About Bunk Beds

Bunk beds are a unique space-saving piece of bedroom furniture that can be designed in many styles. Featured mainly in children's rooms, bunk beds are also used by the military as well as recreational vehicle designers and anyone who is looking to provide more sleeping capacity in a limited space. Bunk beds also provide a do-it-yourself project for home enthusiasts, or they can be purchased from most furniture manufacturers.

Function

Bunk beds are designed to sleep two people in the same floor footprint that would normally sleep only one. Normally bunk beds consist of two twin mattresses arranged in a framework that places one mattress directly above another mattress, providing enough room for a person to sit upright under the top bunk. Some bunk beds have enough height to allow for storage under the bottom bunk. Others provide a more playful environment by putting the bottom bed at a perpendicular angle to the top bunk, making an "L" shape. However, this setup does not take advantage of the bunk bed's unique space-saving feature as much as the original design.

Types

There are several common types of bunk beds and construction materials. Typical bunk beds are of wooden construction and feature one twin bed directly overhead another twin bed. Another style features a full-size bed on the bottom, with a twin bed on top. Alternatively, a futon bunk bed features a bottom futon-styled mattress that can be made into a small couch during the day and a bed at night. Construction materials also include steel and aluminum frames, mostly in store-bought models or kits. Typical do-it-yourself versions at home are constructed out of 2-by-6 inch lumber, cut to size, sanded and varnished or painted to match the existing furniture style in the bedroom.

Features

Standard features on bunk beds include a ladder for access to the top bunk and a rail along the top bunk for safety. The ladder can be built into the frame on the end of the bunk beds, or it can be a separate accessory to the beds themselves that can be moved around. In addition, some bunk beds feature the ability to be stacked or unstacked. Over time, some bunk bed owners find they are better served by beds that can be separated and moved to separate rooms as the occupants (usually children) get older and request more private accommodations.

Considerations

There are many things to consider when deciding what type of bunk bed you want or what features you are interested in. The primary purpose of bunk beds is to save space, so a solid idea of how much space you have will be the starting point. Once you have established your spacial requirements, then you need to know how long you will need the beds. Will they need to be taken apart at a later time? Do you prefer wood to steel or aluminum? The age of the occupants should also be considered, as some small children will not be able to access the top bunk without assistance.

Warning

Safety must always come first, but especially in a sleeping situation. Any bunk bed that is purchased or built should always include a safety rail on both sides of the mattress to prevent the restless sleeper from rolling off the bed in the middle of the night. Beds that are purchased from manufacturers and assembled at home should be inspected prior to use to ensure that all nuts, bolts and screws are secure and tight. Manufacturers also have safety ratings and weight limits that should be enforced in order to prevent accidents and injury.