Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Blog

Liquidation Sale on Shaker items.

2009-05-20T12:15:00.002-04:00

The manufacturer is discontinuing many of their Shaker bunks and lofts, so our prices have been deeply discounted. Once these items are gone from our inventory, they will never be back.

We have solid pine bunkbeds priced as low as $299, and even have the Shaker Twin All in One Loft on sale for $799, plus you'll get a free matching TV Armoire.

Shaker Twin/Twin Arch Spindle Bunk - $299
This item is being discontinued, so the price has dropped to only $299 (was $659)

Beautiful and sturdy, this solid wood arch spindle bunk bed will last your child years. It can also be down-stacked into two twin beds.

Shaker Chunky Bunk - $299
Being discontinued. Was $419, now only $299.

Solid pine and extremely sturdy, this twin bunk bed can easily be converted into two twin beds. Comes with ladder and mattress supports.

Cherry Chunky Bunk - $299
Being discontinued. Was $419, now only $299.

Solid pine and extremely sturdy, this twin bunk bed can easily be converted into two twin beds. Comes with ladder and mattress supports.

Shaker Jr. All in One w/ Trundle - $599
Being discontinued. Now only $599 instead of $699.

Solid pine junior loft bed comes with top bunk, twin trundle, ladder, built-in desk tray and drawers, as well as a rear storage area.

Unlike our other All in One lofts, this bed is not completely reversible, but you can put the ladder on either the right or left.

Shaker Twin All in One w/ TV Armoire - $799
Being discontinued. Now only $799 instead of $899, and you get a free matching TV Armoire ($305 value)

This solid pine loft bed is only 65 inches tall, so it is perfect for those homes with lower ceilings.

This bed is completely reversible, which means you can put the desk, chest or ladder can go on the left or right. The rear storage doors are on both sides of the loft bed, so even if you push it into a corner, you will still have full access to the storage space.

Bay Cruiser Boat Bed - $599
We only have a few of these left in stock, and once they're gone, they won't be available ever again.

This vintage styled bay cruiser twin boat bed features a toy chest in the prow, and a large underbed trundle/storage unit on wheels, that can go on either the port (left) or starboard (right) side of the bed.

The trundle/drawer unit has a center divider, so you can use it as a twin trundle bed, or, with the divider in, you have two large drawers.

New Item! Staircase Bunk Bed

2008-11-03T11:55:00.003-05:00

We have a brand new item in our inventory, just in time for the holidays! Our new Staircase Bunk Bed features lots of built-in storage, and the price is only $699. You can also add 2 discounted mattresses, and then you will qualify for FREE SHIPPING. (click the image to go to our product page)

The Twin over Twin Staircase Bunk Bed includes:

solid wood construction (zero particle board)
3-drawer underbed storage unit
child-friendly staircase ladder
built-in 4-drawer chest
reversible (stairs can go on either side)
Low price of $699, or get the mattress package for $899 + free shipping

Types of Bunk Beds

2008-02-21T20:25:00.002-05:00

Bunk beds become more versatile and creative with each passing year. It is amazing to see the opportunities that await you to not only save space by utilizing a room’s vertical area but create a theme for the room in the process. The possibilities are endless with optional configurations of bunk beds and creative combinations to maximize your available floor space.

The different types of bunk beds available include:

* Standard
* Twin combined with full
* L-shaped
* Futon
* Loft
* Loft bunk bed with a tent and a slide
* Bunk beds that separate

A standard bunk bed usually indicates two twin mattresses, a lower and an upper, stacked one above the other.

A twin combined with a full mattress has the twin mattress on the upper level and the full mattress on the lower level. The lower level would then take a slightly larger horizontal space than if it were a twin, and the appearance is that of a staggered line.

An L-shaped bunk bed configuration combines pieces of furniture so that it ends up resembling an “L” if it were to be viewed from above. This “L” creates a niche where a computer desk or television set could be placed. This area could also make a great study place for the student.

