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Furniture that Goes Well with Kids

Oct 11 2012


image from sxc.hu
Kids of all ages can be clumsy, reckless, curious, and any combination of the three. You can’t be there all the time to supervise them (with technology, this might go overboard real fast), but the least you can do is keep the living environment at home as safe as possible. This should be a paramount concern for all parents and guardians.

Here are a few guidelines when looking over your current home furniture’s and decorations, or when shopping around to buy new ones.

It Should Last
Nowadays, with just about every consumer product rigged to break, crumble or even explode after a couple of years or less of proper use (see planned obsolescence). There are hardly any “durable goods” that will last long enough to be passed on to the next generation. When your grandpa tells you that things aren’t built the way they used to be, he’s probably right.

Household furniture’s are not exempt to this “built not to last” paradigm. I might give electronics the benefit of the doubt for dying out early (we seem to have been convinced that we should always “upgrade” our gadgets, anyhow). Things like couches, cabinets, and tables should not be part of this rapid replacement cycle.

Good furniture should be able to take regular use, and since we’re talking about kid-friendly furniture, a bit of abuse as well. We’re not expecting something as resilient as ancient Chinese pottery that’ll last thousands of years, but it’s not a good thing when you realize that you’re replacing broken furniture way too often.

Avoid the Pointy, Sharp, and Jagged

image from sxc.hu
This is pretty self-explanatory. Some toddlers (and a few teenagers) have this tendency of butting their heads against things, so you should definitely take this tip seriously. If you have furniture that poses this kind of threat, find ways to remove the sharp edges, or put some foam paddings over the offending corners.

Watch Out for Corrosion and Flakiness

image from sxc.hu
Little children and pets will also test their teeth on the furnishings. A diet of paint chips, varnish scrapings and rust is not healthy. You may not be able to tell immediately when you buy a new piece of furniture, but keep a vigilant eye. Cheaper stuff tends to rust or have low quality paint/varnish, but even the pricier accouterments might suffer from this.

Do your research on the internet, read the reviews, and if you plan to do a little DIY-ing and painting your own furnishings (or you’re going to have some custom pieces made), find the right paints and varnishes that are the least toxic and harmful.

Stay Away from the Expensive Stuff

image from sxc.hu
Suspend your aspirations for crazy-expensive furniture, at least until the kids leave for college. The child is infinitely creative and impish, and will always find a way to deface or vandalize your treasured possessions. Most of them don’t do it out of malice, they’re just being the playful, curious beings that should be at their age.

Stick to cost-effective furniture that won’t hurt your budget. There are many creative ways to spruce up your interiors without having to buy overpriced designer furniture or priceless antiques. Don’t just snap up anything cheap from a swap meet or thrift store just because it’s cheap, however. Consult the tips above and see if these second-hand items are safe for your children.

Keep Them Clean

image from sxc.hu
Whatever kind of furnishings you have, it’s always a good idea to keep them clean. Use a cleaning agent with antibacterial properties, and especially for those items with upholstery, make certain that no bed bugs or other vermin are making their home in them. I know it’s hard work (you could hire a cleaning lady if you can afford it), but nobody ever said being a good parent was easy. If you need some help, you could get yourself one of those intelligent vacuum cleaners to help you get dust from those hard-to-reach places underneath heavy furniture.
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Who is covered:
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What is covered:
  • Any defects in materials of workmanship
  • Operating mechanisms and other parts
  • Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades
  • Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds
  • Broken vertical vanes
  • Restrings for internal cords
What is not covered:
  • Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning
  • Accidental damage
Resolution:
  • BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective.
  • If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired.
  • In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade.
  • Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer.

30 Day Measuring Insurance

Following the easy measuring instructions will ensure a proper fit, however, we all make errors from time to time and this protection plan covers any mis-measurement mistakes. If the window coverings do not fit, please let us know within 30 days of receiving the items. The blinds/shades will be remade at the correct dimensions at no cost to you unless there is a difference in price between the old and new sizes or if the new size requires an oversize shipping fee. Limit is 1 remake per blind/shade. All remakes will have to be remade in the same color, feature and specifications, no changes are allowed.

Shutters,custom graphic shades, commercial/dealer orders are not covered.

Any mis-measurements reported after 30 days will not be covered, however, new blinds and shades can be ordered with an additional 10% discount.

30 Day Returns

This plan does not cover returns.
5 Year Guaranteed to Love
Who is covered:
  • Warranties cover the original purchaser of the window blinds and shades.
What is covered:
  • Any defects in materials of workmanship
  • Operating mechanisms and other parts
  • Cell separation on honeycomb/cellular shades
  • Warping slats for faux wood and wood blinds
  • Broken vertical vanes
  • Restrings for internal cords
  • Parts that fail due to accident, alteration and/or improper use
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Color fading due to excessive exposure to sunlight, moisture or improper cleaning
  • Accidental damage
Resolution:
  • BlindsChalet.com reserves, at its discretion, the right to repair, replace or refund any blinds found defective.
  • If there are multiple blinds/shades in the same room, only the defective product will be replaced/repaired.
  • In the event that a product, color or product feature has been discontinued and it is no longer available we will provide a substitute product as similar as possible to the original blind or shade.
  • Shipping for warranty issues is the responsibility of the customer to and from the repair facility. Packaging on return shipments is the responsibility of the customer.


30 Day Measuring Insurance

Following the easy measuring instructions will ensure a proper fit, however, we all make errors from time to time and this protection plan covers any mis-measurement mistakes. If the window coverings do not fit, please let us know within 30 days of receiving the items. The blinds/shades will be remade at the correct dimensions at no cost to you unless there is a difference in price between the old and new sizes or if the new size requires an oversize shipping fee. Limit is 1 remake per blind/shade. All remakes will have to be remade in the same color, feature and specifications, no changes are allowed.

Shutters,custom graphic shades, commercial/dealer orders are not covered.

Any mis-measurements reported after 30 days will not be covered, however, new blinds and shades can be ordered with an additional 10% discount.

30 Day Returns

If for any reason you are not satisfied with the window coverings and wish to return them, please notify us within 30 days of receiving the order. Our customer care department will provide a Return Authorization Number (RGA) and shipping address for the return. Please note, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer and shipping labels are not provided. Refunds will be processed within 2-3 business days after we receive the items (Guaranteed to Love fee is not refundable).

Shutters,custom graphic shades, commercial/dealer orders are not covered.
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