Bunk Beds vs. loft beds

[rangermom]

I am looking for a reasonable priced bunk bed set. DD and DS share a room and I think bunk beds will help with space. Once DS 1.5 gets older he will move to DS's room and DD will have her own room. Does any one have a decent brand they recommend.

Also DS (8) really wants a loft bed with a desk under it. This will take the same space as a bunk bed and a desk, just instead we would hava a loft bed/desk and a nother bed. Any thoughts?

 

[Nolcrest]

I can't make any recommendations for you but my son had a captains bed which could be made into a bunk or loft bed from This End Up when he was your son's age.

He loved his loft bed. He too had a desk underneath. I also bought a curtain tension rod and hung curtains along the bottom. He loved the privacy he had with this.

We got the loft bed for practical reasons. His room was soooo tiny.

DS is now 21 and he still uses the bed as a captains bed when he is home from college. This furniture is extremely solid and will last forever.

Reading your post just brought back memories of DS and his loved loft bed "fort".

Lauri

 

[NeedaVacation03]

There have been a lot of really nice ones lately here on our Craigslist. You might want to try that if you dont mind used.

 

[Gillian]

We looked at both and ended up with bunks. We all loved the loft bed, but DS 7 didn't want to sleep high up right now. I don't know if he will like them or not so we just got ones from Ikea (wood, not in the catalog).

What we found is that standard loft beds are rather close to the ceiling because they are taller than the top bunk. This is fine for younger kids, but could be a problem when they get older.

Some places make them custom. Here is one where you can order plans or get a kit that needs assembly and finishing. They will customize also
http://www.collegebedlofts.com/index.html

 

[taitai]

I would second the idea of Craig's List. We just bought a great twin over queen one with trundle from Room and Board off Craigslist. Only been used for a couple years at a grandparent's house. Excellent condition.

 

[flying_babyb]

Loft beds are cool. Creigslist is the place to start. Just remember if you have a tresured pet who sleeps with your child, he or she may need accodmation to keep up. I put my bed on two foot risers and my cat (4 yo) couldnt make that leap. This was fixed by wooden stairs (love my mom who built them).

 

[2bearsmom]

We bought my older ds bunk beds when he was almost 5. It's a twin on top and twin bottom with a desk at one end and dresser on the other. We bought it used for like $300, we were planning on spending over $1,000 for new bought I held out and kept checking the local Pennysaver and found a set close to my dh's work.

 

[WendyisDarling]

Ds has the loft bed with a bookcase and dresser (I think it we could choose between a dresser or a desk). It it great in that it saves a lot of space in a smaller bedroom. But, it is a PIA to change the bedding. Also have to be careful if you have a ceiling fan
It is a good space saver though.

 

[rangermom]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I looked on craigslist but there was not anything in the towns somewhat close by (at least 3.5 hr away). We live in the middle on nowhere. But we have time and we will keep looking.

I am not familiar with craigslist. Do you only search local listing?

 

[It's A Happy Day]

Look at your wood types too and how long you plan on DS sleeping in that bed. We got DS7 a twin over full bunk bed set because we wanted the extra bed for sleepovers but I wanted the set to last till he basically left the house. We stayed away from Pine because it's a soft wood and wouldn't hold up to the test of time. His set is Ash and is heavy and solid as heck and looks brand new even though it's already 5 years old! We only paid about $800 for it brand new from a place called Bunk Beds & Beyond (local only I believe).

 

[horseshowmom]

DD decided she wanted a loft bed in her room when she was about 18. We put that on one side with her desk, tv, etc. under it and a futon on the other side of the room. It provided her with some much needed space.

She and her dad built the bed from plans that I purchased on the internet. They were able to make it extra long (since she's tall) and a little taller than average (to make it comfortable for her to sit under). Her cat sleeps with her, and he quickly adapted to the bed.

That said, she's almost 21 now and is getting a little tired of climbing up and down from the top. She's getting married next year, so I don't guess that will be a problem much longer.

