© 2022 — 2022 Furniture-one.ru — Copying of materials is strictly prohibited.
A loft bed is an original and at the same time convenient furniture option. The sleeping place rises above the floor on supporting elements, forming free space underneath. You can independently turn an empty lower tier into a cozy functional area by selecting the necessary set of furniture. Also, modern manufacturers make any models to order with a built-in headset that meets the needs of the buyer.
Pros and cons of a loft bed
The classic models, presented in the photo of a children's loft bed from numerous online stores, combine in their design a sleeping area on top and an area for games, school activities, and storage of things below. They may differ in size and appearance, but their main purpose is to combine two functions: to provide the child with a cozy place for a restful sleep and to organize his activities during waking hours.
There are many advantages of a children's loft bed.
Significant space saving for a small room. A two-tier structure, which combines a bed and, for example, a wardrobe, takes up less space than two separate pieces of furniture.
An original design can tell about the gender and age of the youngest family member, his interests and preferences. A loft bed designed in the style of a pirate ship or car will definitely belong to a boy, and decorative elements reminiscent of a fairy-tale meadow or a princess's palace will appeal to a girl.
Discreet decor and a computer desk with an armchair are suitable for a teenager. A mini-sofa with an abundance of toys will be preferred by a sociable child who loves to host friends.
Saving the family budget. Rather than spending money on purchasing a children's bed, a wardrobe for storing clothes and toys, or a desk, it is better to buy a functional loft bed that combines two or three pieces of furniture.
However, choosing this type of children's furniture does not exclude some disadvantages:
- a loft bed is not suitable for a child under 2-3 years old, since due to his age it will be difficult for him to climb up the stairs;
- it will be difficult for a mother to care for a sick child who is prescribed bed rest;
- even if all safety measures are in place, there is always the possibility of injury, especially with restless preschoolers;
- In the hot summer, sleeping upstairs is uncomfortable - even at night it can be too stuffy.
A loft bed is an excellent option for arranging a small room for a preschool and school-age child. But when choosing, it is worth considering all the pros and cons.
Types of structures
There are many design and configuration options for an attic bed. But they can all be divided into two main categories. The first will include built-in products that are made to order. The second will include models that are already fully equipped; they are purchased ready-made.
Built-in
Built-in furniture is made according to the plans of the future owner. He can provide for everything down to the smallest detail, choose the design and dimensions of the bed, the filling of the lower zone, manufacturing materials and suitable fittings.
A loft bed can be attached directly to the wall and ceiling (or just the ceiling), without having support elements below. Sometimes high legs are only on one side of the furniture, the other is fixed to the wall. Also, the bed is often built into a wall niche, in a corner formed between walls or in a closet. Another location option is that the bed is located between parallel walls, attached to each of them from the head and foot sides. The absence of supports saves space even more.
Common types of materials for creating a loft bed:
- Solid wood (for example, conifers, beech, birch, oak). The most expensive, but environmentally friendly material. It has a long service life, beautiful appearance, and durability.
- Metal. Maximum reliability of the structure, its durability, and aesthetic appearance are guaranteed. A metal bed is designed for heavy loads.
- Chipboard. Not the best choice, but suitable for those on a budget. The material does not guarantee high strength and does not always meet safety requirements: the composition often contains toxic elements.
If you need to choose a loft bed made of particle boards, you should carefully check the composition. The manufacturer is required to provide a quality certificate.
Ready-made models
A ready-made furniture complex with a loft bed will cost less. Thanks to the constantly expanding range of products, the buyer has the opportunity to choose the best option according to his needs. There are interesting and bright children's models, stylish and discreet products for teenagers, classic and non-standard furniture for adults. The design varies depending on the child’s gender and preferences.
Finished products are equipped with various storage systems, play and sports corners, built-in furniture for educational activities or daytime recreation. If the owner wants to design the lower tier himself, he will also be able to choose the appropriate model.
Another tangible advantage of purchasing a ready-made headset: you don’t have to wait for the production date. The model you like can be brought home and assembled within one day.
Model options
Furniture manufacturers most often offer three types of loft bed designs with a sleeping place on top:
- with a lower work area (table, shelves, additional lighting);
- with shelves and drawers for storing clothes, toys, books (almost a full-fledged closet under the bed);
- with play space (additional lighting, textiles, shelves, space for games and toys, as an option - a mini-sofa).
A children's loft bed with a work area is suitable for primary and secondary school students. With such a model, it is easy to organize a child’s time: a first-grader who is getting used to the school routine will be interested in spending time doing his homework, and a teenager who has been working too long on his next assignment can go to bed later without disturbing any of the family members.
