I’d been looking for a play table for a long time and had so far settled with a basic Ikea one which my three year old has used for everything from eating to crafts to jigsaws. But within just a few months the wear and tear had really started to show and it’s since been relegated to the playroom, out of sight! When looking for a more hard-wearing replacement I’d spotted the Stokke MuTable and absolutely loved the look of it but I wasn’t sure if the quality would live up to the price tag. As a parent to little one’s you’re constantly buying new things when the previous stuff breaks and I was just over it from a sustainability point of view.
Well since the Stokke MuTable landed on my doorstep I’ve used it day in day out and even though it’s over twice the price of my basic Ikea one, it’s absolutely knocked it out of the park in terms of quality and design!
Design and Aesthetics
I love that the MuTable has a modern, Scandinavian aesthetic as it fits seamlessly with my home decor which is mostly light ash wood paired with dusky, muted colours. Anything that doesn’t scream ‘kid’s play thing’ is always a win for me! I chose the V2 in the soft ‘Clover’ green tone with the matching chair because it’s a fairly gender neutral colour and means I could potentially pass it on to my nieces, but it also comes in an equally as nice storm grey, lilac and white.
I’ve moved the table and chair from playroom to living room to kitchen and it’s blended in nicely wherever it’s been placed so far, plus the rounded shape gives it a really compact design so it fits snugly in pretty much any corner of any shaped room. It also means you don’t have to worry about any sharp corners with little kids around! The activity boards are stacked on top of each other in the middle of the table so when not in use you can just cover them with the wooden tabletop and it could easily pass as a coffee table.
Adjustability and Longevity
One of the standout features of the table is the adjustable legs. You can modify the height to suit your children as they grow which means my toddler can use it comfortably now and hopefully also when he’s older and needs somewhere to do his homework. In my experience it’s rare to find furniture for kids that adapts over time so you’re not constantly having to update as they outgrow it, but this is something I think Stokke does well.
Interchangeable Playboards
The interchangeable playboards and the fact my son can change them himself is our favourite feature of this table. The MuTable comes with three boards with different activities on either side; a chalkboard, a board for building LEGO on, a side showing different animal habitats across the world, and a side showing a little town with roads you can drive cars on. We also ordered an extra board with playdough imprints and a jigsaw that fits on top of the chalkboard as my son is obsessed with both of these things at the minute.
Overall we’ve found it to be a really creative and interactive way to engage our son’s imagination for a long time and the variety of playboards means the table never gets boring. They’re not too heavy for a toddler to swap them out themselves and the fact they can be stacked on top of each other means you don’t need to find somewhere to stack them when your child’s finished playing.
Durability and Build Quality
Stokke is known for its high-quality products and the MuTable is no exception. As soon as I got the table out of the box, the quality was immediately obvious. The materials feel durable, smooth and safe, with non-toxic finishes that give me peace of mind (hands up if you’ve got a teether!). Despite daily use it still looks brand new, which speaks volumes for me. It is quite heavy but in my household that’s a big plus as it means my son can’t tip it over!
Ease of Assembly and Maintenance
Setting up the table was really straightforward and didn’t require any extra tools, which I appreciated as it was my first time building anything flatpack! It’s also incredibly easy to maintain; a quick wet wipe is all you need to keep the table top clean and the materials seem resistant to scratches and stains so far which is fab! The boards and even the jigsaw pieces seem to be made from a plastic material so no worries if your child tips a drink on them.
Value for Money
While the MuTable isn’t the cheapest play table on the market at £239, it’s definitely worth the price for what you’re actually getting. It’s multifunctional, highly durable, and grows with your child, so it’s not a one-time purchase; I could see this being used from age 1 up to junior school ages. Compared to other tables that serve just one purpose, this one offers a lot more range and versatility and the quality really is second to none. I like the fact the colours aren’t gender specific and that the table can easily be passed down between siblings too with the height adjustment.
Accessories and Add-Ons
As well as storage bags for play pieces, cup holders and table covers, there are extra play boards you can buy that start from £22. There’s an amazing play house with two levels to it, additional jigsaw puzzles, counting games and little play figures so there’s plenty of options to update the table with in the future. I like that a lot of the boards encourage the child to use their own imagination which opens up hours of free play. You can also get additional chairs if you have more than one child which start from £69. This is a little pricey but they’re very high quality, well designed chairs with a good amount of weight to them, so if you have a child who likes to tip back on their chair or tip them over for fun (just mine?) then these will give you real peace of mind. They also mirror the shape of the table and tuck snuggly under.
Final Thoughts
The stylish Stokke MuTable has clearly been designed with longetivity in mind and built to withstand years of use. It’s become a welcome addition to my son’s bedroom and one he can hopefully use for many years to come. In my opinion, it’s not just a table – it’s become my son’s little hub for creativity, learning, and fun as well as encouraging independence and giving him some control with what he plays with and for how long. Lately he’s been using the table more to display the things he loves on – his favourite dinosaurs, LEGO cars he’s built, and his Toniebox characters – as he knows they’re safe on the table from mum’s hoover!
The range of boards available means there’s something for every child no matter what they’re currently into or what stage of learning and play they’re at. And if finding a piece of multi-use furniture that will also look good in your home is also high on your list then the MuTable is hard to beat.
Claire is a Cheshire girl, mum to one and wife to one. She’s also creator of the blog KoKo & Cub which houses tried and tested how to’s (and some how not to’s) as well as general thoughts and musings on everything from OOTD’s to planning a last minute wedding.
