HomeA loft bed is an elevated bed similar to a bunk bed, but without the lower beds – freeing floor space for other furniture (such as a desk) which might be built into the loft bed. Loft beds are most commonly found in children/student bedrooms and dorms – although they can be a useful addition to any bedroom, especially when space is at a premium.
DEFINE A LOFT BED?
A loft bed (or loftbed) is a bunk bed with the lower section used for purposes other than sleeping. It’s a commonly a single person, space saving bed, that makes best use of vertical space in small rooms like kid’s rooms which are usually cramped- once the bed, the floor-to-ceiling cupboard and study table fill up the area, there is little or almost no space for the kids to move about. However, by installing a loft bed, you can make even the tiniest of rooms appear bigger and much larger. Although they are normally thought of as single beds for kids or college students it’s also possible to buy them in larger sizes such as twin, queen or full.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LOFT BEDS?
The most basic form of bunk loft bed is basically just a raised sleeping platform: the space underneath is left empty and can be used to store of boxes, college books, electrical equipment etc. Somemore sophisticated models include built in storage units etc in various configurations and are available in both wood and metal. To name a few-
Loft tent bed: The space below the loft bed is converted into a tent where children can spend hours of safe creative play. With the slides and windows with curtains, it serves as the perfect play area.
Futon loft bed: A futon bunk is also like a standard bunk bed except that the lower bunk is a Western-style futon bed which converts into a couch during the daytime and can be used to save space in small apartments or rooms.
Loft bed with Desk: An alternative that is popular for student bedrooms is to incorporate a work desk with built in computer workstation below the loft bed.
Theme loft beds: For younger children it it is possible to buy themed loft beds, popular examples being “castle” and fairy princess.
WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A LOFT BED?
The main characteristic of a loft bed is that it placed about five feet from the floor space, supported by a dresser at one end and a desk at the other. The area lying underneath can be used as space storage. The drawers are placed under the mattress area and can be easily accessed when needed and provide ample storage for clothing or toys or books. The drawers are usually broad and with much depth.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LOFT BEDS?
Space-saving: Loft beds can be very beneficial, when storage is your premium criteria. It saves a lot of space and gives your kid enough place to sleep, study as well as play.
Kids love it: The most important advantage of a loft bed is that your kid would love it. It is often seen that all children have a fascination for high bed. While they love the experience of sleeping beneath the stars, parents love the new look of the room.
Enliven the look: Another important benefit of loft bed is that you can enliven the look of the room just by changing the covers and washable slipcovers in bright colors and easy to wash fabrics.
Privacy: Full size loft beds provide the benefits of privacy and additional space. Therefore, they are apt for those kids, who are sharing their bedroom with siblings.
For a small size bedroom, there can be no better choice than to go in for a loft bed.
WHAT ARE THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN INSTALLING A LOFT BED?
Young children: As with bunks, safety is paramount with loft beds – children sleeping in raised beds must be taught that they are not toys. In fact it is recommended that only children aged over six should be allowed to sleep in top bunks. Always read and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Strength: Whenever you buy a loft bed, always check its sturdiness by shaking the upper bed for any kind of movement. Since loft beds often have less support underneath than traditional bunk beds they must be carefully designed to ensure that they can safely take the weight of a person laying on top. They may need extra support struts etc.
Guardrails: A bunk bed should have at least two upper bunk guardrails. Make sure that there are no wide openings between the guardrails that would allow a child’s head or body to slip through.
Ladder: The ladder should be locked into the bed frame. It is advisable to have a nightlight near the ladder, so that sleepy children can find their way down safely.
Placement in room: The best place for a loft bed should be in a corner, where the bed will have support from two walls. The top bunk placement of the bed should be done in such a way that an adult should be able to enter and exit the top bunk without hitting the ceiling, ceiling fans, or light fittings.
Instructions: Make sure that you have the manufacturer’s instructions about the proper mattress size and how to use the beds safely.
For information on other Bed Types, go to:
April 10th, 2012