and this can be especially scary with a glass-topped coffee table. Also, kids love to bang toys around. All it takes is one smack of a toy by a little one in just the right spot for a glass tabletop to shatter. Broken glass or falling through glass can cause serious injury to kids. Thus, you should avoid all glass.
• Stable and Sturdy
Babies love to use furniture to pull up on when learning to walk. This makes it essential to have a coffee table with a broad and stable base that babies cannot pull over. Kids often play and work at the coffee table as they get older and do well with a sturdy table. A 4 legged coffee table is usually better than one with 3 legs.
• Made of Durable Materials
Avoid materials like rattan, wicker, or any weave. It is easy for kids to punk holes through those types of materials and so don’t last long around kids.
A durable table will stand up to years of play. It should have s hardtop that doesn’t scratch or dent easily.
• Easy to Clean
We recommend avoiding any plush ottoman-style coffee table. While these coffee tables have no sharp edges, they get dirty and grimy quite quickly and can be hard to clean. Kids seem to have a knack for being sticky and slimy. Fabric and kids just don’t go together.
Pick a table that can be quickly wiped down when it needs to be cleaned.
• Inexpensive
You will be much more likely to let your kids play when you’re not worried about an expensive piece of furniture. Buying a stylish yet inexpensive coffee table will allow you to step back and relax.
Best Kid-Friendly Coffee Tables
Here are some great examples of kid-friendly coffee tables.
You can also head to the thrift store and look for a used coffee table. Used furniture can quickly be inspected for damage and is simple to clean before use. This can be a great way to find inexpensive pieces when your kids are little.
VASAGLE ALINRU Round Coffee Table
This round coffee table offers a nice flat play space for kids while still looking stylish in your family room. It is easy to assemble and can support up to 220 pounds (though it is important to remember that it isn’t made to be climbed on by kids.)
The top is made of particleboard, but it’s still relatively durable and doesn’t scratch too easily. It’s 18.5 inches high and has a diameter of 34.6 inches.
Check prices for VASAGLE ALINRU Coffee Table
HoldoLife Oval Coffee Table
This oval coffee table features a particleboard top and a metal base. It can hold up to 200 pounds, and the x shaped design of the metal base makes it extra stable. It is waterproof and scratch-resistant, making it an excellent table for little ones in the house. It comes in 3 pieces and is easy to assemble using the provided tool.
It’s 16.7 inches high, 47 inches long, and 23.6 inches wide.
Check prices for HoldoLife Coffee Table
Poly and Bark Goa Coffee Table
This round coffee table is made of mango wood and is extra low to the ground. This makes it an excellent surface for kids to play on while still serving as a nice piece of furniture in your family room. It is stable and durable.
The table is 12 inches high and 37.75 inches in diameter. It is more expensive than other tables on this list but is a stylish option if you’re looking to spend a bit more money. No assembly is required.
Check prices for Poly and Bark Goa Coffee Table
Bamboo Coffee Table
This minimal coffee table is made of bamboo and is extra sturdy. It is strong enough to be used as a stool in addition to a table. The table is low to the grow providing a great play space or workspace for kids sitting on the floor.
It is 12.6 inches high, 39.17 inches long, and 19.49 inches wide. Assembly consists of screwing in the 4 legs.
Check prices for Bamboo Coffee Table
How to Set Limits With Your Kids
Once you’ve removed your nice furniture and bought a kid-friendly coffee table, you’re ready for your kids to start playing! You’ve already eliminated some of the problems by doing so, but this doesn’t mean that kids can just go wild and do whatever they would like. You can still set limits and have rules about using the coffee table.
You might set limits around climbing or sitting on the coffee table or what art supplies are or aren’t allowed on the coffee table. Once the rules have been made clear to your kids, it is your job to follow through and enforce them. Only create rules that you truly will follow through on. There is no use saying things that you don’t mean.
Maybe you have a rule about no stickers at the coffee table, for example, but you see that your kid is happily stickering away at the coffee table (and that several of them are now stuck to the table). You might say, “Stickers are for the art table. Let’s take them back over there. Would you like to carry them, or would you like me to carry them?” You could also ask, “Hmm, where do we use the sticker?” and allow your kid to tell you the rule.
You might have to help your kids move the stickers if they aren’t feeling in a listening mood or take them away if kids continue to bring them back to the coffee table. You could calmly and kindly say, “Bummer, it looks like we’re going to be done with the stickers today. Let’s find something else that you can play with.” Set the limit, redirect, and move on.
Ways to Save Your Furniture from Active Kids
Kids love to climb and jump and play, but that doesn’t mean that you have to let them do so on your furniture. Observe your kid and see what they love to do. Maybe they’re a climber or a jumper or a thrower. Consider finding some kids items that help them meet those desires in appropriate ways.
You don’t have to let kid toys take over your house but adding a slide or a simple climber could be just what your kids need to get their energy out indoors.
Try adding:
Final Thoughts on a Kid-Friendly Coffee Table
We hope you will find a kid-friendly coffee table that is safe for your kids while looking great in your house. You can then find a balance between letting your kids freely play and setting boundaries about how kids can use furniture. Kids will quickly learn what they can and cannot do when you set clear and consistent expectations. An inexpensive coffee table will allow you to relax, step back, and see all the great learning accomplished through play.
- Looking for more great kid furniture? Check out our favorite Montessori floor beds!
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