A futon bunk bed has a twin mattress on the top bunk and a Western-style futon on the bottom bunk. Futons originated in Japan, with the Western-style futon recognized as the United States’ counterpart. The Western-style futon is designed to be used as a bed and/or a couch when the futon is propped up. This is just one more multi-purpose use bunk beds can offer.
A loft bunk bed is perhaps the most versatile unit. A loft bunk bed combines a twin or full mattress on the top bunk with several options possible underneath the bed frame. In the area available under the top bunk bed frame, you could position a chest of drawers, cabinets, or you could utilize the space for extra storage, or use it as a desk for your computer and accessories. You could also add a trundle, or hide-able, bed in a sliding drawer at the bottom of the structure, capitalizing on yet more possibilities. The trundle bed will be on rollers, or casters, so as to let the bed roll out from a bottom drawer for use and roll back in when the extra bed is no longer needed.

A loft bunk bed with a tent and a slide is another idea to make your child’s room and bedtime experience an adventure. This option uses a twin mattress on top with a tent over and enclosing a play area below. You can choose from different tent colors and designs. You can also purchase coordinating accessories. It is generally recommended that a child under the age of 6 not be allowed on the top bunk bed.

Bunk beds that separate can be helpful if a spare room opens up for a sibling who was previously sharing a room. The bunk beds can separate into two beds, with one being able to be moved to the newly available room, leaving the other sibling’s bed in place.

Also, the separation of bunk beds can be useful for overnight guests that would be more comfortable sleeping closer to floor level. This is yet another sign of the bunk bed’s versatility.

Bunk beds can be constructed of wood, metal, or a combination of both. You can leave the luxurious natural wood finish or you can apply a color to the wood to coordinate the bunk bed with your theme for the rest of the room. Metal frames for bunk beds can be fashioned into many different patterns, including a wavy pattern and a z-shaped pattern.

When choosing a bunk bed, you can hardly go wrong as there are so many options for use possible; you will be able to make a combination work in some form.

Why Choose Bunk Beds?

2008-02-21T20:18:00.002-05:00

Why should you choose bunk beds for your home? Bunk beds can bring a myriad of endless possibilities to your living space. If you are a little cramped for space, or you want to create more available floor space in a room, bunk beds may be just the answer you are seeking. There are twin bunk beds and combination bunk beds with a twin mattress on top and a full mattress on the bottom, as well as loft bunk beds which can offer considerable storage space. There are bunk bed options available for any room scenario you are trying to create.

Bunk beds save space

Bunk beds come in all shapes and sizes. There are bunk beds that come with enough compartments for practically everything you could possibly need space for, all in one beautiful piece of furniture that doesn’t take up much area at all. Bunk beds use vertical space as opposed to horizontal space. This frees up floor space for other needed uses. Bunk beds are great for compact or studio apartments where you need all the space you can get. Loft apartments are growing in popularity, converting large buildings in highly populated cities into individual living spaces. Bunk beds can help you creatively use your available area in a loft apartment.

Bunk beds are attractive

Bunk beds are crafted from various wood types that can accentuate your room’s décor. The wood can remain in a natural state or it can be painted to match the color scheme of your room. You can also purchase bunk beds made with metal frames, if metal suits your needs better than wood. There are bunk beds with spindles on the ends and without, and there are all-in-one units that serve multi-purpose uses in one compact place that can be aesthetically pleasing in its design.

Bunk beds are fun

Bunk beds offer a different alternative from a standard bed. For children and teens, bunk beds offer a sense of fun. Siblings can stay close to each other, yet have their own space to sleep. Youngsters can pretend they are in a fort, on a pirate ship, or a damsel in distress awaiting rescue from the knight in shining armor who will climb up the ladder to save her; bunk beds tend to let one’s imagination soar.

Bunk beds give you more available space for overnight guests

Birthdays, parties, family reunions – we all love those great get-togethers. Wouldn’t it be great to have extra overnight bed space for those special loved ones that you don’t get enough time to visit with? Have a fun-filled day of activities, enjoy a leisurely evening with no one in a rush to get home, because they will be home for the evening, and get a fresh start the next morning. Bunk beds can help give you that opportunity.

Bunk beds for children/teenagers

Bunk beds are a must for older children or young teens having to share a room with another sibling. Bunk beds give each child his or her own space. Sleeping on the top bunk bed is generally not recommended for children under 6 years of age, due to the fact they are more likely to fall. Guard rails on both sides of the top bunk bed mattress can help prevent falls from occurring. A secure bunk bed ladder and a night light can also be beneficial.

Some types of bunk beds can be taken apart and used as a regular bed. If a teenager has an opportunity to move into his or her own room at some point, he or she already has a bed to furnish it with, leaving the child sharing the previous room with his or her own bed as well.

