Children's Room Furniture Sales Soar... Choose Considering 'Learning Style, Growth, and Stability'

Offline Store Sales of Children's Room Furniture at Hanssem Design Park Up 60% Year-on-Year
Jung Yujin, Head of Hanssem Study and Children's Room Products Department, Advises "Considering Learning Styles and Child Growth"

A child's room decorated with Hanssem JoyS.
Photo by Hanssem

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Recently, with the increase in online classes and homeschooling due to COVID-19, sales of children's room furniture have also risen significantly.

According to Hanssem on the 30th, offline stores such as Hanssem Design Park and Hanssem Interior saw a 40% increase in sales related to study rooms, including children's rooms, compared to the same period last year, and sales of children's room furniture increased by about 60%. Additionally, more customers are seeking advice on selecting children's room furniture.

Jung Yoo-jin, head of the Study Room and Children's Room Product Department at Hanssem, said, "As children's learning environments rapidly change, there are many factors to consider when choosing children's room furniture," adding, "When selecting children's room furniture, it is important to consider learning styles, the child's growth, safety, and space utilization."

Choose According to Learning Styles Such as 'Homeschooling'

Since learning using electronic devices such as online classes has greatly increased recently, this should be taken into account when choosing a desk.

When selecting a product that combines a desk and bookshelf, it is best to choose one that provides enough space on the front bookshelf to place electronic devices like monitors. Choosing a product with adjustable front bookshelf shelves allows the shelves to be used for storage normally, and as the child grows, the height can be lowered to place a PC monitor for online classes. Also, selecting a product with added features such as wire caps or USB ports helps neatly organize the cables of various electronic devices.

Products that include an auxiliary desk are good for homeschooling, allowing parents or tutors to sit facing the child. For lower-grade elementary students who may have difficulty logging into online learning sites, parents can sit at the auxiliary desk to assist. If space is limited, it may be difficult to place an auxiliary desk. Choosing a product where the auxiliary desk can be stacked and hidden under the main desk and pulled out when needed is also a good option.

As learning at home increases, various activities such as reading, writing, and drawing take place at the desk in the child's room. Therefore, selecting a product that allows adjusting the desk angle according to the learning type can be helpful. Especially when reading, tilting the desktop allows the child to sit without bending their upper body and neck, which helps prevent turtle neck syndrome. If a regular desk has already been purchased, using a book stand is also recommended.

If the child prefers studying in the living room, it is better to choose a standalone desk with separate bookshelf and desk. It is easy to move and allows classes using the TV in the living room.

Since children spend long periods sitting at the desk, chair selection is also important. It is recommended to check not only if the chair height is adjustable but also if the armrest height can be adjusted.

For lighting, it is recommended to choose surface light sources (面光源), which emit uniform light over a surface and reduce glare to protect eyesight. Glass on the desk that reflects light can irritate the eyes, so it is better not to use it.

Recently, lights indicating both brightness and color temperature (K) have been released. White light at 6000?7500K is known to help with learning that requires logical thinking such as math or science, while orange light at 3500?4800K is helpful for studying subjects like Korean, foreign languages, history, and ethics.

A child's room decorated with the Hanssem JoyS Compact Magic Desk and a 4-tier bookshelf.
[Photo by Hanssem]

Use According to the Child’s Growth

The period before and after entering elementary school is when the child's physical changes are greatest. Using a desk with adjustable height helps form correct learning postures as the child grows.

The wider the height adjustment range, the more versatile the desk. The company recommends products with adjustable heights from a minimum of 37 cm to a maximum of 100 cm. This height range allows children aged 5?6 years to use the desk with proper posture even as they grow into teenagers. For young children not yet accustomed to sitting on chairs, the desk can also be used as a floor desk, and raising the desk allows it to be used as a standing desk.

For desks without height adjustment, simply adjusting the chair height may cause children with shorter stature to have their feet not touch the floor, which can be uncomfortable. In this case, choosing a chair with an included footrest can help compensate.

However, even if the desk height is adjustable, purchasing a desk that is too large compared to the child's body may cause stress related to learning, so it is better to get recommendations for desks appropriate for the child's age group.

Check Safety and Eco-Friendly Material Grades

Choosing desks with rounded corners reduces worries about children getting hurt while playing in their rooms.

Also, various functional desks with adjustable height and angle are being released, but it is important to carefully check whether the adjustment functions pose any safety risks such as finger pinching.

Environmental grades should also be checked. Eco-friendly material grades based on formaldehyde emission are classified as E0 (0.3?0.5 mg/L or less), E1 (0.5?1.5 mg/L or less), and E2 (1.5 mg/L or more). The closer to E0 grade, the safer the material.

Utilize Space with Various Storage Beds

Organizing the surrounding environment is also important to improve learning efficiency. Since children's rooms are relatively small, sufficient storage space to organize books, stationery, toys, and other items is necessary.

Choosing beds with added storage functions for existing bookshelves and wardrobes can increase space utilization. Using a bunk bed allows the upper level to be used as a sleeping area and the lower level as a play and storage area. Also, with storage beds, frequently used items can be stored in drawers and shelves, while bulky items like seasonal clothes or suitcases can be organized in the inner lower storage space.

Department head Jung said, "Furniture with overly bright colors can interfere with learning, so it is better to avoid them," adding, "Furniture in toned-down colors like light green or sky blue creates a soft atmosphere and helps improve concentration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.