14 Questions You Might Be Anxious To Ask Best Bunk Beds For Teens
How to Choose the Best Bunk Beds for Teens
Loft beds and bunk beds can bring fun and utility in the children's room. They can also help to reduce space.
Choose bunks that are designed to be flexible, such as drawers that store items in the bottom or a trundle bed which is easy to take down and twins that stack and can be split into two beds. Also consider Bunk Beds Store of the top bunk.
Size
You'll need to consider size, style, and safety when choosing a bunkbed for your children. Examine the height of the ceiling to make sure the bunks can fit in the space. Also, make sure that there is enough room around the bunks to allow children to move around. The beds should be enough apart so that children can move up and down with ease and not bump into one another or fall into walls. Also, you should determine whether the top bunk bed can support a mattress similar to that of the lower one. This will allow you to avoid the need for an additional bed or trundle later on.
You can also choose a bunk design that isn't conventional, if it suits your space better. For instance, an L-shaped bunk can be perfect for a small bedroom or even a guest room that is shared. It saves the floor space and can also accommodate a queen or twin over full mattress on both the upper and lower levels, based on the model you select.
Many of the best bunk beds for teens will expand with your kids, converting into two free-standing beds when it's time for them to move to a normal double bed. Storkcraft Solid Wood Ladder Twin Bunk Bed for instance is an old-fashioned farmhouse design with curved headboards. It also features wagon-style guardrails on the top bunk. It's made of knot-free New Zealand Pine and has a built-in stationary ladder that connects the lower and upper bunk beds. This gives more room for kids to play.
Another option is a loft bed which optimizes corner spaces in tween rooms. It's ideal for small spaces as it occupies less vertical space and allows you to use the lower level for storage cabinets, desks or dressers. It's also a great choice for older children since it doesn't require them to use stairs or a ladder which makes it more accessible to larger children and adults.
Check the height of any bunk bed in your child's room using blue painter tape. This will give you a feel of whether it can be easily climbed into and out at night without causing any damage to heads or the bottom of the window sill or hanging curtains. In addition, you should keep your family's safety in mind by reading the Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulations for bunk beds. These regulations establish standards for guardrails and other features that prevent the chance of entrapment and falls.
Safety
Bunk beds can be an ideal option for families with children of all ages. However, it's essential to consider the safety features before purchasing. You'll want to look for a bed with guard rails that are high enough to keep children from falling over or getting trapped. Also, you need an option that doesn't raise the bed's surface too high. Be sure to be aware of the capacity for weight, as some bunks are less able than others.
Check the manufacturer's website to see the specifications available for mattress sizes and weight limitations. Most manufacturers provide guidelines regarding how thick the top bunk mattress can be, and they'll typically list the total capacity of the bunk and upper bed weight capacities.
The best bunk beds will be sturdy and have a ladder or stair that is secured to the frame and has handles on the sides. Avoid bunks that have slatted sides as they could be dangerous for children to climb up or down, especially when the slats aren't securely fitted together. If your kids love playing on the ground, opt for a low-slung bottom bunk to let them sit up and play without being too high off the ground.
Choose an L-shaped mattress if you don't have much space in your child's room or if you don't want it taking up much space. They are smaller in size and are usually only as wide as one single bed. This makes them suitable for rooms with narrow ceilings. They're also more suitable for younger kids, who may be intimidated by a higher bunk.
If you have more space, consider a full-over-full bunk bed. These are the most stylish and secure bunk beds that are available. They can be used for full-size or twin-sized beds. Pottery Barn Kids' Belden is a stylish, sturdy choice that can grow with kids as they get older and accommodates trundle mattress (sold separately) for adults and older teens. It's Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it emits low levels of chemical. It's made from sustainable sources of Baltic Birch wood and comes in a range of colors.
Style
Whether it's for the shared room or one kid, the right bunk bed can give teenagers something to be enthusiastic about. Some designs are minimalist and sleek and some have more fun elements. Bunk beds are available in various sizes, such as twin-over-twin, full-overfull, or even queen. A twin-over-full design is a favorite among teens because it lets them sleep two kids in a single room, and still has room for a dresser, desk or storage drawers on the lower level. Certain designs have Trundle beds that permit the upper level to fit an extra mattress for sleepovers.
Tweens also love an over-king twin loft bed that occupies less floor space and gives them more room to stretch out or work from home, says Fenton. Metal bunk beds with full-length guardrails are a popular choice for older kids because they're "built to last and is the strongest, grown-up bunk," Fenton adds.
For a truly cool bunk, you should consider an T-shaped or l-shaped design that's basically a platform bed elevated. These beds are constructed with the ladder at the end. This provides a more modern look and more room for a desk or dresser. They're not as effective at saving space as a traditional bunk however, they're a stylish choice for teens that gives them more space in their rooms.
If you're looking to find a more affordable bunk that can offer plenty of security and comfort, consider a futon bunk. Futons are small and flexible and can be moved them around in case your kids are looking to revamp their rooms in the near future. However they're not as sturdy as a wood or metal bunk bed, and they don't come with guardrails for the top bed.
Bunks that have stairs or ladders are also available. Ladders take up less space and are more convenient to climb, whereas stairs are more secure and can serve as a seating area for younger kids. Some models are even capable of converting into a chair and desk and allow your child to build the perfect bedroom space to study or play.
Budget
When you're looking for a bunk bed, it's crucial to think about your budget. There are plenty of options for cheap beds available, but if need a bed that will last through the teens and even into adulthood, you should consider spending a little more for a high-quality product that can be used for a long time.
Before you shop, consider who will be sleeping on the bunk bed and what their sleep needs might be. For instance, a twin-over-twin configuration is great for siblings sharing a room and a full-over-full bunk is perfect for adults looking to make space and avoid the expense of buying an additional queen or king size mattress. You'll need to determine the amount of headroom between the top and the bottom bunk. If your children are still in their toddler beds, you might want to choose a bed that is lower to the ground.
The ideal bunk bed for teens will be a good value, and one that can adapt to their needs. Choose a design that can work in traditional and modern rooms, or go with something like the Oeuf Perch bunk--an Editors' Choice option for the Spruce. It can separate into two freestanding twin beds in case you're looking to alter your space in the future. This design has a modern, clean-lined silhouette with boucle-upholstered guardrails, boucle upholstered railings and an easy-to-climb, stationary ladder. It's also Greenguard Gold and fair trade certified for its environmental and social responsibility.
A bunk bed with built-in storage is another option to save money. This can include drawers under the lower bed, or shelves underneath the top. This will help keep the bedroom clutter-free, and is particularly useful when you have a small space. Many of the bunks on our list have this feature, and a few have additional storage accessories available like a bookcase headboard for the upper bunk, and a desk for the bottom.