A Guide to Kids Bunk Beds
Bunk Beds are a great solution for smaller homes and a handy way to maximized floor space in smaller bedrooms. They work great as a space saving solution and there are lots of great choices available. Many people think that bunk beds are only a choice for kids but they work great for guest bedrooms too.
The most common style is a single over single, the type you may have had as a child yourself and this type is ideal for children sharing a room. Another option is single over double bunk beds, they are great for guest rooms where you may have a couple and their young child staying over for example, rather than separate parents and child you can sleep them in one room which is where a young child will be most comfortable in most cases.
Bunks work great in limited space and are an affordable option for parents with children who want to share a room together where room size is an issue. Another type of bed that could be considered a bunk bed is a single bed with storage underneath, these are great for young adults who may need more space than their room offers for things such as computer desks etc as their needs grow.
Types Of Bunk Beds
The following drawings illustrate the five types of bunk beds.
Standard Bunk Bed
The Standard Bunk is the basic bunk bed. Remove one of the lower bed rails to convert to a Loft bed.
Stackable Bunk Bed
The Stackable Bunk can be separated into two single beds. Stackables can easily be converted to a Loft or L-Shaped,with another twin below.
The Loft Bunk Bed
The Loft Bed is like a bed on stilts. This style greatly increases the usable floor space in a room. About 55″ clearance underneath tall Loft- great for a desk and/or a chest.
The L-shape Bunk Bed
The L-shape bunk is a loft bed and a matching single lower bed at a right angle. The two beds can be positioned in a variety of ways. The Loft and single can be different sizes, e.g. Full Loft and Twin lower.
The Twin Over Full Bunk Bed
The Twin over Full has a full size bed on bottom with a twin on top. Can also be made as a Stackable.
Choosing a Bunk Bed For Your Home
Unlike the standard traditional bunk beds we remember from when we were children there are now a wide variety of choices available and bunks come in a range of styles, materials and designs, you can get anything from a very basic functional bunk to a sturdy, wooden frame full staircase single over twin (see second image above for an idea of how this can look). They come in a wide range of finishes and it is possible to get exactly the bunk bed for your specific needs.
When choosing a bunk bed for your room you need to firstly measure the space you have available, remember than a single over twin will take up a lot more space than two singles and if you choose a twin bed on the bottom that points in a different direction than the top bunk then this will take up even more space, (see first image above for an example) so you need to make allowances in your measurements for that too. A standard single over single will fit almost any bedroom that fits a single bed but you still need to be careful about design, you want to make sure that the bunk bed you choose can be fitted into your room how you want it as well, so take into account other non moveable furniture in the room such as fitted closets etc.
Other things to Look Out For:
- Safety rails on top bunk to prevent your child from falling off it.
- Quality material and the overall construction.
- Ladder must be properly fixed. It is better if a vertical ladder is placed on a side of the bed.
- A bed should follow the overall aesthetics of the kids’ bedroom. It will keep the setting in harmony and maintain happy mood in your kids.
- Top mattress should be no more than 9 inches thick, and guard rails must be higher than it.
- If you need a convertible lower bunk, make sure it converts just as you want.
The type of bunk you choose will depend on what you are looking for, there are many options available no matter which type you are looking for and a good bunk bed can not only be a great space saver but can also add style to a room.
