DUDU Chair: A child's first chair, though sometimes adults fight to sit on it too.

Before heading out in the morning, a child often sits on a 16 cm high chair by the door. Their small body finds a stable point of support, their feet touch the floor, and both hands are free to manage shoelaces. This original 16 cm height was what my daughter loved most when she was just two years old. As for the name, that came later. My daughter would straddle it in the living room, grab the handle holes on the side panels, and kick her legs back, pretending to be a train going 'choo-choo'—the chair held up. A chair for a child should never be meant for sitting alone. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/1B2A1760-2-1024x1024.jpg With a seat height of 16 cm, feet touch the ground, and both hands are freed. ■ It didn't start with a product plan, but with a child who needed a chair The DUDU chair didn't start with a product plan. It started because a child at home needed a chair, and the designer's partner asked him to make one. 'Since it's for our own use, let's keep it simple.' As he thought about it, he realized it wasn't simple at all. Setting the height couldn't be based on intuition. The designer actually measured the physique of his two-year-old daughter who was still crawling and playing, determining 16 cm was the right height. The seat size and the chair's weight were determined by the same premise: the chair had to be drag-able by a small child, for use while sitting and playing. The first one was made from 18 mm thick birch plywood, as that was the standard thickness available in the workshop. That chair is still at home today, used since she was two, and we even added wheels—the child rides it, and adults use it as a small, portable workbench. Later, this structure grew into an entire line: adult shoe-changing chairs, the Treasure Island toy storage cabinet, and the Ark cart, all derived from the same design language. ■ Two side panels, not four legs The sides could be four round legs, or two wooden boards. The designer chose two boards. The reason is a scene he once saw: children would flip the chair over and play next to it. In those moments, if there were four cylindrical legs, the ends would be facing up, posing a potential risk. Though the probability is very low, it is a risk that can be avoided at the drawing stage. Two side panels holding a seat board form an 'H' when viewed from the front. The entire DUDU series later adopted this shape: enlarging and deepening it makes it a shoe-changing chair, and adding two shelves in the middle makes it a Treasure Island storage unit. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/1B2A1268-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg It forms an 'H' from the front. The ends of the seat board pass through the side panels, rather than resting on top. ■ The seat board is embedded, not screwed on The most intuitive way is to use hardware to lock the seat board from the sides. But that doesn't last—someone sits on it, someone stands on it, and the force is continuously transferred to the contact surface between the seat board and the side panels. While the hardware can be tightened, the **wood will be compressed**; once the contact surface dips, the joint begins to loosen. Therefore, we borrowed the concept of fine woodworking joinery, known as **housing joints**. The 2 cm thick side panels have a 1 cm deep groove milled into them, exactly half the thickness. The ends of the seat board are **embedded** into these grooves, and screws are driven from the outside of the side panels through the groove. This creates two independent force-bearing mechanisms: the **screws** pull the seat board laterally toward the side panels to provide clamping force, while the **groove** encases both the top and bottom of the seat board—when rocked, the wood of the groove itself bears the shear force, not the screws. The screws aren't driven into the wood directly. Each end of the seat board contains a fully embedded nut, so the screws bite into metal. If driven directly into wood, the threads would strip after a few removals—and this chair is meant to be disassembled, adjusted, and reassembled. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_4_3_1B2A0511-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg The ends of the seat board are embedded into the grooves of the side panels, and screws are locked from the outside through the groove position. ■ Roundness is crafted, not inherent to wood Every touchable edge—side panels, seat board, handle holes—is rounded into a semicircle that follows the contour. There are no sharp corners to be felt. Even the **inner edge of the handle holes** is rounded. That is the easiest place to take a shortcut, as it is hidden; but since children use them to stand up and drag the chair, the tactile feel of the most touched areas should be prioritized. There are no protrusions on the surface: the screw holes are countersunk as two concentric circles, so the screw head sinks into the outer ring, leaving the side panel surface smooth to the touch. The 2 cm thickness of the side panels is a **deliberate design**, balancing durability and visual proportions. With 2 cm set, two distinct processes follow: milling a 1 cm groove, and using a 9 mm radius round-over bit on both top and bottom. The bit leaves marks, and the junction line between the cuts requires a quick pass with 80-grit sandpaper and a handheld sander to become a perfectly rounded edge. The true value of solid wood is revealed in these rounded edges: after so much sanding, the **natural wood grain remains connected and continuous along these curves**. Unlike a raw wood board sitting on a workbench before treatment, where the four sides are cut perfectly vertically with sharp corners, all these curves are created one step at a time. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_9_16_1B2A0342-scaled-1-576x1024.jpg All touchable edges are rounded into semicircles. The wood grain remains connected and continuous along the curves. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_9_16_1B2A0322-scaled-1-576x1024.jpg The inner edge of the handle hole is also rounded—that is the easiest place to take a shortcut, as it is hidden. ■ That hole is not just for carrying A handle hole is cut into the side panel. The reason is simple: once a child sits down, they need to grab something to stand up. Once the hole was made, its uses emerged on their own, and the designer simply watched it happen—children drag the chair along with them; they hang toys and tie bags; they stuff small items into the hole; when not sitting, they put toys on the seat as a table. 'So the handle hole actually has multiple meanings.' This statement implies an important design philosophy: **in a child's eyes, this is not a chair, but a toy.** ■ So it is intentionally not heavy Intuition suggests that a chair should be heavier to be more stable. This chair does the opposite. The standard children's version weighs **2.5 kg**, accounting for two side panels and one seat board. If it were made thicker or heavier, the child wouldn't be able to drag it—and dragging it is exactly what they do every day. Stability is achieved through structure rather than weight: the width between the two side panels, combined with the housing joint between the seat and side panels. As for whether adults can sit or stand on it—yes, and that is a design goal, not an accident. In the designer's own words: 'Previous children's chairs **could** be stood on; the durability and load-bearing capacity must meet that level.' Once casters are installed, even an adult sitting on it can slide around. ■ How to choose ■ Five styles The same chair, with four optional modules. **Style names are the official names printed on the specification card**: Style | Difference --- | --- DUDU Chair | Basic model, no modules DUDU Convertible Chair | Includes an **optional bookshelf rod**. Flip the chair, and it becomes a bookshelf. Both single-stage and two-stage, standard and extended **widths all available**. DUDU Shoe-Changing Chair | Includes a **shoe rack** (lower round rod shelf + slanted shoe rest). **Only available in the two-stage adjustable version**, both standard and extended widths. DUDU Sliding Chair | Includes a set of **removable casters**. **Only available in the two-stage adjustable standard width** combination. DUDU Adult Low Stool | Heightened and deepened adult size. **Only one height**, no modules; both standard and extended widths available. **The 'DUDU Shoe-Changing Chair' is a module for this chair, not a separate product.** If you are looking for an entryway shoe-changing chair for adults, that is the Taishan Shoe-Changing Chair https://www.pinkoi.com/product/mn6Enzsa . ■ Height The children's version has two settings: **single-stage 16 cm**, or **two-stage adjustable 16/21 cm**. How is it adjusted? An additional groove is milled into the side panels, and an extra set of holes is drilled; the seat board is simply moved up and locked in, adding 5 cm in height. Therefore, the side panels of the two-stage version have 4 countersunk holes, while the single-stage version has 2. 