Toddler RoomsToddler LifeToddler YearsKid RoomsRooms BedToddler Bed FloorBedroom Toddler GirlToddler Girl Bedroom FurniturBaby Bed FloorForwardIntrigued by the idea of a floor bed for your toddler's bedroom? this post has inspiration and the benefits of floor beds!From the day we brought Plumblossom home from the hospital, she slept in her crib. We hadn’t researched other options, and she made it clear from the start that she had no interest in a family bed (the girl has always liked her own space). No matter, we weren’t offended: she was sleeping, we were sleeping, all was good. However, around her second birthday, she started plotting an escape. She had height to her advantage, and began hoisting a leg over the side and teetering on the brink. She didn’t have quite enough leverage to get over, but she was close; we knew it was only a matter of time. So she was still sleeping, but we weren’t—every bump in the night had one of us jumping to check on her. It was one of those milestones both anticipated and dreaded: time for a big girl bed.
We could have bought a conversion kit for her crib; however, in the time since her birth, we had discovered and begun to implement Montessori practices in our home. And no Montessori home would be complete without a floor bed. We would have loved to have put a mattress on the floor and called it a day—easy peasy lemon squeezy. Unfortunately, in our house, that would have been an invitation for mold; we needed a floor bed with air circulation underneath. We decided to go straight to a twin-sized bed (rather than a toddler-sized one), as our little beanpole would certainly outgrow the latter by year’s end. But, as we learned after exhaustive Google searches, super-low twin bed frames are a rare commodity indeed. So our DIY minimalist Montessori bed project was born. Time was not on our side. The nights were nerve-wracking, and we were determined to both build the bed and transition Plumblossom into it over the Christmas holiday (in case her newfound nighttime freedom meant no sleep for us).
By no means would this be a designer-quality example of fine woodworking—we needed to throw something together fast. Our solution: take the Ikea Sultan Laxeby slatted bed base, paint it white, and elevate it on three 4×1 wooden rails. We also made a padded headboard and sideboard with plywood, batting, and fabric to add some cushioning and warmth against the wall (Plumblossom likes to sleep flush against the wall, with her head up in the corner). These padded panels are attached to the wall, and rest on the frame for additional support. Here’s a photo of the finished product: We kept telling ourselves it was a temporary solution until we found something better—but, to be honest, we like the way it turned out and have no plans to change it. Most importantly, Plumblossom seems to love it—she made the transition without a hitch. And, as a bonus, she can do all the jumping and acrobatics she wants on it without her mom having a heart attack. [Note: Montessorians recommend skipping the crib and using a floor bed from the start—not a bad idea if you can sufficiently baby-proof the room.]
So have you read through this entire post, even though you have no little ones underfoot? Bless your heart, and thank you for sticking with me. The concept makes a lovely, minimalist adult bed as well—my husband and I are sleeping on the queen-sized version, and we love it, too. I’d love to hear your thoughts, be they about toddler beds, Montessori beds, or just minimalist beds in general! {If you’d like to learn more about minimalist living, please consider reading my book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide, or subscribing to my RSS feed.}Editor’s Note: Babble participates in affiliate commission programs, including with Amazon, which means that we receive a share of revenue from purchases you make from the links on this page. My kiddos share a room and things are getting tight now that Abby is finally rocking the big girl bed. In my quest to find a bunk bed that sates my safety concerns, I was pleasantly surprised with the low-to-the-floor, high-railed, low impact choices available.
We’re going to wait until the fall, when my eldest toddler turns 4 (he’ll take the top), before we update their room and put in a bunk-bed. Although it’s going to be hard to wait with all of the awesome options I found. From the outrageous and the ludicrously amazing (with price-tags to match), to the repurposed, DIY and impressive Ikea hack-jobs…there’s something for everyone here! Is is a bunk bed or is it a jungle gym. Some parents may grimace at the thought of this as a bed for their toddlers. Because you know, beds are for sleeping. I had to include this design purely for it’s cool factor. I have to admit I kind of love it, especially since it converts to different heights making a bed that will grow with your toddlers into childhood. Shown at mid-height (goes lower). Place a mattress down below and you have yourself a bunk bed! Comes in various finishes. Available now from Amazon, $329.99A great space saver, nice and low to the grown with built in drawers on the wide, angled, super safe staircase.
Extra bonus points for the built in sleepover trundle bed. Available now from Amazon, $1,048.00 No, you can’t get this in king size. Available now from Kids’ Rooms, £1,525.00 Another great low impact choice. Clean modern lines, this beauty separates into a loft bed and a standalone twin too! A pricier, yet durable and well-made option to last through all the wear and tear. This company currently only ships within Australia, which isn’t a problem if you know someone there you can have it shipped to! There are also several shipping services that do this for you. Another low impact, modern choice. Made of MDF – this could be used as inspiration for a weekend DIY project if you are handy like that. Available now from Domayne, price available on request This right here is what dreams are made of. Various styles and models to see here, believe or not I picked the most modest design. Ludicrous price tag, but still. Available now from Cedarworks, $3,325.00
I’m loving all of the low-to-the-ground bunk beds made these days. Perfect for parents who live in small spaces or for siblings who share a small room (mine!). Another fun play-bed option, boasting a more modest price tag. Available now from Amazon, $385.05 I can’t get over how awesome these Ikea Kura bed makeover and DIY projects are! Kura bed available now from Ikea, $209.00 See more on Var Dags Rum Yet another awesome spin on the thrifty Kura loft/bunk bed from Ikea. Great forms of inspiration happening here. Chalkboard paint available now from Amazon, $6.99 See more on Sample Sale Mom What toddler wouldn’t love this set-up? Kura bed available from Ikea, $209.00 See more on Build, Sew, Reap A great bunk bed if you have 2 older toddlers (or kids) — I say this because of the height. But maybe that’s just me being concerned. Tons of cute built in dresser drawers! See more on Ikea Hackers Kura bed available from Ikea, $209.00.