Montessori Furniture Guide: Promote Exploration & Independence

Jul 28, 2023

Encourage safe exploration and learning.

The Montessori education philosophy promotes independence and self-direction for children. This means setting up an environment where kids can explore freely and safely. The furniture that you outfit a room with—whether it's a classroom or playroom—can help or hurt kids’ safe exploration and learning. This guide includes recommendations for the best online Montessori furniture retailers, as well as must-have furniture to buy and tips for using it in your Montessori school or home learning space.

Montessori furniture is child-sized furniture that helps children be independent. Many pieces are adjustable, in order to grow with the child. At home, furniture will help children participate in daily life—for example, a learning tower that allows a child to stand at the counter next to you while you cut up veggies for dinner.

Every environment is a learning space for kids. As kids grow, they’re learning how the world works, and furniture is one aspect of a space that helps them develop. And when kids have furniture that they can use independently, they build self-confidence and problem-solving and gross motor skills.

Here are our favorite places to find Montessori furniture, for a variety of budgets.

Get classroom-quality furniture, rugs, and Montessori materials at outlet prices.

The mega online retailer sells Montessori furniture that's perfectly priced for households.

Find a variety of Montessori furniture, including child-sized tables and chairs, at this popular retailer.

This furniture retailer is a great place to find learning towers and climbing triangles, and they’re made in Los Angeles, California.

If you’re looking for simple and attractive Montessori furniture, this retailer has durable options, all made in the USA.

Ready to start shopping? Here's a list of our favorite Montessori furniture pieces, perfect for exploration in your learning space.

Montessori book displays allow books to be shelved with the covers out. This helps kids choose the books they want to read and makes for easy cleanup.

Buy it: Book Display at Sprout

Montessori shelves have space for kids to easily choose what they are going to use and then clean up on their own. Wide-open shelves without a lot of drawers make it easy for kids to see all their options at once. And shelves are low to the ground so kids can always access everything that's available to play with.

Buy it: Shelving at School Outfitters

Child-sized tables and chairs give kids the opportunity to work comfortably. In particular, a "weaning" chair and table are adjustable to provide different heights so kids can always sit in a chair as they grow from toddlers to bigger kids. Ideally, these should be situated in natural light.

Buy it: Table and Chairs at Sprout

A learning tower allows kids to work alongside adults. Participation in real work is a foundation of Montessori, as kids learn practical life skills and feel fully incorporated into the family.

Buy it: Learning Tower at RAD Children's Furniture

There are places in your house or classroom where you’ll want a stool to facilitate independence. A cube chair is one way to incorporate form and function, as it's both a chair and a stool depending on how you turn it.

Buy it: Cube Chair at RAD Children's Furniture

Climbing structures—combinations of triangular ladders and boards—are great ways for kids to develop gross motor skills and incorporate imaginative play.

Buy it: Climbing Triangles and Play Spaces at Amazon Wood and Hearts Store

As you’re outfitting your space: