3 Considerations When Buying Furniture For A New Classroom

If you are lucky enough to get to purchase furniture for a new classroom, you want to make sure that you choose the right furniture. Classroom furniture is expected to last for a decade or two, so you want to make wise choices when investing in furniture for the classroom.

#1 Look for Strong & Durable Furniture

When looking at furniture, you want to invest in strong and durable furniture. You want to purchase furniture that is going to last for years without breaking down. One way to determine how strong and durable the furniture is without actually using it is by looking at the warranty offered with the furniture. If the company is willing to back up their furniture with a ten-year warranty instead of a two-year warranty, that means the company has confidence that their furniture will last at least that long without breaking down and needed repairs. Warranties are only profitable for companies if people don't really end up needing to use them that often, so long warranties are a sign of strong material.

If possible, you should also see if you can look at the furniture in person. Looking at the furniture in person should give you an idea of its strength and durability. Make sure that the furniture looks like it was made with high-quality material and it was put together well. If the material is loose or shows signs of poor construction, pass on it.

#2 Look for Adjustable Furniture

Second, look for furniture that is adjustable. The needs of your classroom can change over the course of a school year and from one school year to the next. Perhaps one year you have a lot of shorter students, and you need your group work tables to be a little closer to the ground, and the next year, you have larger students and need the table to be a little higher.

Look for furniture that offers you the ability to adjust it. For desks, tables, and chairs make sure that you can adjust the height of the furniture. For bookshelves and other storage items, make sure that you can adjust the heights of the shelves or rearrange the way the drawers are set-up. Look for flexibility in your furniture that will allow for changes over time.

#3 Look for Mobile Furniture

Third, look for furniture that is mobile. You don't want to invest in a lot of furniture that should be anchored down or kept in one stationary position. It is best to have furniture that you can easily move around in your classroom. That will allow you to change the arrangement of your classroom throughout the year.

Look at the overall weight of the furniture as well. The weight of the furniture can impact how easily it is to move around the furniture. If the furniture is too heavy, it will not be realistic to move it around.

When looking at furniture for your classroom, make sure that the furniture is strong, durable, adjustable, and mobile. Contact a company like School Supply Specialty for more information.