Youth furniture

Furnishing a child’s room takes more than a bed and dresser, and manufacturers have plenty of other items to offer.

The 12-piece T-Rex collection from Palliser includes an abundance of occasional pieces to accent kid’s rooms.

A popular option is a youth desk - either a small one sufficient for doing homework or a larger model made to hold computer equipment and accessories.

"Beds and desks are the key - sleep and study," said Stephen Giles, vice president of merchandising for Lane Kids, which offers differing desk designs to go with several collections.

Glen Prillaman, product manager for Stanley’s Young America division, agreed, saying dressers historically go with beds, but computer desks are selling nearly as often now.

"The computer desk is far more successful today than it ever has been," Prillaman said. "It … outsells the student desk; whereas before, the student desk always sold the best." A popular companion to the desk is a stacking hutch.

Canadian manufacturer Canwood also has found success with both a study and computer desk, according to Larry Schwartzenberger, sales manager. A popular option for a work area is a loft bed with a desk and dresser underneath, all made of solid pine.

Many children have a television in their rooms now, prompting manufacturers to respond with a flux of TV stands and junior armoires.

"Entertainment pieces are growing quickly as a category," said Prillaman.

From Stanley’s Garden Party collection comes a desk and a hutch for study time and display of treasured items. The pieces are available in this Buttercup Yellow or in Summer White, Pink Lemonade or Spring Green.

"We’re offering more and more furniture that accommodates electronics," said Don Essenberg, Broyhill vice president of merchandising for case goods. "This is beyond just your basic computer desk."

Children often have their own television, stereo, VCR and videogame system, he said. When they get home from school, kids spend a lot of time in their bedrooms and even invite friends to their rooms so they have their own space.

Because of the popularity of home videogames, Essenberg joked that the traditional three S’s would have to be changed to four S’s: “sleep, study, storage and Sony,” as in the popular Sony Playstation. As a result, manufacturers have customized furniture to allow game systems.

Stanley’s newest collection, Garden Party, includes an entertainment center that will hold a 25" TV and a VCR. For videogames, one of the three drawers has a pull-down front as well as a cord management hole in the back. For those who don’t need the TV space, the center comes with optional shelves.

Another entertainment unit from Stanley fits with a corner desk configuration. The smaller-scale unit still has room for a VCR and two drawers, one with a fold-down front. The TV sits on top rather than fitting inside.

Palliser offers a small game station and a larger media center in its products introduced at the April High Point market. In the Fusion collection is a game station with space for a game system and shelves for music or videogame compact discs. The new media center is similar but on a larger scale, according to Vanessa Lono, special projects coordinator.

Solid Canadian lodgepole pine makes up this student desk and hutch from Canwood, retailing for about $349.

Some of the other hand-painted whimsical cabinets are Noah’s Ark, Sea Cabinet, Cottontail Cottage (rabbit motif) and a couple that match existing collections like Brianna’s Room, according to John Conrad, Powell vice president of marketing and product development. Powell also offers a toy chest in each group.

"We do a full line of chests to go along with our beds," said Canwood’s Schwartzenberger, "all done in solid pine."

A popular piece for Lane Kids this spring was a mirror-front armoire for the Alexis collection, said Stephen Giles, vice president of merchandising for manufactured products. For the October market, Lane plans to introduce the Chambord collection, with a feminine, French style. The group, which ties in to an adult collection, will include a small vanity.