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Choosing a loft bed for children

Recently, many non-standard solutions have appeared in furniture. If earlier only a few had bunk beds, today there is also a children's loft bed, and in different configurations and different types. From the point of view of saving space in the room, it is an ideal option, but questions may arise with the ease of use.

The content of the article

1 What height
2 Structures, types, materials
3 Photo ideas

What height

Children's loft bed can be of different heights:

average height (for a bed) is when the sleeping place is approximately 1 meter from the floor;
high - this is at a height of 1.5 meters and above.

The average height is more suitable for children up to 10-12 years old. And not only because the parents are not so scared that the child might fall. More likely because of the moments of communication before bed. Such children still allow their parents to shelter them for the night, hug them, read a fairy tale, talk about something. Doing this at a height of 1.6 meters will not work. In any case, you will not fully communicate ... But on a low (relatively) bed, you can sit down and conduct a full evening ritual.

A children's loft bed can be of medium height - the sleeping place is located at a distance of a meter from the floor (or so)

You will not place a table under a one meter-high bed and will not create a work or play space. But on the other hand, the entire area is built up with shelves, drawers, cabinets, in which a lot of things fit.

Teenagers already hardly allow such liberties. They are too old now. A high loft bed will be the ideal place for them.

High loft beds are also inconvenient from the point of view of their maintenance: even making the bed is problematic, and changing linen is also inconvenient. But many people are willing to put up with these shortcomings because of the meta savings. The second not the most pleasant moment appears during childhood illnesses. It is good if there is a backup option - the child can be transferred lower until he recovers. If this is not possible, mom will have to jump up / down, which is sometimes tiresome.

The height of the ceilings is one of the defining parameters when choosing the height of the loft bed

Ceiling height is one of the defining parameters when choosing an attic bed

Another point: the height of the ceilings. There should be at least 80-90 cm from the bed with a mattress to the ceiling. This is the minimum that allows you not to bang your head. And then, with such a height to the ceiling, the air above is "not very" - hot and stuffy. The problem can be solved by a carefully thought-out ventilation system, and if there is none, then at least by regular ventilation.

Structures, types, materials

Like any other furniture, the loft bed comes in three versions: wooden, Chipboard, metal. There are also combined options - a wooden frame, cabinets-shelves made of chipboard or MDF... Metal structures are the least likely to come across - for some reason, not the most popular option, although there are no complaints about their strength.

Next, we will consider the structural elements and their varieties that may be important.

Ladder

In many ways, the convenience of using a sleeping place is determined precisely by the stairs (and the peace of the parents too). Let's immediately consider what steps can be made of:

From a round metal tube (usually chrome plated). The pipe is certainly strong, but its surface is smooth and slippery. This can be a problem for young children.
Made of small wooden planks. This option is also not for small children.
From wide planks. That's better. Please note that the child's leg should completely (or better with a small margin) fit on the step.

In addition, there are different shapes of stairs.The most dangerous are vertically stuffed strips (on the side or in the front - it doesn't matter). For boys of middle school age and older, this is not a problem. For sports young ladies too. For the rest, select other designs.

One above the other cross members are not suitable for everyone

It is much more convenient when the stairs are inclined. They can be with or without railings. With handrails - the safest option, but it takes up a lot of space and it is not always possible to "fit" such a staircase.

An inclined staircase is certainly more convenient, but takes up a lot of space

Convenient if space allows

There are also ladders attached to the side with large full steps. She, of course, take up even more space, but so that it does not disappear just like that, they hide boxes under the steps. You can put things or toys in them.

There are boxes hidden under the steps of the stairs

For those with two or more children, it is often necessary to somehow block access to the top for the younger ones. They learn to climb up quickly, but going down can be problematic. There is an interesting option - a staircase divided into two parts with a platform.

Ladder with platform

This design is generally safer: it is easier to go up and down. And also a barrier for kids is easily implemented - you can put a door, for example.

Read how to make a loft bed with your own hands here.

What's below

As you saw in the photo, a children's loft bed on the first floor can have:

workplace;
play area;
storage system - cabinets, shelves, boxes;
sofa.

There are also combinations or, as they say, multifunctional beds - under the berth there is a wardrobe with a play area or work area. It is very convenient when there are a lot of cabinets and drawers. This is a great solution to save space in a small room. There are almost no complaints about such models.

Children's loft bed with pull-out table top

He may not like the filling of the closets (there are few shelves, but a lot of space for things on hangers, of which children usually do not have a very large number). But you can alter it or order your own (if the company provides such opportunities). But setting up a few shelves or wire baskets on your own is much cheaper.

Read how to design a boy's room here.

With a workplace

Quite a popular option is an attic bed with a workplace. To save space, this is a great option, but there is one "but". According to the recommendations of pediatricians, the desktop should have a variable height - it should grow with the child. There is no such possibility in these constructions. Although, to be honest, desks are also rarely height-adjustable. So it's up to you to accept this argument or not.

Loft bed with workplace

Another point - very little sunlight gets on the table of such a workplace. You can, of course, organize good artificial lighting, but it is not always a full-fledged substitute. Another solution is to place it so that the light from the window falls on the countertop.

Solving the problem of illumination))

There are also models with a pull-out table. This option will suit many - compact and quite convenient.

With pull-out table on castors

And another option for an attic bed with a work area below

And another option for an attic bed with a workspace below (the tabletop is also retractable)

With play area

There are usually no problems with the placement of the playing area on the first tier. Two shelves can be made around the perimeter, on which popular toys can be stored. But there are usually few such shelves. If you have nowhere to store toys, you can finish or put boxes on the shelves, in which you already put the toys.

The play area at the bottom can have several shelves

The play area can have several shelves

Loft bed with play area for boy

One of the equipment options is a loft bed with a slide. Usually it comes as part of the play area, but there are also wardrobes. There are many options ...

The loft bed with a slide is popular with children

The play area option easily converts into a bed with a house. To do this, it is enough to make the walls, and you can do it from fabric. This greatly increases the interest of children and they can spend a long time in games. And if you put lighting inside or put a lamp (it is better with LEDs from batteries or accumulators - there is no glass and electricity), then the house will keep the children busy for a long time.

Children's room interior design is described here.

With sofa

An attic bed with a built-in sofa is not common - the overall furniture is obtained. Such options are already for teenagers. The second berth (and the third, if the sofa is folding) can be used either for the second child, or as a reserve in case of the arrival of relatives. And by teenagers it is usually used for gatherings with friends / girlfriends.

With a sofa downstairs

If you want to, you can find an option with a small sofa on the side and several shelves opposite. This option is good if there is no separate nursery, and just a corner in the parents' room is fenced off under it.

An interesting option

Multifunctional beds for teens

These are combined options - bed + wardrobe + workplace. The layout can be different. In this version, you must first of all look at the dimensions and how the whole structure will fit. It is these options that already have quite a solid height for the location of the berth - about 1.6-1.7 meters. Otherwise, the teenagers downstairs will be uncomfortable.

With wardrobe and pull-out table

The main difference is the staircase design

There are entire mini-rooms on two levels.

Mini-room with dressing room and work area

Among the low sofa beds, there are also models with a wardrobe and a working area. Please note that in the photo below, the steps are made as a separate structure, which can also be extended / retracted.

The steps are moving too

Operating experience

Some of the problems that can arise - the complexity of service and communication - have already been described above. But there is one more point - stability. At a considerable height, the structure is rather wobbly. And since children are great fidgets, there were times when they turned over the beds. Hence the recommendations:

immediately strengthen all joints and fasteners by adding mounting metal plates wherever possible;
figure out how to attach the bed to the wall (firmly and securely).

One more thing: sometimes the standard height of the railing is not enough. For your own peace of mind, you can build up the railing. Again, this is from experience - children fell in a dream ... From the same series - add railings to the ladder or make them higher.

Read about bunk beds (two berths) here.