Loft Beds: Introduction
By definition, a loft bed is any bed raised off the ground high enough so that the space underneath can be utilized in a productive manner — be that to put in some furniture or turn it into a play area.
Besides being practical, loft beds also come with an added value of being adored by kids. The elevated bed frame is reminiscent of a tree house and the young ones just love not only sleeping, but also playing, hanging out and in general spending time on, below, and around them. Many options are offered to enhance the experience, from simple curtains designed to enclose the under bed area, to elaborate castle lofts worthy of a princess or a knight.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before we start choosing accessories, there are a few of things to consider.
The Height
Loft beds can be high or low. The choice between the two will largely depend on the user’s age, height of the ceiling, and your specific needs.
High Loft Beds
A typical high loft bed is usually about 65 to 72 inches tall (give or take a couple of inches) and will be a good choice for a kid of a certain age (at least 6 years is recommended) whom you can trust to climb up/down safely and in general act responsibly. Yeah, I know. Ha ha. Of course, there’s no law saying these can’t be used by adults as well. If the weight limit allows it. And if they can act responsibly. It’s not a given, trust me.
The height of your ceiling is an important factor to consider when hunting for a loft bed. The recommendation says there should be at least 3 feet of space between the top of the bed and the ceiling. For a bed 72 inches tall that means a 9 foot ceiling.
That said, some interpret this rule to actually mean 3 feet between the top of the mattress and the ceiling. If you go by that, the more important metric becomes the under bed space. If it’s 55 inches or less (and it is so for the majority of loft beds), the bed will probably fit just fine in an 8-foot-ceiling room, as long as you don’t go with some extravagantly thick mattress. Which you can’t do anyway, as the mattress thickness is limited by the guardrail height.
All of this of course rules out any ceiling fans near the bed.
Here are a couple of such classic, bare-bones, high loft beds to get you started.
Low Loft Beds
Low loft beds are usually between 40 and 50 inches high, with (the top of) the mattress sitting at about 40 inches or less.
Parents often choose these to transition their toddlers to their first big girl/boy bed. The cool factor apparently greatly facilitates the process. They are also ideal for pre-schoolers and elementary students. And, if you’re a nervous mom (or dad, let’s not pretend they are immune to parents’ angst) and the thought of your little one climbing up to and sleeping on that tall structure gives you the jitters, a low loft bed can be a good compromise.
The ceiling height is a less important consideration here. A possible exception would be a slanted ceiling that drops really low at the room’s edges. Below you can see a few fine specimens.
The Size
The next thing to consider is the size of the bed. The choice is mainly between the twin and the full size and it will depend on the intended use and of course the available space.
Twin Size Loft Beds
Twin size loft beds can accommodate a mattress with the dimensions of 38 x 75 inches and are usually meant for younger kids who don’t require much sleeping space.
If you have a fast grower in the house, the Twin XL loft bed might be a better long term choice over the regular twin. With its five extra inches in length, it will also offer a more agreeable situation for any single sleeper that is over 6 feet in height. Downside is, the selection is smaller.
Full Size Loft Beds
Full size loft beds (54 x 75 inches) are a good solution for teenagers. Young adults love them as well. The full size will also provide plenty of space for two smaller kids if the situation requires for them to share a bed. Two adults would probably find it a bit cramped up there, but in an emergency situation it would just have to do, wouldn’t it.
Finally, the queen size loft beds will comfortably accommodate two adults if constructed well, and are a common sight in cramped guest rooms.
The Material
Wood or metal, that is the question. There are pros and cons to both, but the choice usually comes down to aesthetics and functionality. For a comprehensive analysis see my article about bunk bed materials.
Wood Loft Beds
Wooden loft beds are still the prevalent choice among buyers, hence they come in a larger variety of shapes, styles, arrangements and colors and offer more in the way of optional items. Solid pine wood is the preference of most manufacturers, whether it comes from New Zealand, Brazil or Northern Europe. Hardwood is utilized less, likely because it drives the prices up into a range fewer buyers are willing to consider.
Metal Loft Beds
Metal loft beds have a modern, contemporary look about them, so they best fit into modern, contemporary environments. They are usually constructed of steel tubes and rods. Metal is relatively easy to shape, which can lead to interesting curvy forms. Metal beds are lighter and easier to move, but that also makes them less stable. More often than not these days they are coated with a powder-coat finish which is considered very durable and also looks great.
The Accessories
Loft beds can solve a problem — usually related to saving space — or they can be just, you know, fun. Or both.
Loft Beds With Storage
While you can buy a dresser or some shelves to go with pretty much any loft bed, the integrated solutions can be more practical and also pleasing to the eye. Loft beds with storage will also sturdy up the bed’s construction; the more integrating elements, the better. Here are some examples.
Loft Beds With Desk
Besides being an obvious help with space issues, loft beds with study desk reportedly feature an uncanny ability to make kids spend more time with books and homework. Or maybe that’s just a myth. But as long as you’re getting a loft bed, why not go for one with an integrated desk and see if there’s any truth to that yourself. What’s there to lose, right?
Loft Beds With Slide
What’s better than starting a day by sliding right down into it? Staying in bed, maybe? Hmmm… Probably not if you’re a kid and get to sleep in one of these:
Loft Beds With Tent
Just wrapping a curtain around a loft bed will immediately raise its fun factor. A child’s imagination will then do its thing and turn the bed into a house, fort, pirate ship, castle… Add a tent up top, or go for the whole enchilada and get one of the elaborate castle loft beds for the ultimate experience.
Loft Beds With Stairs
Yes, loft beds are fun and they are certainly practical, but those ladders… They don’t look too comfortable to climb up and down all the time and, well, some parents have safety concerns as well. Luckily, many manufacturers offer a version of their loft beds with a staircase these days.
