When investing in furniture for your kids, there are a few things to keep in mind: durability, adaptability and fun. Kids' interests change quickly and they grow just about as fast, so it's important to shop smart. Most kids only need a bed, dresser and a desk with a chair.

When shopping for kids' furniture, durability is very important. Kids play rough, and it's best to buy sturdy furniture, even if you have girls. You want something that's going to last. Even if your children don't share a room, a bunk bed is nice, because it gives them a place for friends when they spend the night. It can also make a great place to store things. Bunk beds are usually built better, as they are meant to hold up to years of climbing in and out of them.

Adaptability is also a good thing to keep in mind when buying furniture. Will it grow with your child? There are many convertible cribs that can be made into toddler beds, day beds and a twin bed, with a couple support braces and a mattress. This is something your child could use for years.

Dressers are pretty basic, but to add fun to the room, buy a used dresser at a yard sale, strip it, and paint it solid color. Then you can get stencils, decals or stickers and let your child decorate it to fit their taste. It can be a fun project. When their taste changes, strip it again, and start over. It can even be stained when they are older, and prefer a more grown-up style.

Fun is important to kids. There are many imaginative furniture styles, such as beds shaped like cars or other things. The problem with these is that the child outgrows them quickly. There are other ways to incorporate fun, by getting bright bedding and other accessories that are less expensive and easily changed.

Borrow an idea from college students that is also a space saver: build a loft. This gives more room for a play area and a desk, which can be built into one end of the bed. Shelves can also be added easily, using brackets and boards, creating more storage space.