5 cm is not a random increment; it is the structural limit allowed by the side panels. For a child, this is a significant height increase. ■ Width Each height configuration has both **standard** and **extended** widths: | Standard | Extended --- | --- | --- Children's model | Width **40 cm** | Width **82 cm** Adult Low Stool | Width **50 cm** | Width **82 cm** With the seat length doubled, two children can sit side-by-side, or a single child has room to place their things. **The Sliding Chair is only available in the two-stage adjustable standard width**; the shoe rack model is only available in the two-stage adjustable version, but in both standard and extended widths. ■ Colors Four color schemes, with real photos of disassembled parts for each. Side panels and seat boards can be selected separately: https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_4_3_1B2A1140-1024x768-1.jpg Naive Beech: Side panels and seat board are both Beech. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_4_3_1B2A1132-1024x768-1.jpg Innocent Walnut: Side panels and seat board are both Walnut. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_4_3_1B2A1139-1024x768-1.jpg Mixed: Beech side panels with a Walnut seat board. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/DuDuChair_child-chair_4_3_1B2A1145-1024x768-1.jpg Mixed: Walnut side panels with a Beech seat board. ■ Customization Common custom orders involve multi-stage heights: some use it as a footrest for playing piano, others want a multi-tier chair rack for small shoes. Height and width can be discussed; the designer will ask about the intended use, and if feasible, provide a draft before discussion. **Deepened, heightened, extra shoe rack.** Deepened to 30 cm, side panels heightened to 32 cm, seat height 18.5 cm, with an added shoe rack 5 cm off the ground. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/1B2A4255-1024x819-1.jpg This unit is deepened to 30 cm, side panels heightened to 32 cm, with an extra shoe rack underneath. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/cus-2857-shoe-plate_SPEC-1024x677.png Units in the design drawing are in millimeters. Seat height 18.5 cm, shoe rack 5 cm off the ground. **Modified for under-shoe-cabinet use, with handle moved to the seat board.** The customer wanted to place it under a shoe cabinet, requiring a lower profile. Once lowered, there was no room for handle holes on the upper edge of the side panels, so the handle was moved to the seat board. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/cus-handle-on-seat_1B2A7550-1024x819.jpg Handle hole is on the seat board, not the side panels. The near-side panel is lowered to be flush with the seat. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/cus-handle-on-seat_SPEC-1024x777.png The height is lowered to fit under the shoe cabinet. With no room for handle holes on the side panels, the handle was moved to the seat board. **All Walnut, extended to a 120 cm long bench.** https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/cus-120-walnut-bench_1B2A1525-1024x682.jpg The left one is extended to 120 cm; the right is the standard size. The same structure, just elongated. **Walnut, 90 cm wide, with an added round-rod shoe rack underneath.** https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/cus-90-walnut-child-dudu_1B2A7612-1024x682.jpg Walnut, 90 cm wide, with an added round-rod shoe rack underneath. ■ Specifications Style | DUDU Chair / DUDU Convertible Chair (with detachable bookshelf rod) / DUDU Shoe-Changing Chair (with shoe rack) / DUDU Sliding Chair (with detachable casters) / DUDU Adult Low Stool Seat Height | Children's **16 cm** (single-stage) or **16/21 cm** (two-stage adjustable); Adult Low Stool **26 cm** Width | Children's **40** (standard) / **82** (extended); Adult Low Stool **50** (standard) / **82** (extended), in cm Depth | Children's **20 cm**; Adult Low Stool **25 cm** Side Panel Height | Children's **27.5 cm**; Adult Low Stool **33 cm** Weight | **2.5 kg** (standard children's model measured value, including two side panels and one seat board. Other styles not weighed) Material | Beech / Walnut (two types of solid wood, side panels and seat board can be mixed) **Finish** | **Water-based wood lacquer, no solvent-based (oil-based) paints used** Side Panel Thickness | 2 cm (edges rounded into full semicircles) Height Adjustment | **By hole position**: 4 countersunk holes for two-stage adjustable, 2 holes for single-stage Shipping Status | **Flat-packed**, requires self-assembly. Contents (single and two-stage children's models): 1 seat board, 2 side panels, 4 screws, hex key included Style Limitations | Adult Low Stool only has one height (26 cm)—for adult seating, please see the Taishan Shoe-Changing Chair https://www.pinkoi.com/product/mn6Enzsa; Sliding chair **only available in two-stage adjustable standard width**; Shoe rack model **only available in two-stage adjustable version** (both