A bunk bed is perhaps one of the best purchases for children. After all, for them this is the whole world - such beds turn into a full-fledged home, and a whole fortress. Moreover, even for parents this will be a useful purchase, because a bunk bed takes up significantly less space than two single beds. This, in turn, greatly simplifies the arrangement of furniture and provides children with a spacious room.
Psychologists believe that for the most successful development, children need a lot of free space. Even the smallest children, be it a newborn or a one-year-old child, require their own place to sleep.
Let us recall the obvious advantages of a bunk bed:
— Saving room space
— Significant freeing up of space for games and other activities
— Increasing the child’s personal space
Undoubtedly, if you still have not decided to buy such a bed, then most likely the only thing stopping you is the issue of safety. You may rightly ask whether the child is at risk of some kind of injury from, for example, a fall. This is, of course, an important point, but it is impossible to protect a child from everything. As they say, movement is life, and you should not interfere with your child’s development. No matter how hard you try, you still can’t remove all the dangerous corners from the house, and if you do succeed, the child will be left in an empty room in which he is unlikely to feel comfortable.
It goes without saying that it is better to put aside fears and concentrate your attention on choosing high-quality furniture for the nursery. Now there is only one question looming - how to choose the right bunk bed.
What types of bunk beds are there?
First of all, the question arises - what kind of bunk beds are there? The current range will satisfy any requirements. So, for example, you can familiarize yourself with universal models in which there is a bed on the upper tier, and a desk or sofa on the lower tier. This is very convenient in terms of saving space. Moreover, the sofa can be used as a second bed. This will save even more space if the family has many children.
A bunk bed can fit neatly into any apartment. So, for example, if you have two children, you can even install two bunk beds. This will allow each child to have their own bed and work space. Moreover, all this will teach the child to take care of his place, because children take care of personal space and furniture more willingly than common ones.
If the room is small, then you can purchase a bunk bed, with exactly two beds, which will greatly facilitate the process of arranging furniture in the room and will allow you to carve out some free space for the children.
What you need to know about sizes
An important point to understand: the size of the mattress should not be slightly wider, narrower, or shorter or longer than the bed. It must exactly match the bed data. Otherwise, if the product is larger than the bed, it will bulge or bunch up; if it is smaller, it will poke around the sleeping area during sleep. As a result, you will wake up in the morning, at best, not getting enough sleep, at worst, feeling unwell, with a headache and aching muscles. So approach this issue with all responsibility.
Please note that in the countries of America and Europe they have different measurements, for example, in France and Italy they measure in centimeters, in the USA in inches. Hence the conclusion: it is advisable to buy a bed and immediately select a mattress of the same size, in centimeters or inches, ideally from the same manufacturer.
Otherwise, the difference will be several cm. If you purchase a product 80 dm and a width of 78 dm, we convert it to centimeters, and we get the dimensions of the orthopedic mattress 203.2 / 198.1 cm. A bed made in Russia will have a length of 2 meters, but different width.
Pitfalls when choosing a bunk bed
So, you have already made your decision, but now you don’t know how to choose a bunk bed.
Remember, the main requirement for this kind of bed is strength. Furniture must be stable and completely prevent swaying. If you neglect these moments, then one day it may turn out that the bed has collapsed and God forbid that there are no children in it at that moment.
Legs
Let's focus specifically on the supports. The first thing you need to say is don’t be tempted by beautiful curly legs. Better the bed will not be so beautiful, but you will have peace of mind for your children. We urge you to take an ordinary bed with strong, thick legs. It’s not difficult to check the strength of the bed right in the store - to do this you just need to subject it to a load. Moreover, it is not a child who should climb on it, but an adult. This way we will see whether the bed can withstand a heavy load - if it can withstand you, then even more so the child.
Sides
Now it’s worth considering the height of the side on the top tier. They perform a safety function so that the child does not fall off during sleep. According to the standards, the recommended height of the side should not be lower than 30 cm.
It is also worth considering the inter-tier distance - the best option would be a height at which even an adult would be comfortable sitting on the lower tier. However, you should not overuse it, because it can negatively affect the “lucky one” who will live on the top floor.
If the ceilings are low, then you need to look for a balance between the height of the second floor and the distance from the bed to the ceiling. Moreover, it is also worth considering such a moment as dressing and getting out of bed. All this should be done simply and effortlessly.
Standard sizes
According to GOST standards, mattresses have the following dimensions:
Mattresses for newborns
For babies, there are mattresses with their own standard sizes, usually models 100-120 centimeters long and 50-60 cm wide. For older babies, you can find a slightly larger model, 70/140.
It is important to consider its height when choosing a product. It can have from 6 cm to 12 cm, with springs up to 18 cm.
There are crib models that require a certain model size.