 

[Stitch'sGlitch]

I had a loft bed when I was growing up with a full size bed and a desk underneath. I absolutely loved it and it helped make my room feel a great deal larger. I would recommend a loft bed! I believe my parents bought it at Ikea, I don't know if there is one in your area, but if there it I would take a look there.

 

[Green Tea]

You are putting an 18 mo old in a bedroom with bunks? My ds at that age was a monkey. He would have scaled that like the Himalayas.

 

[tink2dw]

For an 18 month old I would get a Toddler Bed. It is going to be a BIG Change to go from the crib to any regular bed. But if you get a bunk bed he'll want to sleep on the top!!! I slept on the top and when I needed the bathroom I would just roll out and hit the floor, then get up and go!! Maybe that why my knees and back hurt??? I think a small toddlers bed would be better than a bunk bed!!

 

[lchadwick]

We were thinking of putting our house on the market, and as our 5YO and 3YO share a room, thought we'd get something to make the room look bigger - but with my daredevil 3YO ( I swear he's going to be a cliff diver!) we couldn't get bunkbeds. We actually chose to get a trundle bed. Our 5YO is on the main bed and the 3YO in the trundle, and he LOVES it. They are close to each other at night and can see each other. And I bought it off a furniture store selling on ebay for $285 with shipping. When we move and he gets his own room, I plan on getting him the same bed in a different finish.

 

[Gillian]

My friends built a bed from the company I posted before. It's pine but it's very sturdy! It was very inexpensive. They make extra long, extra tall, extra short, twin or full size, etc.

Another company that sells plans (not sure about kits) is http://www.oploftbed.com/index.php

If you look at the pictures on these sites, you can see how people have customized the beds with paint, curtains, desks, shelves. They're really fun

 

[kathi29]

We bought DD a loft bed. The brand is Flexa - you can google them. You can configure your bed however you want it. Bunk beds, low loft, high loft, slant or straight ladder, shelves, dressers, desks, etc.

We started off with a mid-height loft and last year bought longer legs and ladder to raise the bed to high loft. It's great stuff.

 

[rangermom]

You are putting an 18 mo old in a bedroom with bunks? My ds at that age was a monkey. He would have scaled that like the Himalayas.

No, my daughter and older son will use the bunk bed. When DS (1.5) is older he will switch rooms. He currenty has a toddler bed in his own and will be there for the next couple of years.

I am just trying to buy something that will grow with my family.

 

[jeepgirl30]

We bought my DS5 loft bed/bunk bed type. Similar to this one... http://www.vcf.com/webapp/wcs/store...tx=mode+matchall&catalogId=10153&N=4294967163

but not! It is not the same collection and both beds are twin. I liked this for several reasons, we knew the one we bought was not top quality so if it gets scratches, nicks, etc so be it, he is 5! I liked having the seperate beds so when he goes to college (if it lasts!) he can take part and leave the other for visits. He has 2 beds for sleepovers. On weekends DD7 likes to have a "sleepover" with her brother, he moves up to the top and she has the bottom.

We did buy it from Value City Furntiture and ended up with a great deal. The quality is NOT high at all but it serves the purpose and DS absolutely loves his room!

 

[It's A Happy Day]

You are putting an 18 mo old in a bedroom with bunks? My ds at that age was a monkey. He would have scaled that like the Himalayas.

We bought my sons bunk bed set around that age but what we did was set up the bottom (a full size) and put the rails for the top bed on the bottom bed - so he didn't fall out. We did not set up the twin bed (the top bunk) until he was about 5. We purchased the whole set and just the bottom mattress at 1st - we stored the top bed under the bed until we were ready. We didn't buy the top twin mattress till we were ready to set up the bunk. We knew we wanted bunk beds and didn't want to waste the $$$ on a toddler bed. If someone had offered us one to use that would have been 1 thing but to purchase one IMO would have been a waste of money.