When furnishing a child’s room, teen’s room, or college dorm room, be sure to check out loft beds before making décor decisions. A loft bed sets on a raised frame, leaving space underneath for play activities, study area, or lounging area. For small rooms you can probably find a loft bed that will fit your needs and taste. Don’t be satisfied to just look in one or two furniture stores. Each store probably only carries a few styles. Take time to browse the Internet and you will find many styles to delight you and fulfill your needs.

There are also several different styles when it comes to loft beds. Do some research on loft full size beds, loft beds queen size and loft trundle beds. Many times you can look for a largesr size loft bed as a guest bed option as well.

There are several things to consider if you are choosing a loft bed for a child. The child needs to be old enough to climb a ladder to get to the sleeping area and be mature enough to follow your rules about safe activities while on the bed. Injuries can occur from falls from the bed (most injuries reported have been because of horse-play). It is recommended that children be over age 6 and not be a sleepwalker or have frequent nightmares. Other safety precautions are to make sure there is less than 3.5 inches between the mattress and the guardrail and that there are guard rails on both sides of the bed. Guardrails should be high enough that the child can’t fall out. Make sure the ladder gets properly installed.

Kids’ loft beds can be magical and functional. You can purchase just the raised bed and arrange the space beneath however you and your child decide to do. It can be a play area with storage shelves for toys, have bookshelves and a small bean bag to make a quiet reading area, or have a built in desk or drawers. You can buy units with built in furniture like desks, shelves, and drawers. Some units come with slides from the bed. An especially charming one is designed like a playhouse. Other activity theme beds are available as well. In a tent loft bed, the bottom area is enclosed with a tent to provide a private play space.

Beds for older kids should also have guardrails on both sides of the bed. Even teens and adults occasionally fall out of bed. Your teen will have definite ideas about how to arrange the space under the bed. Most will use it as a study area with a desk, computer, shelves, and perhaps a comfortable chair to relax while listening to music. Be sure to plan for adequate lighting for study. Loft bed units can be found in metal or black for an ultra contemporary look or in hard woods for a softer look. Also consider adding a headboard with a bookshelf for the teen who likes to read in bed and a shelf at the side of the bed.

College dorm rooms are generally small, so a loft bed is a good choice to make the most of available space. The same safety considerations should be given for college age students as younger teens. The area under the bed will most likely be arranged for study. In addition to desk and shelving, the area could include a futon chair that could open up to a bed for a visiting friend. The room can be further personalized by use of color, bedding, wall hangings, etc. Choose appropriate lighting that can be adjusted to match the mood or activity. Additional storage units and comfortable seating as space allows will make the dorm room a fun home away from home.

Loft beds can be purchased in twin, full/double, queen, and king size. If the space allows for one of the larger sizes, you will also have more under the bed space. Pricing will depend on the style of bed you choose, the size, and the number of built-ins that come with the bed. You can find a basic loft frame for as little as $300 and you can go up to several thousand dollars. Some styles have a bed under the loft placed to form an L shape. There can still be room for a desk or drawer storage. I found an L shaped twin size loft for about $1000 and a contemporary metal loft with a desk and room for a comfortable chair for $750. If you have carpentry skills, there are numerous sites that give plans for building your own frame. I do not have those skills, but even I could easily understand the directions, so this would certainly be a way to save money if you are on a strict budget.

Usually you buy the mattress separately. You will want to choose the best mattress you can afford. A sales associate can help you determine the mattress that would be appropriate and give the comfort level you want. You will want a style mattress that does not require a box spring.