How I Design Furniture Layouts for Youth Spaces

Designing Youth spaces in Libraries, or anywhere else for that matter, is one of the best parts of my job.  I started by creating fun youth areas in churches and eventually moved into Library territory.  Youth and children is the one place you can really let your creativity flow by putting together fun and engaging design concepts that aren't hindered by pesky maturity and adulting.  However behind the scenes there lies a tremendous amount of thinking, pondering and calculating.  It's kind of like organized chaos.  Or trying to achieve a messy bun.  You actually have to put thought into it so the wild and fun look you're trying to achieve lands precisely where you've planned for it to.  Perhaps the most important thing to consider is the furniture layouts.  And there are several key points I focus on when putting together Youth spaces.  In this week's blog post, I will cover the top design rules I enlist when designing Youth furniture layouts.   

#1 - PATH OF TRAVEL

This one is huge.  When I begin the programming phase of furniture design layout, I look at all my entry ways and exits as well as fixed furniture or rooms in the area I'm working on.  I trace a line as though I'm walking through the space so I can see the clear points of travel for that entire space.  Then I offset at least two feet on either side of that line to give me a 4'-0" minimum walkway around the space.  Whatever blocked out areas that are left over, become my furniture gathering areas.

#2 - GROUP YOUR FURNITRE ACCORDING TO ACTIVITY

This one is pretty simple.  You just want to maintain your quieter study areas and place your larger groupings apart from each other so you aren't creating noise issues or a breeding ground for patron complaints.  I like to use the walkway paths and choose separate blocks of spaces for each activity.  If you'll notice in the furniture plan above, I have study areas to the right and activity tables to the far left.  I have placed shelving between the two (lower height shelving to permit a healthy line of sight) as a barrier for any excess noise.  The plan still feels open but also allows for each purposed area to perform as intended.

#3 - DON'T FORGET THE SUPERVISION

If I'm designing youth spaces for small children, I always include nice comfy seating for parents to sit in.  This allows them to sit and read while keeping a much-needed eye on their little ones.  Another really great idea is to add one or two adult-sized computer tables so parents can work with their children on any device options you may have available.  If you're worried about adults who are not parents sitting at those computers, then of course don't add them.  Or you can always add them and see how your patrons handle it.  Every Library is different.

#4 - KEEP THINGS BRIGHT AND PLAYFUL

When designing for youth I always use the brighter versions of my color palette and include fun patterns to keep things lively.  This is a great way to make these spaces all about the youth while giving them a clearly designated space they can call their own.  Patterns can be more costly when it comes to fabrics, but if you will choose one or two larger items to cover in bold patterns, then you can get by with fun solids or lightly textured solids for the rest of your furniture to keep your budget under control.

FINAL THOUGHTS

 Designing furniture layouts for Youth spaces can be harder than it seems at first glance.  But if you will follow these basic tips that I use on a regular basis, your space can be very functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.