What furniture do I need for my new kindergarten? What materials and products should be used? These and many other questions arise before opening a new kindergarten. Here you will find everything you need to consider when setting up a kindergarten, and we offer a comprehensive inventory list with product images for free download.
We asked Annik, an interior design specialist, what to consider when furnishing a kindergarten.
What is the educational significance of room design in kindergarten?
The kindergarten room takes on the role of the third teacher. Optimally furnished, it meets children's needs for interaction, security and retreat, movement, independent activity, self-directed learning, and participation. A harmonious design minimizes teacher intervention, reduces potential conflicts during lessons, and creates a sense of well-being for both children and teachers, allowing them to learn and teach more easily and with greater enjoyment. I am convinced that a well-designed room with the right furniture can contribute to a higher quality of kindergarten.
Could you briefly explain the principles on which the kindergarten inventory list is based?
Our inventory list for the kindergarten is based on the kinna room concept.
(See illustration). We prioritize high-quality, color-neutral furnishings, consisting almost exclusively of wooden shelves, and recommend minimal furniture to adhere to the principle of "less is more." Furniture on casters is recommended to allow for flexible room layouts. Furthermore, our carefully selected furniture provides children with a variety of workspaces at different heights. The concept also incorporates a principle of Maria Montessori's approach: all shelves are at children's eye level and easily accessible, enabling independent exploration of the play materials. Teachers' cabinets are kept closed to minimize stimuli in the classroom.
Why did you choose Kibemo as your preferred furniture supplier and how does the Kibemo range support the implementation of your interior design concept?
Kibemo is a young, dynamic, and up-and-coming company that values quality and consultation – two cornerstones that are also important to me. We were able to put our first ideas into practice after only a short time.Thanks to sophisticated logistics, Kibemo enables rapid delivery of standard furniture, allowing them to provide high-quality furniture even in urgent situations. In addition to standard furniture, Kibemo also offers customized furniture solutions, enabling me to address even very specific customer requirements. Together, with personalized advice and the right products, we can contribute to quality in the kindergarten, something that is very important to me. I am delighted to have found a company in Kibemo whose product range supports my spatial concept for kindergartens, allowing me to offer all my needs from a single source with a consistent furniture program.
Who is the Kibemo-Kinna inventory list for kindergartens aimed at, and what added value can the target group expect when a kindergarten is equipped with the inventory list?
The inventory list is intended for everyone involved in setting up a kindergarten, from teachers and school administrators to the caretaker, and last but not least, everyone who decides on the budget.
The inventory list includes all the furniture that must be present in a kindergarten. Uniform and cohesive furnishings in a kindergarten room simplify the room design and create more harmony, which in turn has a positive effect on the children's well-being and learning.
What is the average budget needed to plan a new Swiss kindergarten?
This question isn't easy to answer, as there are different variations in the furnishings. Is it just the furniture for the actual kindergarten room, and are wall cabinets, a wardrobe, magnetic boards, and a whiteboard already present? Are the children's drawers already integrated into the wall cabinets or not? And the total cost is completely different for a complete setup including play materials.
As a rough estimate, I would budget between CHF 25,000 and 30,000 for a high-quality setup of a large, empty kindergarten room, excluding wardrobes and wall cabinets. We add at least another CHF 12,000 for wardrobes and wall cabinets. For a complete setup including play equipment, the initial amount doubles. These figures naturally vary depending on the size and characteristics of the room. I recommend always purchasing kindergarten supplies from a single supplier, as this allows you to benefit from bulk discounts.
For a complete setup, those interested can find not only the free kinna-kibemo inventory list for furniture but also a complete inventory list including play and learning materials on the homepage of kinna.
What materials and colors do you recommend when purchasing kindergarten furniture?
It's essential to keep the colors as neutral as possible, as the rooms themselves often already dictate the color scheme, and the play materials and the children themselves bring a lot of color into the room. Therefore, we deliberately recommend only natural wood furniture, minimal use of transparent boxes, and color-neutral carpets and platform coverings in our inventory list. Kibemo has always offered light-colored furniture as standard, which has a modern look and, with the optional birch finish, is also more sustainable.
Into which categories can the interior spaces of kindergartens be divided, and what requirements must be taken into account?
When developing our inventory list, we opted for five categories.
Jobs and district: Each child should have a workspace in the circle and at an additional location in the room, without having to carry their own seat.I recommend providing seating and work options at different heights to meet the diverse needs of the children.
Order and organization: It is important to ensure that teaching materials are kept in closed cabinets to minimize sensory input for the children, but open shelves should be provided for free access to seasonal play and learning materials.
Wardrobe: In kindergarten, wardrobes with several hooks for the children (gym bag, kindergarten strips, jackets, etc.) including a shelf above for scarves, hats and gloves in winter are suitable.
Play and learning areas in the kindergarten: The usual play areas, such as building and construction, various games and sensory play, relaxation and retreat, creative and crafting, role-playing, and movement, including outdoor areas, should be taken into account. These areas should be furnished according to the children's needs and aligned with their zone of proximal development. This requires neutral, stable, and flexible furniture that can be equipped with the appropriate play materials.
All products recommended in our inventory list can be conveniently found in the menu under the Kindergarten section.
How do customers benefit from the partnership between you and Kibemo?
