West Elm And Eva Chen Launch Kids Furniture Collection 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Eva Chen, vice president of fashion partnerships for Instagram and the former editor-in-chief of the retired Lucky magazine, partnered with West Elm to create a 34-piece kids’ furniture collection that launched Sept. 5—just in time for the back-to-school season. Conceived with her family’s love of reading in mind (Chen has three children), the pieces offer an understated yet fun style, with the benefits of clever storage and cozy comfort.

The new kids furniture collection includes plenty of storage options and reading nooks and seating.

Chen, a native New Yorker, children’s book author and former Teen Vogue editor, says that talks to create the collection began more than two years ago, and the collaboration was natural fit for both parties.

“It was a thoughtful, considered process that was incredibly fun to work on,” says Chen, who has incorporated a variety of pieces from the retailer into her own home over the years. “West Elm has a great breadth of different products and looks. I’ve always felt very at home with their products, so there's been great synergy.”

As a writer and editor, I’ve covered home design and furnishings for years. Oftentimes, kids’ furniture speaks to a refined adult aesthetic or leans toward a kitschy kid vibe. Chen’s West Elm collection seems to bridge that gap by offering items with kid-appeal that still fits into a parent’s overall décor.

“There’s something very unburdened and very free about creating things for children, and so when we were working together on this collection, I wanted something that felt quirky, fun, playful, not so serious, but also from the parent perspective [something practical],” she says.

Chen says her inspiration for the collection was ultimately to encourage kids to read.

The collection includes playful pieces with a practical purposes like this Chair And A Half with ... [+] more space for story time.

“Reading is a through line in my family,” she says. “So the collection is very much centered around inviting kids to read. I think books teach such critical lessons. [For example,] “The Baby-Sitter’s Club,” which was my favorite series growing up, teaches girls about friendship, entrepreneurship and how to be a good citizen in the world. Even if [this collection] contributes 1% to helping kids find a book that stirs something in them and that makes them want to embrace a new philosophy or help them be the change they want to see in the world, I think that’s great.”

West Elm

This is one of Chen’s favorite pieces in the collection. The unique U-shaped seat is cushioned for comfort and easy for kids to curl up in. Book storage on the side ensures a good read is never far away.

“When we did the ad campaign and the photo shoot, my kids all ran and tried to all get in it,” she says. “My middle son immediately just kicked back, and he was there for like an hour reading a book.”

West Elm

Another piece that is conducive to reading is the Chair And A Half, which is just the right size for an adult and child to snuggle together with a story. The simple, clean design is complementary to a variety of décor styles and can easily last into the teen years and beyond.

West Elm

Speaking of bedtime stories, this lofted bed offers plenty of downtime comfort. Kids can drift off in the twin bed with a book taken from the shelves below or stow away in the cutout cubby underneath.

“I’m imagining my kids grabbing a sheet or a blanket and sticking it in on the top to create a little hideaway,” Chen says. “I know that I'll be finding books crammed into the corners.”

West Elm

This sweet play table is sized just right for tots and young children. It includes four stools in playful colors and offers a flat surface for playtime or creative crafting and building.

West Elm

A sense of coziness was also a must-have element for Chen. She made sure the floor covering in her collection didn’t have a scratchy texture because she knows that many kids have sensory issues. A variety of cushy upholstery and plush accents were added to the collection to provide an inviting feel. This area rug comes in two sizes, either 5 x 8 feet or 8 x 10 feet.

West Elm

Chen’s parenting experience kicked in again in designing a wardrobe that aims to help parents and kids with the very real morning struggle of getting dressed. The mini stand-alone closet features a hanging bar, hooks and shelves for shoes and accessories. It helps teach kids how to plan in advance and organize outfits.

West Elm

Toy storage, which often consists of bins where kids can dump everything in, can also invite disorganization. For this reason, Chen’s storage shelf with drawers was designed with careful creators in mind. Parents of Lego-loving kids will understand the challenge of storing half-made models. This piece offers shelves that easily slide out with a panel in front to protect items from smaller siblings or pets. The extra storage at the bottom is also handy.

In addition to inspiring a love of reading for kids, Chen hopes her collection provides parents with a welcome solution to decorating kids’ rooms.

“Home design decisions can feel stressful because you want everything to look good together, but you don't want it to look too matchy-matchy,” she says. “Also, prices can vary wildly, and then sometimes you feel like you have to trade off style for price. With this collection, I hope families find utility but also style and a sense of playfulness that usually you have to pay a premium for. I hope that this is a great compromise for parents.”

To view all the pieces in Chen’s collaboration with West Elm, visit www.westelm.com/evachen.