Bunk beds serve multiple purposes and are a diverse piece of furniture that can work in practically any living space.

New Bunk Bed Bedroom Packages

2008-01-20T17:06:00.000-05:00

Recently, we've created bedroom packages centered on our most popular items... mainly, our twin loft beds, and Discovery and Shaker bunk beds. Now, when you purchase one of our specially priced packages, not only will you get FREE SHIPPING ($99 value), but you can save up to hundreds of dollars off the regular retail price.

Featured Packages:

Discovery Twin Bunk Beds: comes with bunk bed, 3-drawers or twin trundle, 6-drawer dresser w/ mirror, and a 5-drawer chest.
You will save up to $255.
Shaker Twin Bunk Beds: comes with bunk bed, 3-drawers or twin trundle, 6-drawer dresser w/ mirror, and a 5-drawer chest.
You will save up to $264.
Discovery Full Bunk Beds: comes with bunk bed, 3-drawers or twin trundle, 6-drawer dresser w/ mirror, and a 5-drawer chest.
You will save up to $200.
Shaker Full Bunk Beds: comes with bunk bed, 3-drawers or twin trundle, 6-drawer dresser w/ mirror, and a 5-drawer chest.
You will save up to $234.
Twin/Twin All in One Loft Beds: comes with all in one loft, tv armoire or 5-drawer chest, and a free chair.
You will save up to $134.
Junior All in One Loft Beds: comes with jr. all in one loft, choice of trundle or 3-drawers, tv armoire or 5-drawer chest, and a free chair.
You will save up to $134.

We have other packages, so check them all out at the link below, and remember, free shipping applies to all bedroom packages.
http://www.bunk-beds-loft-beds.com/packages.html

Complete Bunk Beds Blog Aritcle Listing (updated Jan. 2008)

2008-01-07T23:08:00.000-05:00

Here is a complete list of all articles posted to this blog to-date:

* Free shipping on loft bed packages.
* Twin Boat Bed
* Clearance Item - Discovery 5-drawer All in One Lof...
* Item Launch: Black & White Collection (bunks, capt...
* Selling your bunk beds.
* Painting your wood bunk bed.
* Item Launch: Ginger Twin All in One Loft Bed
* Metal Bunk Beds vs. Wood Bunk Beds
* Suggestions?
* Assembling Bunk Beds Made Easy!
* Making the Most of Small Spaces
* Bunk Beds that Will Spark Your Child's Imagination...
* Bedding for Bunk Beds
* Bunk beds vs. loft beds; which bed is right for you?
* Benefits of Bunk Beds
* What's the right age for bunk beds?
* Are bunk beds safe?
* Intro to Bunk Beds

Free shipping on loft bed packages.

2008-01-07T22:53:00.000-05:00

One of our most popular items is the solid pine Ginger Twin/Twin Student Loft bed, and now you can get it shipped free throughout the 48 continental United States whenever you purchase it one of our available bedroom packages.

Already a great value at $699, you can add either a chest or a dresser w/ mirror, and in addition to getting free shipping, you will get a free matching chair ($50 value). No other retailer can compete with our pricing on this item!

The loft unit includes:
top twin bunk
bottom twin bed
ladder
built-in desk
built-in 6-drawer dresser w/ shelf
slat kit (no bunky boards or other mattress support needed)

The optional chest and dresser come fully assembled.

To view more product details and see larger images, please visit the link below.
Ginger Twin/Twin Student Loft

Get your Bunk Beds in time for Christmas

2007-11-25T13:04:00.000-05:00

Bunk beds make fantastic holiday gifts! Not only will your child be thrilled with it, but unlike many presents, it is something they will use for years to come.

If you want to have your furniture BEFORE December 24th, then you should plan your purchase accordingly. Our company ships in-stock items within two business days, so you can cut it a lot closer with us than with furniture companies that make you wait 4 - 6 weeks.

Since we ship from Orlando, Florida, the "order by" dates below should be sufficient to enable you to receive your furntiure in time. Keep in mind that these are guidelines, NOT guarantees, however, we've been shipping furniture nationwide since 2001, so these estimates are accurate (barring any carrier or weather issues).

