Loft bed design, varieties and selection rules

A children's loft bed with a work area or play space is a smart purchase for practical parents who want to save space and keep the family budget. A mobile and inquisitive child will like a multifunctional design with a ladder, a raised bed, cabinets, shelves, a slide and other elements. Children will be happy to explore their small personal territory and spend time with fun and comfort.

What is a loft bed

The loft bed is a structure in which the sleeping place is located on the upper level. The lower tier can be empty or equipped with work furniture, cupboards, boxes with toys and other additional items. In order to climb up, children have to climb stairs (some models have a rope or slide).

Loft beds are stable and can withstand heavy loads. There are safety bumpers in it, and all fasteners reliably connect the elements to each other.

Furniture can be of various sizes. The main selection criterion is the age of the little inhabitant of the room. For example, for kids 2-5 years old, the sleeping place is located as low as possible to the floor (no more than a meter in height), which provides additional safety. As a rule, lockers and shelves for linen and toys are mounted on the lower level.

A loft bed for children from 3-5 years old with a working area is located at a height of up to 1.6 meters. Downstairs, they usually provide a small vertical cabinet, bookshelves and a table for drawing or other interesting activities.

For teenagers, you can even purchase wide double beds at a height of up to 2 meters. At the bottom there is a full-fledged workplace with compartments for storing clothes, textbooks, bed linen and other things.

Features of the design of the berth

First of all, the design is designed for comfortable rest and sleep. For this reason, it is important to choose the right bed for your baby.

According to the material of manufacture, the frame can be either wooden or metal. Natural wood is environmentally friendly, durable and reliable. An important point - such surfaces are warm to the touch.

The metal is characterized by maximum strength and a very long service life. However, it can be unpleasant for a child to touch a cold frame. In addition, the risk of injury increases significantly, which is minimal when interacting with a tree.

Options for making the bed base:

• Reiki. They are made from steel or wood. The mattress is well ventilated thanks to the unobstructed air circulation.
• Solid bottom. Usually lined with plywood sheets or boards.Differs in strength and durability.
• Orthopedic base. The rack and pinion design is slightly curved, which is especially useful for children of different ages.

The sleeping place must necessarily be equipped with high sides and a safe ladder. The child is protected from falls during sleep, even during sharp turns.

Advantages and disadvantages of a loft bed

Some consumers, having seen unusual furniture with a complex configuration in the store, are extremely wary of it. Most often this happens due to a lack of awareness of multifunctional models for children.

Pros of a loft bed:

• saving space, compactness (does not take up much space in the children's room);
• safety (a sleeping place located at a height, equipped with protective bumpers to prevent falls);
• multifunctionality (in a small area you can sleep, relax, play, study, etc.);
• aesthetic appeal (the original design allows you to make the bed a bright accent of the room);
• profitability (adults do not have to buy additional furniture for study, storage of things, which will have a beneficial effect on the family budget);
• reliability (made of the strongest and most durable materials, since it is constantly exposed to significant loads).

Unfortunately, loft beds have some disadvantages, but they are mostly subjective:

• not suitable for rooms with very low ceilings;
• the child has to constantly climb up and down the stairs;
• the likelihood of falling from a height, despite the presence of sides, if the baby is too active and indulges;
• inconvenience when cleaning (it is quite difficult to get to all the elements of the upper level);
• it is not very easy for parents to put a small child to bed, they will not be able to lie down next to them;
• psychological aspect (the baby may be afraid to sleep at a height, so this option will not work for him).

Varieties

Loft beds can have a variety of configurations. They are divided into types depending on the fullness of the lower level under the berth.

By this criterion, the following types of multifunctional structures can be distinguished:

• Standard bed. The lower tier remains empty. Simply put, this is a regular frame with a ladder and sleeping area at the top. If desired, the free space at the bottom can be filled with sports equipment, toys, and furniture. The main advantage of such models is the visual increase in space.
• Loft bed with a working area for a teenager or younger student. The child will sooner or later have to organize a place to study, and the space in the lower tier is best suited for this. The models differ in localization and the way the table is mounted.
• With a wardrobe. The bed can be completed with storage space. If the design is high enough, you can place a fairly roomy narrow cabinet and subsequently provide a table and a small armchair or chair.
• With play space. For preschoolers, an option with an area for games and sports activities is welcome. The lower tier is designed as a separate room and can be fenced off with curtains, doors, and stand out with local lighting. If there is a place for sports activities with equipment below, you can install a slide, rings, wall bars and even a swing.
• Low-rise models. These are beds about a meter high. Unfortunately, it is impossible to place a study or play area below, but deep drawers and shelves will look great there.

