What is a Montessori dresser or nightstand? A guide to bedroom furniture choices
Picking the Perfect Montessori Furniture: Dressers and Nightstands
If you are looking to buy a Montessori dresser or nightstand, the short answer is: they don’t specifically exist. Creating a Montessori-inspired bedroom is more than just choosing beautiful furniture. It's about selecting pieces that promote a child’s independence, accessibility, and simplicity. In this guide, we'll explore the best furniture choices that align with Montessori principles and their benefits and drawback. When picking out furniture for your child’s bedroom, we always recommend buying hand made furniture. Montessori promotes independence, self discipline, and a love of learning and doing. All of these ideals can be found in small businesses and hand made products. The products we choose impart an understanding in your child that we value other peoples craftsmanship and hard work and therefore they will value yours. Raising a child involves, not just teaching, but showing them our values through actions, independence, and our daily choices. Choose well, because your children are always watching.
Benefits of Montessori Education
Montessori education offers numerous benefits:
Independence: Children learn to take care of themselves and their environment.
Self-discipline: Freedom within boundaries encourages self-discipline.
Love of Learning: Children pursue their interests at their own pace, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Montessori Furniture: Dressers and Wardrobes
While specific "Montessori dressers" may not exist, Montessori style wardrobes play a crucial role. A Montessori wardrobe is just like a small, freestanding closet for your child with a clothes hanging bar and some open shelving. Montessori wardrobes are essential in creating a child centered bedroom; allowing children to easily access their clothing and dress themselves, fostering independence from a young age.
The Role of Dressers in a Montessori Bedroom
Montessori wardrobes are excellent for accessibility and independence but often lack the storage needed for all of a child's clothing and personal items. This is where traditional dressers become an essential companion. A dresser complements a Montessori wardrobe by providing necessary storage while supporting the Montessori philosophy. Remember to always secure dressers and wardrobes to the wall to reduce risks of serious injury.
Combining Montessori Wardrobes and Dressers
A Montessori style wardrobe are designed to only holds a few items at a time. We aren’t trying to fit all of your child’s clothing in a wardrobe. Its best to simplify choices to a few practical shirts, pants, dressers, and socks at a time. Overloading a child with too many choices can cause stress, confusion, and feeling of being overwhelmed. To create an effective Montessori bedroom, combine a small Montessori wardrobe with a traditional heirloom dresser. The wardrobe can hold a few items and will display your child’s clothing options, promoting self-dressing and personal choice. Meanwhile, the dresser will be used to store the bulk of their clothing, linens, etc.
When choosing a dresser, select one that is sturdy and accessible. We recommend avoiding tall boys or dressers over 40” tall for young children. Ensure the drawers are easy to open and close, allowing your child to practice organizing their belongings and put them away after laundry. By combining these two pieces, you create a functional and organized space adhering to Montessori principles.
Montessori Nightstands and Bedside Tables
Just like there isn’t a specific Montessori dresser, there isn’t a specific Montessori nightstand either. We recommend looking for something lower to the ground and accessible to younger children. Try to keep the nightstand in scale to your child and their bed height. Montessori often uses a floor bed for young children that promotes independence at an earlier age. We do offer a Montessori compatible nightstand that stands at only 16” tall. Lower beds are popular throughout a child’s adolescence so we believe a lower nightstand is a worthwhile heirloom piece. The nightstand is also large enough to be used for other purposes if your young teen opts for a higher bed in the future. In the corner with a plant on top is a wonderful option that still allows this nightstands to be a useful and memorable piece from nursery through adulthood and back to nursery.
Longevity and Heirloom Potential
When investing in Montessori furniture, consider its longevity. While Montessori principles carry over for your child’s entire life, the specific furniture and toys used have a limited use span. A child might use a Montessori wardrobe from ages 18 months - 6 years but they will soon outgrow them. Once children outgrow the need for a child-sized wardrobe, there may be a 20-year gap before the furniture becomes relevant again for the next generation. We recommend buying a high quality wardrobe with resale or donation in mind when your child is ready to move on to full time dresser use. The typical range for Montessori style wardrobes is $100-$500, so just choose what fits your budget with safety and toxicity in mind.
Practical Heirloom Dressers
Dressers, however, can be more practical heirloom pieces and lifelong investments. A well-crafted dresser can serve multiple purposes over the years and can be passed down through generations. Its timeless design and utility make it a more suitable long term investment compared to Montessori wardrobes.
For creating an heirloom-quality bedroom, choose high-quality dressers that can grow with your child and remain useful long after the Montessori wardrobe has served its purpose. Opt for classic designs and durable materials that stand the test of time and trends. At Doves & Tails, we believe high quality furniture is an investment in memories, family legacy, and utility.
What age is appropriate for a Montessori wardrobe or dresser?
Montessori wardrobes and dressers are designed to foster independence and independent skills in young children. Typically, these pieces of furniture are introduced between the ages of 1 to 2 years, when toddlers start to show interest in dressing themselves. At this stage, children are developing fine motor skills and enjoy engaging in practical life activities. A low wardrobe with accessible clothing options allows toddlers to choose their outfits and practice dressing, enhancing their sense of autonomy and responsibility. As children grow older, around ages 3 to 6, they can continue to use these wardrobes effectively, learning to organize and care for their belongings.
Conclusion
While there aren’t specific Montessori dressers and nightstands, designing a Montessori bedroom involves thoughtful consideration of your child’s needs for independence and accessibility. While Montessori wardrobes foster self-sufficiency in young children, combining them with traditional dressers provides necessary storage and longevity.
Investing in high-quality, durable furniture creates a functional, beautiful space that supports your child’s development and stands the test of time. Whether setting up your first Montessori bedroom or updating an existing one, understanding these principles will help you create an environment that nurtures and empowers your child.
Key Takeaways
Introduce a Montessori wardrobe between 1-2 years old
There isn’t really a Montessori dresser, look for “Montessori Wardrobe”
Combine a traditional dresser with a wardrobe for longevity
Keep the wardrobe smaller with fewer options and less clutter. 2-3 options per day is plenty to start
There isn’t a specific Montessori nightstand, look for an accessible bed side table within 6 inches of bed height
Buy dressers and nightstands with longevity in mind
Buy Montessori style wardrobes with intention to donate or as a hand me down
