Dismantling a children's shelving unit: pros, cons, and what to look for

Recently, a subscriber wrote to me asking for an assessment of a children's shelf. The idea seemed interesting — why not make an analysis of children's furniture a separate category? So, let's get started.

I've examined this shelf and want to highlight its pros and cons.

What I liked

Slanted shelves — a very convenient solution. Thanks to the tilt, a child of small stature can easily see what's inside and doesn't need to reach or, God forbid, climb onto the shelf. Toys are easy to retrieve, and the child can put them away themselves — which also instills a habit of tidying up.

The shelf height is 76 cm — it's perfectly suited for small children.

I was particularly pleased with the well-thought-out safety features: all edges are rounded, and there's a wall attachment to prevent the child from tipping the shelf over onto themselves. Plus, the legs are adjustable to compensate for uneven floors.

What to pay attention to

The main point is the material, laminated chipboard (LOSP). This is one of the most budget-friendly materials, and much depends on the quality of the board: cheap options with high formaldehyde emissions can release harmful substances. Personally, when choosing children's furniture, this is a key criterion for me — I prefer natural materials and wouldn't economize on anything related to a child's health. If considering LOSP, it's important to choose a board with an emission class label of E1 or E0 — it's considered safe.

Another point (though for some it might not be a drawback): the shelf is small, and it won't hold many toys. But it works great as one element of storage — you can pair it with a toy chest or a small chest of drawers.

My verdict

For my own children, I would prefer furniture made from natural materials. But if you need a budget-friendly solution, here are a couple of alternatives:

• natural woven baskets for toy storage;
• shelves made from natural, treated boards that can be painted to match the room.

Such simple solutions are both more environmentally friendly and often more attractive.