Kit Gorham

How to Choose the Best Bunk Beds for Teens

Loft beds and bunk beds can add fun and utility to children's rooms. They also can help save space.

Choose bunk beds that can be adapted, such as ones with drawers on the bottom or trundles that are easily removed. You can also find twins that can be stacked and separated to create two beds. Also, think about the weight of the top bunk.

Size

You should consider the dimensions design, style, and security when selecting a bunk bed for your children. Consider the height of the ceiling to ensure the bunks are suitable for your space. Make sure there's enough room for your kids to move around them. The beds should be spaced enough apart that kids can move up and down with ease and not bump into one another or fall into the walls. Additionally, you should determine if the top bunk can support a mattress of the same size as the bottom one so that you can avoid the need for a trundle or another extra bed in the future.

You can also opt for a different shape for your bunk one that is more suitable for your space. A bunk bed with an L shape can be perfect for a small room or a guest room shared by two people. It can save floor space, and accommodate a twin-over-full or queen-sized mattress on both upper and lower levels, depending on the model you pick.

A lot of the top bunk beds for teens are built to grow with your child and can be converted into two free-standing double beds when they're ready to transition to an adult bed. For instance the Storkcraft Solid Wood Ladder Twin Bunk Bed has an elegant farmhouse-inspired design with the curved headboards and the wagon-themed guardrails that run along the top bunk. It's made of knot-free New Zealand Pine and has a built-in stationary ladder that connects the lower and upper bunk beds. This creates more space for kids to play.

A loft bed is a different option that can maximize the space around corners in rooms that are tweens. It's a great option for smaller spaces as it doesn't require as much vertical room and allows the lower levels to be used as a desk and dressers, or storage cabinets. It's also a great choice for older children because it doesn't require them to climb stairs or a ladder which makes it more accessible to larger children as well as adults.

Before you buy any kind of bunk bed, test it in your children' bedroom with blue painter's adhesive to see how high it will rise above the ground. This will allow you to determine whether it's possible to climb up and down at night without crashing into anyone or hitting the window sill. Also, it is important to ensure your family's safety is on your mind by reviewing the Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulations for bunk beds. These regulations set standards for guardrails and other features that prevent the chance of entrapment and falls.

Safety

Bunk beds are a great choice for families with children of all age groups. However, it's essential to consider the safety features prior to purchasing. You'll need bunk beds with guardrails that are tall enough to keep children from falling off or becoming trapped and a mattress that does not raise the mattress too much. You should also pay attention to the weight capacity, since some bunks have a lower limit than others.

When choosing a bunk bed, check its manufacturer's website for specifications regarding the mattress's dimensions and weight limits. The majority of manufacturers will offer guidelines for the maximum thickness of the top bunk mattress. They'll also give the maximum weight capacity of the top best triple sleeper bunk beds bed as well as the bunk bed.

The most sturdy bunk beds are constructed and the ladders or stairs should be attached to the frame securely and have side handles for safety. You should also avoid any bunks that have slatted sides because they are unsafe for children to climb up or down, especially in the case where the slats haven't been tightly joined. If your kids love to play on the ground, pick an un-slung bunk that lets them play and sit without being too far off the floor.

If you're in a tight space or do not want to take up the entire space of your child's bedroom, go with an L-shaped bunk bed. They require less space and are usually only larger than a single bed. This makes them ideal for rooms with narrow ceilings. They're also suitable for younger children who may be scared of the higher bunks.

If you have a little more space, consider an over-full or full-over-full bunk bed. They are the most stylish and secure bunk beds that are available. They can be used as twin or full-size beds. Pottery Barn Kids' Belden bunk bed is an attractive and sturdy option that grows with your child's development as they grow. It can also accommodate Trundle beds (sold separately) to accommodate adults and older teens. It is Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it emits low levels of chemicals. It's made of sustainable sources of Baltic Birch wood and comes in a range of colors.

Style

The right bunk bed can make teens happy regardless of whether it's in the shared bedroom or for just one child. Some designs are sleek, minimalistic while others have more playful elements. Bunk beds are available in many sizes, including twin-overtwin, full-overfull, and even queen. A twin over full style is popular with teens since it lets them sleep two children in a single room, and still has room for a dresser, desk or storage drawers at the lower level. Some options come with trundle bed that allows the upper floor to accommodate an additional mattress.

Fenton says that tweens are awestruck by a twin-over king loft bed since it takes up less space and gives them more space to spread out and work from home. Metal bunk beds with full-length guardrails make a popular option for older children because they're "built to last and it's the strongest, grown-up bunk," Fenton adds.

For a truly cool bunk, think about an T-shaped or L-shaped design, which is basically an elevated platform bed. These beds have the ladder at the end giving the appearance of a sleeker design and gives more space for a dresser or desk under. They're not as efficient at conserving space like a traditional bunk however, they're a stylish choice for teens, and give them more space to move around in their rooms.

Think about a futon bunk bed If you're looking for an affordable bunk bed that is affordable and offers safety and comfort. Futons are lightweight and adaptable, so you can move them around in case your kids wish to redesign their rooms in the future. They're not as durable as wood or metal best bunk beds for teens beds and the top one has no guardrails.

Bunks with stairs or ladders are also available. Ladders take up less space and are easier to climb, while stairs are safer and double as a seat for younger children. Some models can be transformed into a desk or chair so that your child can have the ideal bedroom set-up for study and play.

Budget

When you're looking for a bunk bed, it's essential to think about your budget. While there are plenty of cheap options available but if you're planning on buying a bunk bed that will last into the teens (or even into adulthood) it could be worth paying a little more for a better design that will be used for a long time.

Before you shop, consider who will be sleeping on the bunk bed and what their sleeping needs could be. A twin-overtwin configuration works well for siblings who share bedrooms, while full over full bunk is perfect for adults who are looking to save space or avoid the cost of a separate queen mattress. You'll need to decide on the amount of headroom between the top and the bottom bunk. If your children are still in their toddler beds, you might want to choose a bed that is lower than the ground.

The best double bunk beds bunk beds for teens are those which are priced at a reasonable price and are able to grow with the teen. Choose a design that works in traditional and modern rooms, or choose something like the Oeuf Perch bunk--an Editors' Choice pick for the Spruce--which can separate into two freestanding twin beds in case you're looking to alter your space later on. This style features a modern sleek, clean lines as well as boucle upholstered guardrails an easy-to-climb, stationary ladder. It is also Greenguard Gold and fair trade certified for its environmental and social responsibility.

A bunk bed that has built-in storage is a different option to save money. This can include drawers underneath the bed, or shelves below the top. This will allow you to keep your bedroom neat and clutter-free. It's also useful in the case of a small space. Many of the bunks on our list have this feature, and some offer additional storage options like bookcase headboards for the top bunk and a desk for the bottom.