A Small Loft Bed Makes a Great Choice For Kids' Rooms

A loft bed that is small is a popular choice for kids' rooms, allowing them to use the space underneath for studying or playing. This West Elm pick has a sleek Mid-Century design and is available in two finishes.

The instructions are easy and simple to follow. The loft bed is suitable for mattresses of 9 inches and less. Anything higher may extend beyond the safety guardrails.

Storage

A loft bed might appear to be a hassle-free option to make space for storage but it can be a great alternative. A lofted bed, for example, can be used as a bookcase, saving floor space. The sides can be used to create a reading nook, or display shelves. A lofted bed can also be used as a work station, allowing a child to create an office area for doing homework and other chores without encroaching upon living space in a tiny space.

A lot of loft beds for kids come with a desk area underneath, but you can also add one to a regular loft bed by constructing it yourself or adapting the space beneath the bed by adding some shelving and a built-in desk. For instance, this loft bed from Wayfair (shown in white) features a desk tucked into the front of the bunk and a bookshelf with an incline that doubles as side rails. The simple design of this bunk makes it ideal for any bedroom with kids and the slatted safety rails are ideal for rooms with low ceilings.

Another option is to use a heavy duty loft beds for adults bed as a dresser and this model from Ikea is a hefty quantity of storage space. The loft bed comes in a variety of finishes to fit different styles of decor, including rustic and modern. The bottom of the loft is equipped with two drawers, while the top can be opened to reveal additional storage space. This model is ideal for those who wish to convert their bedroom an office, or for kids with a lot of toys and books.

If you have a little one who is a reader and read, you can turn your loft into a little library by adding shelves and a cozy bean bag chair that can be used to curl in with a good book. You can create a cute composition using a rug, some chairs, a table, and a few boxes or baskets for additional storage.

This loft bed is an excellent option for children who are young however teens can appreciate the design if they need an area to study or do homework. This model from Kidkraft is a bit simpler to construct than other models, and it comes with a set of plans that provide step-by-step instructions with illustrations for cutting the pieces and assembling the bunk and making the stairs. The plans come with an inventory of the tools and supplies you'll require.

Space

The space created under small loft beds can be as important as the bed itself. The extra space can be used to store things, a desk, or a comfy sitting space. It could also be an opportunity to make an impressive design statement in a small bedroom for adults, a kid's room or even a studio apartment for teenagers.

Loft beds are a great option to give a room with low ceilings a rustic, chic or industrial vibe. For example this bed in a studio apartment from Polish interior firm Home and Wood has a minimalist black ladder leading up to the mattress that is set on a wooden platform. A simple chair and few other pieces of furniture complete the look.

If your ceilings high enough, a loft-style bed could be even larger. Pottery Barn's Waverly loft bed, for instance is available in two sizes and several finishes, with plenty of space underneath to give you a comfy bed and more space. Another great option is this loft bed with an X shape from DHP, which boasts staggered steps and a slide to make it easy to access and ensure safety.

The bottom portion of this loft bed could be used as a study space or playroom, with a mix of open cubbies, drawers for storage and benches that double as a ladder to the top bed. This is a great choice for children's bedrooms or for teen's rooms and can be reconfigured as children grow older and move get older and move out.

Many loft beds come with built-in shelves for books as part of the design. This is particularly useful for homes with smaller spaces or if you simply prefer to keep knick-knacks and books off the floor. A cozy reading space with a lamp and comfortable seating is another excellent use of this space, and is especially beneficial for an adult or teen's room.

A loft bed is also a great workstation for in a dorm. This loft bed with an open desk from Naomi Home includes plenty of space for a laptop and desktop, as well as a shelving unit on either side for storing books toys, books, and other things.

Fun

It is possible to make a loft bed fun for your kids. It's not just about storage space. A small slide beneath a loft bed is a fantastic way to add some playtime excitement to their room, as well as an easy and quick descent from the top bunk. This DONCO kids' bed has an inbuilt slide and ladder that will surely delight any child. It can be added later, if the child wants to take the simpler route up.

If slides aren't a great choice for your child's age You can still add a unique aspect to their loft bed by turning the bottom of the bed into a comfortable hangout space with a couple of chairs and rug. The cozy area can be used to read, relax, play games, or Loft beds for kids watch TV with your friends. It's an excellent way to keep the room tidy and provide a great place to hangout.

If the loft is designed as a cabin, complete with windows and an accent on the roof, children may feel as if they're inside their own castle. You can make your loft unique appearance by using wallpapers, wall stickers or paints that are reminiscent of a forest, sky or other outdoor elements. Your kids will love playing and sleeping in their cozy cabin, particularly on snowy days.

For an extra touch of flair, you can also swap out a regular ladder for a more fun spiral staircase. You can purchase one of these spiral staircases or build your own to fit into the loft bed with sofa underneath space as seen in this bedroom design from HGTV. The staircase features a lovely shape on the side, and can be upgraded as your children grow.

Another idea that is cool is to build a loft bed with a storage and a desk beneath to allow the children to work on their homework or other chores. There are a number of plans online for this type of bed. Many are easy enough to build on your own, as you see in this design from House of Wood. The plans have all the instructions you need as well as a list of supplies and cuts needed for each part of the project. This loft bed is large enough to accommodate a full-size bed and has space underneath for an office, seating area or an extra seat.

Safety

Kids enjoy loft beds and bunk beds, but they aren't free of dangers. Children are often injured by bunk and loft beds every year, with injuries ranging from fractured bones, cuts and scrapes, as well as neck and head injuries. The majority of these injuries can be avoided or prevented by taking the appropriate precautions.

The first thing to do is ensure that the loft or bunk bed is placed correctly in the room. It shouldn't be placed against the wall, as this could cause children to be stuck between the bunk's wall and the top. Instead, you should leave a space of at minimum 3.5 inches between the bottom edge of the guard rail and the top of the mattress foundation.

When you are putting the bunk bed up ensure that it is far from things like curtains, blinds windows, ceiling fans and blinds that could block the view of a child or cause her to fall off the bunk's side. The bunk bed should not be placed close to anything that hangs on the rails, such as cords or toys.

Any bunk bed or loft bed should have an incredibly solid and sturdy frame. Look for a frame made of durable materials, like pine or steel. Another option for a secure and comfortable bed is a slatted or slatted frame. Loft and bunk beds that have a solid platform or slats do not require a boxspring, which is safer for toddlers.

In addition to the frame, search for a loft bed that includes guardrails on both sides of the top level and ladders that can be locked to the bed. Children younger than six years old should not be sleeping on the top bunk and be sure to enforce this rule by regularly reminding them of the dangers. A night light on the top bunk could help children find their way down in the dark.

One other important safety measure is to install a loft safety net, that can be attached to the corners of the top bunk to prevent children from falling off. The nets are available in a assortment of sizes and colors that will match any decor in the bedroom and are simple to put up.