It’s challenging to find unique children’s furniture. High-quality pieces often fall into the conventional mode of solid-colored, traditional hardwoods. More modern variations might be affordable, but not heirloom quality. Children need size-appropriate furniture for comfort, as well as for decorative and functional abilities. With scaled-down table sets, rockers, storage chests and beds, children can make art, relax, read, play, and even clean up with ease along with a sense of personal style.

Finding furniture that is appealing to children and adults is not always easy, but a thorough Internet search offers some charming possibilities. The following children’s furniture is hand-painted, easy-to-clean, and built to last many years. Most pieces have multi-functional uses for extra value.

One standout is a Rocking Horse chair that doubles as a toy. The child straddles the chair on its extra-large rockers and holds onto the horse’s handles for a fun ride. It comes in several delightful motifs including cowboy, carousel and royalty. It’s a "let’s pretend" toy, and quality furniture. There’s even a model with a seat in the back for a favorite doll to ride along.

Another clever idea is the Clothes Stand/Growth Chart. It’s appropriately child-sized to encourage tidiness but also measure growth. The Sports-themed stand has a movable, measuring photo-frame for the child’s favorite portrait. The theme is carried out with hockey-stick legs and pegs shaped like various sports balls. The Firefighter stand has a bell and a small, movable firefighter to slide up and down the pole.

A compact Butterfly Revolving Bookcase is a great addition for a little girl’s room. It only takes up twelve-and-a-half square inches of floor space, but with deep shelves and permanent butterfly bookends on top, it will hold a lot of favorite stories. Butterflies in pinks and plums with green accents are a favorite with girls.

Step stools are the unsung heroes of children’s furniture. They have to be tough but they don’t have to be strictly utilitarian. There are step stools available that make sounds when stepped on. One is the Train Stomp Stool with an authentic steam-train whistle. The top opens for storing small toys. For bathroom décor, the Toad Stool is a good choice. A bright green toad that "ribbets," makes brushing teeth at the sink fun. The Under The Sea Step Stool has a double step and features lovely hand-painted sea creatures that are appealing to both boys and girls.