Park Avenue Stroller Pram
Vintage 1950s English Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Metal, Chrome
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Antique 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Beds and Bed Frames
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Musical Instruments
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Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Modern Aviation Objects
Metal
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Children's Furniture
Leather, Jute
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Children's Furniture
Brass, Iron
Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Children's Furniture
Walnut
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Floor Lamps
Crystal, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Children's Furniture
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Russian Neoclassical Sculptures
Bronze
Vintage 1960s French Space Age Architectural Elements
Fiberglass
Early 20th Century Italian Rococo Bird Cages
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Historical Memorabilia
Iron, Steel
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Musical Instruments
Metal
Finding the Right childrens-furniture for You
When you’re shopping for antique, new and vintage children’s furniture, you’ll want your choices to fit nicely within the decor scheme of the rest of your home. But you’ll also want to create an alluring and inspirational space for your children to feel relaxed and encouraged creatively. Indeed, a child’s room can be simultaneously stylish and playful — the ideal environment for children.
Understandably, beds were the first piece of furniture designed for young children. In Ancient Egypt, children’s beds were scaled-down versions of adult beds. They were intended to be a logical size for a child and low enough to the ground so that they could climb in by themselves.
Historians discovered early high chairs in Ancient Greece. In the 6th century B.C., a child’s training potty might have also been used as a high chair, while archaeologists on a dig discovered a terracotta high chair in a marketplace in Athens. By the Renaissance period, children’s bookshelves were popular with upper-class families who had disposable income and the desire to beautify all areas of the home. The original purpose was to organize school books, but shelves eventually became integral to children’s rooms of the era.
In the early 20th century, Italian physician Maria Montessori changed the way designers thought about children’s furniture. She wrote that it was important for children to have a safe environment of their own that they could easily navigate. Montessori believed that children’s furniture should be sized for them but that it should also be made of light, durable materials so that it’s easy for them to carry if needed.
Today’s widely known mid-century modern furniture designers took interest in the idea that young children should have well-crafted furniture of their own. You can find vintage mid-century modern children’s furniture created by the likes of Harry Bertoia, Charles and Ray Eames and Alvar Aalto. Contemporary industrial designer and architect Philippe Starck is also known for having introduced versions of his furniture that were geared toward children, especially his seating and storage solutions.
It’s never too early for good design. Decorating a child’s room offers the opportunity to combine elevated furnishings and a youthful spirit and can result in spaces that are at once elegant and whimsical. On 1stDibs, find design ideas for children’s rooms as well as a variety of new, antique and vintage children’s furniture today.