New Trends in Education

Often when one thinks of bunk beds, they are associated with children’s rooms. Yet bunk beds are for far more than just kids. In fact, some styles are even beneficial for just one person. This article will briefly discuss bunk bed styles, along with various novel situations in which bunk beds might be the better choice.

The traditional bunk bed design, sometimes also referred to as a double-deck bed, stacks two sturdy bed frames atop each other such that a single structure can support two sleepers in the same vertical space. The top bed is accessed via a ladder which is securely attached to the frame.

While commonly found in children’s rooms, there are many other spaces where a traditional bunk bed is a sensible choice. College dorm rooms often have very little space, so a bunk bed makes sense to allow more area for desks and other furniture. Similarly, space in cabins or vacation homes may be at a premium. Under these circumstances, choosing a bunk bed is also quite sensible.

Another common style is the tent bunk bed, though this choice is more whimsical than functional. Commonly featured in children’s rooms with a camp theme, this motif foregoes the top bunk in favor of a cloth structure enclosing the entire bed. There are a wide variety of tent designs and colors from which to choose.

The futon bunk bed is a newly-developed style. Basing their success on recently-made improvements in futon design, these bunk beds stack two futons atop each other. The result is a bunk bed that also serves as a couch. Futon bunk beds also feature a wider array of style and customization options not seen in their traditional predecessors.

By merging the concept of futon and bunk bed, this style targets a somewhat different demographic. By including a couch, futon bunk beds become convenient for a single person living in a crowded apartment. The bottom bunk can be left folded away to serve as a couch, but can be extended in a pinch to sleep an extra guest.

A final common style is the loft bed. This style often has a single bed elevated more than three feet off the ground. As such, loft bunk beds are similar to the traditional model sans the bottom bed.

This design shares many of the same advantages as those of the futon style. Unlike futons, however, loft bunk beds place fewer restrictions on what can go beneath. If a couch isn’t needed, perhaps a desk or dresser would be a better fit. Some loft beds even include additional furniture designed to fit underneath and, as such, are more self-contained for easier moving later.

There are also safety considerations to be taken into account, especially when purchasing a bunk bed for children. The frame should be sturdy. When evaluating frames, pay particular attention to the mattress slats of the upper bunk, ensuring they are secured solidly in place by more than just weight pressing down from above. During play, a child might push up on these slats, dislodging the upper mattress and causing the child above to fall.

Also, pay particular attention to the ladder. Curved ladders take up more space, but are easier and safer to climb. Since the ladder will be used daily, it should be as comfortable and safe to climb as is possible.

Guard rails on the top bunk are another important safety feature. They should not be detachable as to minimize the possibility of breakage, and if they are detachable, they should be fastened securely in place. Pay particular attention to the gap beneath the rail and the top edge of the mattress. It should be no greater than three inches wide as to minimize the possibility of a falling child being trapped between the rail and the mattress. The top of the rails should extend at least six inches above the top of the mattress.

For children, kids bunk beds can be hours of fun. A blanket suspended from the upper bunk can turn them into a tent, castle or any other landscape of the imagination. For adults, newer designs can serve as the ultimate space-saving furnishing, offering more functionality while occupying fewer square feet. Regardless of which you might be, hopefully the above information is enough to make a sound decision.

Tags: kids bunk beds | kids bunk beds | bunk beds | bunk bed

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 at 7:19 pm and is filed under Garden design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.