High Point — Sleep, study and storage long have been the staples of the youth business, but the way that the three S's are implemented has been growing increasingly creative, resulting in a fourth S — space-saving.
Space-saving pieces in kids' rooms often combine elements of all three of the other S's, so that sleep, study and storage are married together in one compact unit.
Today's kids' rooms are small, even in new homes. And with all the stuff kids have these days, finding room for it all is a priority for many parents. So kids' bedroom pieces that offer extra drawer space, under-bed storage or a loft configuration with a desk area underneath the bed all translate into extra selling points for the consumer.
As kids spend more time in their rooms and keep more stuff there, storage becomes more and more complex. Not just confined to toys and clothes anymore, kids' stuff includes TVs, computers, stereos, CDs, DVDs, video-games, joysticks and loads of wires — perfect for a cluttered look.
But with furniture solutions that help to hide all that stuff, the clutter soon has a place to call its own. Computer desks that include shelving for CDs, or TV armoires that have room for the latest gaming gear are all becoming more important for kids' bedrooms.
Meeting the challenge
"I think parents are challenged — kids are challenged — as to what they are going to do with all this stuff," said Vasso Unks, marketing director for P.J. Kids. "When we're looking at developing product, we're looking at how many ways can a child and parent utilize the product."
Unks said P.J. Kids tries to build multi-functional utility into all of the company's pieces. One example would be the new Library Bed in the Heartland Hills collection. The bookcase features shelves on either side of the headboard and two large cubbies in the center. There also are two doors on either side of the headboard that lift up, slide into the headboard and lock into place, providing a secure place for a lamp or clock.
Werner Disselkamp, merchandising manager for Palliser, also is focused on space-saving ideas.
"Storage is vital," he said. "Where we spend most of our money in terms of research and development is on determining what options enable the kid to store as much as possible."
Disselkamp said the loft bed is still a viable space-saving option, but he's seeing an increase in the popularity of captain's beds and pieces like Palliser's Island bed, which incorporates a dresser, desk and under-bed storage in one piece.
Palliser also showed storage option add-ons at the April market — value-priced boxes or baskets in bright red and blue that either roll under a bed or attach onto bunks to serve as catch-alls for kids' stuff.
Providing ideas
At retail, customers are asking for ways to save space. "A lot of people have kids rooms that are smaller, or odd configurations," said Rebecca Taylor, owner of Pittsburgh-area based retailer All About Kids. "The space-saving options really help out."
Taylor recently set up an area of space-saving pieces by Berg Furniture in her store, and she said it helps to show this furniture all in one spot. Some people ask specifically for things like loft beds; others simply know that they need ideas — for example, they have two children sharing a bedroom and need a way to make the most of their space.
But Taylor said that once a customer sees a space-saving piece like a loft, it's helpful to show similar pieces nearby so the customer can see all her options.
"That's what they need," said Taylor. "They can't go with a more traditional configuration with a (separate) bed and dresser."
Taylor also said that kids are immediately drawn to the style of the all-in-one loft items, which appeal to a child's sense of whimsy, with their ladders and pull-out desks and hidden compartments. That means space-saving pieces perform the double-duty of appealing to the practical side of mom and dad as well as the fun-loving side of kids — a recipe for success in the land of youth furniture.