A loft bed with a table is also suitable for preschoolers: among them there are many who like to draw, sculpt, design, and play board games.
A children's loft bed with a wardrobe is not only an excellent solution for caring mothers who care about order in the nursery. Young fans of quests and spy missions will be interested in hiding their secrets in boxes. At the same time, the benefits for the child are obvious: learning to carefully store your things and maintain cleanliness is necessary from early childhood.
A loft bed with a play area located in the lower tier has a lot of opportunities to organize space for free time. At the same time, drawers built into the steps can serve as storage for children's clothes or toys.
Fans of active games will love the mini-sports corner with a mat on the floor, a wall bars, and pull-up bars. By arranging additional lighting on the lower “floor”, adding curtains and throwing a few pillows on the floor, you can turn the area into a secluded house for quiet games. There are countless options for organizing a place for games; parents just have to take into account the interests of their baby.
A children's loft bed with a bed underneath is not a variation of a bunk bed. Rather this is the way:
- organize sleeping places in a cramped one-room apartment (children’s upstairs, adults downstairs);
- provide additional sleeping space for visiting relatives with children.
Instead of a bed, manufacturers often offer a sofa: it is suitable for a child’s meetings with friends and as a place to sleep.
Varieties of solutions for the location of the sleeping area
Children's complexes are made with different locations for sleeping:
- Classic models with a sleeping area on the second tier. The lower space is used to create a functional platform depending on the requirements;
- Original solutions with a place to sleep on the ground floor. The second tier of the structure is an equipped surface for various games;
- Loft bed for two children. Most often in such complexes the second sleeping place is located perpendicular to the first. At the same time, solutions with two beds on top and a functional area in the space below them are popular. If your second child is afraid of heights, it is worth purchasing a model in which the sleeping places are located at different levels.
In order to diversify the range of sleeping complexes for small users as much as possible, manufacturers are developing original designs with attractive design.
Decor for girls and boys
Decorative finishing of loft beds is the main thing that can determine the choice of a piece of furniture for a child of a certain gender. Color, additional elements, shape suggest which bed to choose for a boy or a girl.
So, a children's loft bed for a girl will most likely be stylized as a doll's house or a fairy-tale palace. And children's loft beds for boys are often offered in the form of racing cars, sea caravels or spaceships.
When choosing, it is not necessary to focus on furniture for a child of a certain gender. There are many universal models.
With a little imagination, parents and their child can design a loft bed in their own style. This includes the color of the bed linen, the designs on the bed next to it, textile additions (curtains, pillows), and, of course, appropriate games and toys.
Structural elements
When looking at the photo, several blocks can be identified:
- width and dimensions of the bed;
- practical children's furniture of this type with a wardrobe or bedside table - located on a separate side from the structure or directly under it;
- block with stairs - can be vertical, corner, specially modulated and podium;
- area for work and study;
- dimensions of the wall or model of furniture for a child of this type with a slide;
- sports complex.
Selection rules
When choosing a loft bed for a child, you should be guided by the principle of safety. The corners should be rounded, the steps should be wide, the sides of the bed should be high and located on all sides. The structure itself should not be shaky; all elements should be securely fastened.
It is also important what material the children's loft bed is made of. Ideally, it will be natural wood - an environmentally friendly, “breathable” material.
Considering that in a few years the furniture will still have to be changed as the child grows up, you can choose more affordable chipboard and MDF. The main thing is that the material does not release toxic substances into the air.
The height of the upper tier is best determined by the height of the child. If the model assumes a work area as the lower tier, then the student should not touch the bed with his head while sitting at the table.
For very young children, a bed located at a level accessible to parental hands is suitable, because a child who is fussy at night will need to be calmed down.
A loft bed for a child’s room is a universal solution for cramped conditions in an apartment. In addition, all children, without exception, like this two-story furniture - a place where they can sleep, play, study and receive guests will become the most favorite in the house.
Flaws
In addition to its positive qualities, a children's bed has a number of disadvantages. Since the sleeping place is located high, there is a risk of falling. It’s also quite uncomfortable to go down at night when you’re half asleep. The upper level of the bed has a weight limit (70-80 kilograms), the size of the child is important. If the baby grows up, you will have to replace the sleeping place. But you can carefully purchase a model with the possibility of increasing it. Such models in numerous variations are presented in the photo. Some people complain about poor ventilation on the second level, and this is quite possible, since the air in the room circulates worse upstairs, especially in the summer when the house warms up.
The structure is quite inconvenient to cover. It is sometimes impossible even for parents to remove it without a stool, let alone for a child. On the top floor, an obstacle appears in the form of natural light entering the work area. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a separate lamp in the work area. It is better to place the pine model opposite the window.
