How to Choose the Best Bunk Bed Bunk Beds for Teens

Bunk and loft beds can bring fun and function to rooms for kids. They can also help save space.

Find bunk beds that are flexible, such as ones with drawers for storage at the bottom or a trundle that's easily removed. You can also find twins that can be stacked and separated to create two beds. Also, consider the weight of the top bunk.

Size

You'll need to think about the dimensions design, style, and security when choosing a bunkbed for your kids. Examine the height of the ceiling to ensure that the bunks will fit in the space. Also, make sure that there's enough space around the bunks to allow the kids to move. The beds should be placed far enough apart so that children can safely get up and down without having to collide with each other or the walls. Also, you'll need to determine whether the top bunk can support mattresses that is the same size as the bottom one so you can avoid the need for a trundle or another additional bed in the future.

You could also choose a different shape for your bunk, which may be better suitable for your space. A bunk bed with an L shape can be the perfect choice for a small space or an area that is shared by two people. It can save floor space, and allow for a queen-sized or twin-overfull mattress on both upper and lower levels depending on the model you pick.

A lot of the top bunk beds for teens are made to adapt to your child's needs, converting to two free-standing double beds when they're ready to transition to the size of a double bed. Storkcraft Solid Wood Ladder Twin Bunk Bed, for example is a classic farmhouse style with curved headboards. It also has wagon-inspired guardrails on the top bunk. It's made from knot-free New Zealand pine and has a stationary built-in ladder that connects the bottom and top beds with more space for kids to play on.

A loft bed is an alternative option that maximizes the space at the corner in tween-rooms. It's a great option for smaller spaces since it doesn't require as much vertical room and allows the lower levels to be used for desks, dressers or storage cabinets. It's a great choice for older children because it eliminates the use of a ladder or stairway and makes it more accessible for adults and children of larger sizes.

Test the height of any bunk bed in your child's room with blue painter tape. This will give you a feel of whether it could be easily climbed into and out of at night, without causing head bumps or hitting the bottom of the window sill or hanging curtains. Finally, you'll want to keep your family's safety in mind by checking out the Consumer Product Safety Commission's regulations for bunk beds. They establish standards for guardrails and other features to prevent the chance of entrapment and falls.

Safety

Bunk beds can be a great choice for families with children of all age groups. However, it's important to take into consideration the safety features before buying. You'll want to choose beds with rails that are tall enough to prevent children from falling or getting trapped. Also, you need a mattress that doesn't raise the bed's surface too high. Be sure to pay attention to the capacity for weight, as some bunks have a lower limit than others.

Check the manufacturer's website to find out the specifications available for mattresses and weight limits. The majority of manufacturers will offer guidelines on the maximum thickness of the top bunk mattress. They'll also give the maximum weight capacity of the upper bunk bed as well as the bunk.

The best sturdy bunk beds for adults bunk beds are sturdily constructed and the ladder or stairs should be attached to the frame securely and have handles on the sides to ensure safety. Avoid bunk beds with slatted side panels as they can be dangerous for children to climb, especially if they're not tightly fitted together. If your kids love playing on the ground, you should opt for a low-slung bottom best wooden bunk beds to let them sit up and play without being too high off the floor.

Pick an L-shaped bed if don't have a lot of space in your child's bedroom or if you do not want it to take up a lot of space. They require less space and are typically only larger than a single bed. This makes them perfect for small rooms with low ceilings. They're also more practical for kids who may be intimidated by a higher bunk.

If you require a little more space, a full-overfull bunk bed is the best loft bunk beds option. They are typically the most secure and elegant bunk beds available on the market, and they can be used as twin or full size beds. Pottery Barn Kids' Belden is a stylish solid and sturdy option that will expand with kids as they get older and can accommodate trundle mattresses (sold separately) for older teens and adults. It's Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it emits low levels of harmful chemicals. It's made from sustainably sourced Baltic Birch wood and comes in a variety of colors.

Style

It's for the shared room or one child, the ideal bunk bed will give teens something to be enthusiastic about. Many designs are sleek and minimalist and others have more playful elements. Bunk beds also come in a variety of sizes, from twin-over-twin to full-over-full, and even queen. The twin-overfull design is popular among teens because it allows the possibility of sleeping two children in the same space while leaving enough space for a desk, dresser, or drawers for storage in the lower part. Some designs come with a Trundle beds that allow the upper floor to accommodate an additional mattress.

Teens also adore an over-king twin loft bed that occupies less floor space and provides them with more room to stretch out or work from home, according to Fenton. Metal bunk beds with a full-length guardrail is a popular option for older children because it's "built to last and it's the most sturdy, grown-up bunk," she adds.

Consider a T-shaped or l-shaped style, which is basically a raised platform bed. These beds are constructed with a ladder at their end. This provides a more modern look and more room for a desk or dresser. They're not as efficient at conserving space like a traditional bunk but they're an attractive option for teenagers that offers more room to move around in their rooms.

If you're looking to find a more affordable bunk that will still provide plenty of security and comfort, consider a futon bunk. Futons are lightweight and adaptable which means you can move them around if your children wish to redesign their rooms in the future. They're not as sturdy as wood or metal bunk beds, and the top bed does not have guardrails.

Bunks that have ladders or stairs are also available. Ladders take up less space and can be more convenient to climb, while stairs are more secure and can serve as a seating area for younger children. Some models can be converted into a desk or chair to let your child have the ideal bedroom set that can be used for play and study.

Budget

A bunk bed is a big purchase, so it's essential to factor in your budget when you shop. There are a variety of affordable options available, but if you want a bunk bed to last into the teens and into adulthood, it's worth spending more to get a top-quality bed that can be used for years.

Consider who will use the bunk bed and what their sleeping requirements might be prior to shopping. For instance, a twin-over-twin configuration is great for rooms with siblings and a full-over-full bunk is ideal for adults who want to save space and avoid the cost of buying a separate queen or king mattress. You'll need to determine the amount of headroom that is available between the top bunk and the bottom bunk. If your children are still in toddler beds, you might want to choose a bed that is lower than the ground.

The ideal bunk bed for teens is an affordable option and one that is able to adapt to their needs. Choose a design that works in traditional and modern rooms, or opt for something similar to the Oeuf Perch bunk--an Editors' Choice choice for the Spruce, which can be divided into two freestanding twin beds in case you need to reconfigure your space in the future. This design features a clean, best bunk bed modern silhouette, boucle-upholstered guardrails, and a stationary ladder that's easy for kids to climb up and down and down, and it's Greenguard Gold and Fair Trade certified for its environmental and social responsibility.

Another option to save money is to find an area of the bunk that is built-in storage, for example drawers beneath the lower bed or shelves below the top. This will help keep the bedroom clutter-free, and is particularly useful for those who have the space of a small one. Many of the bunks in our list have this feature. Some come with additional storage options, such as bookshelf headboards and desks for the lower bunk.