The Savior of Small Kids' Rooms: What to Consider When Choosing a Bunk Bed

Children's rooms often contain far more items than adult bedrooms. Between a desk, a toy chest, a wardrobe, and of course, a play area, there's often little space left.

This becomes even more challenging when siblings share a room. Fortunately, there's a solution: saving space with functional furniture. And one of the most functional pieces of all is the bunk bed.

Today, bunk beds are used for more than just allowing two people to share a room. Modern bunk bed models are designed with a bed on top and a study or play area underneath. The key is to make the right choice that meets your needs. So, what should you consider when buying a bunk bed?

1. How Do You Decide on the Bunk Bed Size?

When choosing a bunk bed, first consider the size of your room and its intended purpose. This is one of the most important factors determining both comfort and usability. If you're buying a bunk bed for a child's room, opt for a smaller model to save space. This will create more play area for your child.

If you're buying a bunk bed for a guest room or a summer house, choose a model suitable for adults but still space-efficient. For example, a wall-mounted folding bunk bed can be opened only when guests arrive, allowing you to use the room freely at other times. If opening and closing a bed daily isn't a hassle for you, you can also get a wall-mounted folding bunk bed for small children's rooms.

2. How Do You Choose a Functional Bunk Bed Model?

Consider the other furniture in the room to decide on the space you'll allocate for the bunk bed. Measure the largest possible area where the bunk bed could fit, because you can use the bunk bed as more than just a bed—it can be a combination of other furniture.

• Storage Bunk Beds: For example, bunk beds with drawers in the stairs take up more space but offer the advantage of meeting some wardrobe needs. You can also use the drawers under the stairs as a dresser.

• Loft Beds: Some bunk bed types come with both stairs, a desk, and a bookshelf. You can create more space in the room by choosing a model according to the room's size and your child's needs. In narrow children's rooms, you can use a bunk bed with a built-in closet.

• Trundle Bunk Beds: To store more items, you can opt for a bunk bed with a trundle. A trundle bed helps you store bulky items like pillows and duvets and also offers an extra bed for your children's friends.

• Fun Bunk Beds: In larger rooms, you can treat the bunk bed as a fun place that nurtures your child's imagination. You can turn your child's room into a park by getting a bunk bed with a slide or a play area. If your child is young, ensure the play area is on the bottom level for safety. Also, make sure the bed area has sufficiently high guardrails.

3. How Can You Prioritize Safety?

Safety is one of the most important issues to consider when choosing a bunk bed. Decide on the model by considering your child's age and sleep habits. If your child is a very deep sleeper or frequently goes to the bathroom at night, bunk beds with the top bed might not be suitable.

In two-bed bunk beds, ensure that the guardrails on both beds are high and sturdy. Especially in bunk beds with drawers in the stairs, it's important to have safety measures for the transition from the bed to the larger staircase area. Also, check if the steps of the ladder are wide enough for a foot to fit securely.

4. How Do You Match the Bunk Bed with Room Decor?

Unlike smaller furniture like a desk, a bunk bed creates a significant change in room decor. Its impact is large because it takes up a lot of space and can incorporate other furniture like closets. You can decide on the best bunk bed model by learning these decor tips:

• Wood Tones: If the other furniture in the room is light-colored, choose a wooden bunk bed made from a tree like pine or maple. If dark tones dominate the space, choose solid wood bunk beds like cherry or walnut, or MDF models in these colors.

• Color & Contrast: Another option is to choose contrasting tones to create a focal point. You can also more easily match other items in the room by choosing a colorful bunk bed. If your child's room doesn't get much light, opt for a white lacquer bunk bed. Light-colored furniture will make the room look more spacious.

• Themes: You can create a decoration your young child will love with car, ship, or castle-shaped bunk bed models. For older children, you can make a choice according to their taste, such as a modern bunk bed combining black and yellow or a more classic teen room model with the brightness of pink and white.

• Flexibility: Considering the possibility of changing the room layout in the future, you can buy a detachable bunk bed. This way, you won't need to buy new beds when you separate your children's rooms. It's also beneficial if not only the bed parts but also the adjoining furniture like drawers, desks, and closets are detachable. The more modular the furniture, the easier it is to refresh the room decor.

5. Why is Durability Important?

A bed is usually one of the longest-used pieces of furniture. For both long-term use and your child's safety, ensure the materials the bunk bed is made from are sturdy. Not just sturdiness, but the bed's weight capacity is also very important, as a bunk bed not suited to a child's weight could lead to the base breaking.

In addition to the frame, pay attention to the durability and healthiness of the mattress inside. Choosing an ergonomic mattress affects the physical health of growing children and also improves their sleep quality.