Children's mattresses
When wondering what sizes of children's mattresses are available, it is worth checking for what age. Please note that for a child, teenager, as well as for an adult, the sleeping place should be 15 cm longer than the height for whom it is intended. For an older child, it is worth considering an adult model, so that in a couple of years you do not have to go back to purchasing a new bed and mattress.
For teenagers, single and one-and-a-half models are selected. These parameters are suitable for a child of any weight; the bed will fit harmoniously into any room, even a small one.
For children's bunk beds, the side of the structure should be 15 cm higher than the mattress; this is necessary for the child's safe sleep, especially if he tosses and turns a lot in his sleep.
Mattresses for adults
When choosing a model for an adult, before purchasing, you should understand what types they are divided into and what sizes of the mattress are available.
How to choose the right materials?
Material is a very important point when choosing a bunk bed for a child. Many will agree that children need only the best and a bed made from environmentally friendly materials is the most important thing that can be done for the health and harmonious development of a child.
Tree
The best bed will, of course, be made of natural wood. However, if you have the opportunity to make an individual project, then order a bed made of birch, oak or beech. Pine may be suitable as a more budget-friendly option.
Chipboard
If the bed is made of chipboard, you simply must be curious and familiarize yourself with all the certificates that confirm its compliance with all hygiene standards. It is also worth paying close attention to the amount of formaldehyde.
Metal
It is advisable to avoid such beds altogether. Such a design will never have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Moreover, this design is very dangerous and not at all convenient to install.
Design options
Metal bunk beds for adults have long ceased to be boring official furniture. Modern designs combine functionality and decorativeness; they can decorate any bedroom.
The classic style of the room, based on echoes of antiquity, implies forged metal furniture of regular geometry with ornaments on the sides or headboard. If by classic we mean modern urban style, an option made of pipes with a shiny or matte metal coating, painted in soothing colors, and a minimum of decorative elements is suitable.
Classics also include ethnic styles, for which the best choice would be deliberately rough forged metal.
Art Nouveau is characterized by smooth rounded lines and the presence of floral motifs in the decor. Two-tier models in this style are characterized by an asymmetrical shape and the absence of unnecessary decorations. The use of beds with a sofa or table in the lower level is encouraged, which divides the space without taking up much space.
Minimalism loves clear lines, calm colors and an almost complete absence of decor. A bunk bed made in a laconic style will help to achieve the illusion of space. It can be matched to the color of the main interior or create a contrast with the design of the floor, ceiling and walls.
Extravagant hi-tech is emphasized by models that combine beauty and practicality. There is no place for pretentiousness here, only strict straight lines, flying, lightweight designs, sparkling or matte metal parts in combination with plastic and glass.
Country style prefers wood in its natural form, but a metal bed with a slight touch of patina fits quite organically into a rustic interior. Provence is very suitable for a romantic bedroom. Bunk beds in this style are distinguished by a slightly pretentious decor, lightness, and the presence of elegant forged or imitation forging elements.
Popular models of bunk beds for dolls, requirements for them
The loft is known for the combination of carelessness in the decoration of the interior surfaces of the room and stylish modern furniture. Absolutely straight lines and a contrasting combination of white and black are welcome here. The bed should look like a work of art to set off the deliberate “shabbyness” of the finish.
Exclusive forged products in the “palace” style are also made from metal, but they, as a rule, are not two-tiered.
Classic
Modern
Minimalism
Loft
Provence
High tech
Country
How to choose the right mattress
An important issue is the mattress. You have probably experienced back pain more than once and understand that the right mattress is the key to a good rest. It’s better for children to immediately buy an excellent mattress and not worry about them.
Material
First of all, it is worth noting the material. The filler must be of high quality, environmentally friendly, regardless of whether it is natural or synthetic. In order to dispel the myth about synthetics, we note polyurethane foam - it does not cause any allergic reactions at all, even in infants.
Design
To ensure that children have good posture and health, we recommend buying orthopedic mattresses with springs.
Some advantages of a bunk bed
For parents who doubt the design or think that this type of bed may not be suitable for children, special designs are provided. They allow you to adjust the bed or disassemble it completely. So, as the children grow, you can change the distance between the tiers, and if the bed does not fit at all, split it into two ordinary beds.
When the bed has already been chosen and the purchase is practically in your pocket, you should think about whether it’s worth adding something else to the design? Most likely it’s worth it, because you can add drawers for linen to this convenient design. They will allow you to maximize the potential of the bed and thus save even more useful space in the room - you do not need to buy any additional cabinets for toys or linen, because everything is already included in the bed. If they are not included in the package, they can be purchased separately.
A little advice - after installing the bed, you should talk to the children. Perhaps they will offer a more optimal or convenient option for the location of the bed, this is worth taking into account.