Through the collaboration between kinna and kibemo, customers receive the complete package: personalized consultation from kinna, high-quality furniture and hassle-free delivery from kibemo, and, if needed, the final interior design from kinna. They receive support throughout the entire furnishing process and are accompanied by the right specialists. Our partnership is deliberately designed to provide customers with our respective expertise at the appropriate time. I draw on my experience as a kindergarten teacher and my knowledge as an interior designer, combining these with best practices from the various kindergartens I've worked with during my interior design coaching sessions.
Kibemo, in turn, offers you high-quality, handcrafted kindergarten furniture at the best price. Their unique product range allows you to source all your furnishing needs from a single provider, with a wide standard assortment always available for immediate delivery. Orders and quote requests can be processed easily and quickly online, allowing you to focus on your core business.
What final recommendations would you give to people facing the challenge of re-equipping a kindergarten?
Don't expect yourself to know or be able to do everything. Let us advise you. Refurnishing and redesigning a space requires time, resources, and a thorough understanding of interior design and spatial planning issues, which kinna and kibemo specialize in. We're happy to help. Because we do what we do with passion.
Here you will find all products from the inventory list clearly displayed in our online shop.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answer
Kindergarten explained briefly
But let's start from the very beginning: For many children, kindergarten is the first step into an educational setting. In kindergarten, children are gently and playfully introduced to the education system and prepared for starting school.
An average kindergarten has between 18 and 22 children, who are taught by a kindergarten teacher and often supported by various enrichment programs (German as a Second Language, inclusive education, etc.). Guided activities take place in both large and small groups. Furthermore, free play is highly valued in kindergarten. It is essential that suitable kindergarten furniture and equipment are available for everyday use.
Kindergarten room design
For a standard kindergarten in Switzerland, the cloakroom, toilet facilities, outdoor area, and the actual kindergarten room must be considered during planning and furnishing. Kibemo equips kindergarten rooms with everything necessary that was not already included in the kindergarten's construction. This can be broken down into the following categories:
- Jobs and district
- Order and organization
- Teacher
- wardrobe
- Play and learning areas in the kindergarten
The play and learning areas in the kindergarten can also be divided into the following subcategories:
- Building and Construction
- Retreat and relaxation
- Games/Sensory Games
- Painting, designing and crafting
- Small and large role-playing games
- Movement including outdoor area
Height of kindergarten chair or kindergarten table in the Swiss education system?
Kindergarten children can vary in height depending on their growth phase and age. It's important that the seat and table height are compatible. We recommend... Seat height of 34cm and the The tabletop height should be 58cm lay.
Kindergarten chairs and kindergarten tables made of wood?
We generally recommend solid wood, such as beech. This is very durable and can withstand heavy use, guaranteeing a long lifespan for the products. The wood joints are interlocked, which is essential for the furniture's longevity.
What belongs to the basic equipment of a kindergarten? & (Initial equipment)?
We recommend:
- Workstations at different heights (tables, floor tables, window sills, carpets) and different seating options such as chairs, stackable benches and carpets
--> Each child has a workspace and a seat in the circle - Generously planned, closed wall cabinets for storing teaching materials, at least 5 units.
- Open shelves at child height allow children to independently explore different play and learning materials.
- Magnetic boards, magnetic walls or cork walls
- Wardrobe with coat hooks and storage for hats, gloves, etc.
- Game materials (see detailed inventory list) kinna.ch)
Let us advise you individually on your kindergarten room.
- A height-adjustable table for parent-teacher meetings, including adult chairs.
- Platforms to offer children different height playing surfaces and different perspectives
- Wooden rolling boxes to attractively present game materials
- workbench
- book boxes
- Painting wall and easel
- Drying rack
- Furniture for large-scale role-playing – the family corner with play kitchen, washing machine, etc.
- Gymnastics mats and movement landscapes
- Picnic table and willow shelter for the garden/outdoor area
Our inventory list contains all the necessary kindergarten furniture, including additional options. We would be happy to advise you individually on your specific kindergarten room.
For how many children should a kindergarten be furnished according to Curriculum 21?
Generally, we assume that a normal kindergarten class comprises no more than 24 kindergarten children. It is recommended that there be approximately 1.5 [unclear] per child. Seating should be available so that the child doesn't always have to carry their own chair. Depending on the size of the room, a seat could be on a windowsill, at a floor table, or on a bench (so that children sit on the floor). This would also correspond to the natural needs of children.
Where can savings be most easily made in kindergarten facilities (without compromising teaching methods)?
Our insider tip for saving money is the shelves of Ikea. These offer plenty of storage space and can be purchased cheaply.
“Secret treasures” or special “unique items” can be found in the thrift store.
Interior design & Materialization of surfaces in the kindergarten
Curtains in the kindergarten
The kindergarten room must be able to be darkened using fireproof curtains or blinds.
WC/Toilet Kindergarten
Classroom sink with end-mounted support, with hot and cold water connections. Mount the sink unit at a maximum height of 0.65 m, and the drainer at a height of 1.00 m.
Kindergarten floor
Children of this age spend a lot of time on the floor, so it should be made of warm, non-slip, and easy-to-clean materials. Depending on how the room is used, the requirements may change. To make the walls functional for teaching, we recommend installing magnetic or cork boards.
Wall covering
The walls are washable and easy to maintain, as they are often painted by children.
Electricity in the kindergarten
A cable duct along the long side of the room is equipped with the necessary power and network connections. The sockets are fitted with child safety locks.
Kindergarten lighting – light and space
Lighting fixtures should ideally provide both direct and indirect lighting. Work surfaces should have a minimum illuminance of 500 lux to ensure focused work.