standard and extended widths available) ■ Three checkpoints, managing formaldehyde from the source Formaldehyde emissions in engineered wood are classified into three levels; Taiwan's legal threshold is F3, with F1 being the highest. Level | Formaldehyde Emission (average) | What this grade represents F1 | ≤ 0.3 mg/L | Highest grade, equivalent to Japan's F☆☆☆☆. The best rating for engineered wood furniture. F2 | ≤ 0.5 mg/L | Common grade in Taiwan and Japan, allowance is 1.7 times that of F1. F3 | ≤ 1.5 mg/L | Taiwan's legal minimum threshold; selling is prohibited if not met. Allowance is 5 times that of F1. However, the solid wood used by Jiou-Wo is not on this chart. We have strict standards for the wood, glue, and lacquer. **First | Material** This classification table applies to engineered wood: scraps and wood chips glued together, requiring formaldehyde management. Jiou-Wo uses natural solid wood, requiring no added formaldehyde, so there is no grade to assign. **Second | Glue** Solid wood boards are typically only ten to twenty centimeters wide. Making large boards requires edge gluing, or joining wood pieces also requires glue. We use water-based wood glue, with no formaldehyde-based resins. **Third | Lacquer** Water-based wood lacquer was tested for formaldehyde at SGS Chemical Laboratory - Kaohsiung and is below the detection limit of 0.1 mg/L, while the F1 threshold is 0.3. Report KC/2017/60064A-01, June 14, 2017. Sample tested was EPnS Environmental-Friendly Water-Based Wood Lacquer, not the finished product. Furthermore, we don't call the lacquer 'food-grade', as we wouldn't drink it directly anyway. ■ Frequently Asked Questions ■ Is it assembled when I receive it? No. It is sent **flat-packed**, and you assemble it yourself upon arrival. The box contains: 1 seat board, 2 side panels, 4 screws, and a hex key—**tools are included, so you don't need to prepare anything**. There is also an A4 color printed manual, with Chinese on one side and English on the other. (This applies to the single and two-stage children's DUDU chairs.) If you can't assemble it, please feel free to contact the designer directly. The designer always responds personally. ■ Will it break if a child stands on it? No. Structural integrity is an essential part of the design goal. In the designer's own words: 'Previous children's chairs **could** be stood on; the durability and load-bearing capacity must meet that level.' With casters installed, even an adult can sit and slide on it. ■ What kind of lacquer is used on the surface? Water-based wood lacquer, no solvent-based (oil-based) paints used. The difference lies in the diluent: **water-based paints are diluted with water, while solvent-based paints rely on organic solvents.** We use the former for all our products. During the days of applying the lacquer, there is none of that pungent odor associated with solvent-based paints in the workshop—this is a difference we smell every day. Water-based paint is more labor-intensive. Solvent-based paints have a self-leveling characteristic, sometimes eliminating the need for sanding between coats; water-based paint cannot do this, as water does not dissolve the previous layer, and without sanding, there is no adhesion. So the process is: 80 -> 150 -> <1st coat> -> 240 -> <2nd coat> -> 240 -> <3rd coat> -> 600 -> <4th coat>. Four coats of lacquer, with three rounds of sanding. With solvent-based paints, most of these steps could be skipped—we chose the more labor-intensive method. Due to the nature of water-based lacquer, it is not resistant to alcohol or prolonged water exposure; these are the main points of care. ■ How to clean? Simply wipe with a cloth dampened with water or a neutral detergent. **Do not use alcohol**—water-based lacquer has low inherent resistance to alcohol. Do not use volatile cleaners like cleaning naphtha or paint thinner either. ■ Do I need to oil or wax it regularly? No. The surface is already finished with water-based lacquer; oil and wax cannot penetrate the wood fiber pores and would simply layer on top of the smooth surface, resulting in uneven application. ■ What if it gets scratched? It can be repaired, but please do not repair it yourself. Since it is solid wood throughout, sanding it down will reveal the grain again—but it must be re-lacquered afterwards, otherwise that area will have no protection. Send a message to the designer, and they will tell you how to proceed. ■ Ordering Select the style and color scheme, and add to your cart. Is the desired height or width not in the menu? It can be custom-made. Before placing an order, use the 'Contact Designer' feature on the site to tell us, and the designer will respond to you personally.