Who is the loft bed suitable for?

The loft bed is a versatile option for users of all ages. However, the age category influences the final choice of furniture, in which the sleeping place can be located at different heights, and the bottom provides for various functional areas for games, work, storage and sports.

For kids

The younger the child, the lower the sleeping bed should be. If a small person is only 2-3 years old, the height of the crib should not exceed 1 meter. This is not only the safest, but also convenient for parents who put their baby to bed every night. For preschoolers, high sides and safe wide stairs are used.

For teenagers

Furniture for teens is minimalist. You should not use a lot of decorative elements, overload facades with fittings, bright details. On the lower level, the placement of a working (computer) table with drawers, a chair, shelves for notebooks and books, useful little things, and lockers is encouraged.

When buying furniture, it is important to consider the personal preferences of a son or daughter. In adolescence, an important point is the possibility of self-expression. The child will be happy to spend time in the room if he himself participated in the selection of the bed and developed the functional space on the lower level.

For adults

The range for adults is endless. Upstairs can be located as a wide double bed, and a narrow single or one-and-a-half. The lower level is equipped with a personal study, a dressing room, a mini-hall for sports. If desired, the entire area under the berth can be provided as storage space.

Some users prefer to build TV and other appliances into niches, place houseplants, an aquarium. The final choice depends on financial capabilities, room size, personal preferences. If you show your imagination and correctly distribute the structural elements, you can get a multifunctional space for rest and work.

How to choose the right loft bed

When buying a loft bed with a work area and a wardrobe for a teenager or a product for a younger child with a different design, you must first of all pay attention to its safety and durability. It is better to give preference to wooden models, since they are as environmentally friendly as possible and at the same time serve for a long time, reduce the likelihood of injury.

Metal can inspire more confidence as it is the strongest and most reliable. However, it is important to remember that metal surfaces in production are often coated with various compounds of synthetic origin, which can be toxic and unsafe for the child's body.

Beds for the smallest users should be free of sharp corners. Otherwise, the baby may be accidentally injured. The same goes for fittings and protruding fasteners. In the kit, it is important to have high reliable sides that prevent falling from a height during sleep and rest.

The bed should be located at such a height that it is convenient for the child to use both the upper and lower levels. Comfort when climbing stairs is also important. It must be borne in mind that a small person will have to regularly go up and down, so if this is fraught with serious difficulties, then it is better to refuse this option.

Before buying furniture, you need to carefully read reviews about manufacturers on the Internet or recommendations of friends. Some firms may offer good looking products with little warranty, which means the designs are unreliable.

Price range

The cost of a product depends on many factors:

• material of manufacture;
• warranty period;
• the number of pieces of furniture included;
• sizes;
• decoration;
• manufacturer, etc.

The most budgetary options are made from solid pine. It is a simple frame with a sleeping area at the top and empty space at the bottom. Basic metal frame models and chipboard beds are also inexpensive.

When the lower tier is filled with pieces of furniture, the product moves into the middle price range. A work area, a play space or a place for sports is organized below. In this case, different fittings are used.

Expensive and exclusive premium models are most often made to order according to the individual requirements of the customer. Surfaces can be decorated with carvings, wood is combined with forged elements, parts are handcrafted by eminent craftsmen.

Design and combination with the interior

The bed should fit correctly into the overall concept of the room. When choosing a design color, it is recommended to stop at not very bright shades. "Acidic" tones will irritate the child's psyche and contribute to the deterioration of the emotional state.

The sizes are individual for each specific room. If the room is designed in a loft style and is used by a teenager, the bed should be minimalistic and as discreet as possible. In the space for a little princess, the attic sleeping place and the lower area can be voluminous and decorated with many decorative elements.

The loft bed is a practical solution for a child's room. It allows you to save space and will definitely suit the taste of the occupant of the room. The lower level can be organized to your liking. On the modern market, there are many attractive and convenient models for every taste and wallet.

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