* If you live in the Southeast, place your order no later than December 18th
* If you live along the East Coast, place your order no later than December 14th
* If you live in the Great Lakes area, place your order no later than December 14th
* If you live in the Midwest, place your order no later than December 12th
* If you live in the Southwest, place your order no later than December 12th
* If you live along the West Coast, place your order no later than December 12th

The above dates apply only to our standard shipping (free if your order is $699 or more). We do offer White Glove Delivery, but since that is done using a specialty residential delivery service, it can add anywhere from 1 day to 3 weeks to the delivery time of an order, depending on where the final delivery destination is.

Please visit our site, Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Galore, in order to view our selection of bunks, lofts, captain beds and more.

Twin Boat Bed

2007-11-08T16:01:00.000-05:00

Bunk Beds & Loft Beds has a brand new item that is here just in time for the holidays... the nautical themed Bay Cruiser Twin Boat Bed, plus matching accessories.

Currently, these items are not in stock, however, we will get 10 sets of boat bedroom packages by the end of November, so it is wise to go ahead and pre-order now!

The boat bed itself is a vintage styled speed boat, with a toy storage chest built in to the prow, and a large underbed trundle/storage unit on wheels, that can go on either the port or starboard sides of the bed. The trundle also has a center divider, so you can use it as a twin trundle bed, or as two large storage drawers. The bed alone retails for $1299. (view larger image)

The matching 5-drawer chest is $599, and the nightstand is $299, however, if you purchase the bed, chest and nightstand together, you will save $200. Click here to visit our Boat Bed product page so that you can reserve yours today.

The white parts of the furniture are made of MDF, and the wood is solid birch, with a Caribbean Rum finish.

Clearance Item - Discovery 5-drawer All in One Loft

2007-08-30T22:07:00.001-04:00

UPDATE: Although we are now out of stock on this item, we still have several models of twin, full and junior all in one lofts available at our website. Visit us at Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Galore.

We currently have a limited supply of the original Discovery 5-Drawer All in One Loft Bunk Bed. This is the bed that started it all. This patented design has been featured on the Montel Williams show in an episode called "Small Space Makeovers", when we donated a bedroom set to one of the families in need. The tiny bedroom, or "catastrophe", as the mother called it, was being shared by two boys, and this amazing All in One Loft maximized the use of the space in a most satisfactory manner. View the Discovery 5-Drawer All in One Loft - $899 and FREE SHIPPING!

We also have other styles of the All in One Loft, with prices ranging from $699 for the Junior model up to $1165 for the Full over Twin model. To check out more of our space-saving furniture, please visit our website at Children's Bedroom Furniture.

Item Launch: Black & White Collection (bunks, captain's, sleigh and day beds)

2007-06-23T01:32:00.000-04:00

The new black and white collection of bedroom furniture has finally arrived, and it's everything we hoped it would be.

The furniture comes in two finishes; a bright white and a sleek black! We have 8 new beds to choose from, plus a nice selection of matching accessories. Prices start at $400, and if your order totals $699 or more, the shipping is free!

White Bunk Beds

Black Bunk Beds

Black Day Beds

White Day Beds

White Sleigh Beds (twin & full)

Black Captain's Beds (twin & full)

Complete Bunk Beds Blog Aritcle Listing

2007-05-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

Selling your bunk beds.

2007-04-03T14:01:00.000-04:00

Although bunk beds are wonderful and make a great use of small spaces, chances are there will come a time when your child is ready for something different. When that day arrives, you may wonder to yourself, "What do I do with this old bunkbed?". Well, I have a couple of suggestions.

1. One great way to advertise your bunk bed is on http://www.craigslist.org. Not only is putting your listing on craigslist easy, but IT IS FREE!! Yes, you can list your item on your local craigslist absolutely free, and that listing includes the ability for you to upload photos of your item as well as provide a long description and contact information. Printed classified ads simply cannot compete with a sweet deal like that.

2. You can also donate your bunk beds to a local charity. Not only will you help out those less fortunate than yourself, but you will be able to ease your own burden come tax time because of the write-off you'll receive.

Although I may have given simple advice, I've been asked often enough that I felt it warranted an article on the blog. If you have any other suggestions for a blog topic, please let me know. Take care. :)

The Furniture Guy: Why Consider Pine Furniture?

2007-03-03T14:23:00.000-05:00

The Furniture Guy: Why Consider Pine Furniture?

Painting your wood bunk bed.

2007-02-09T09:54:00.000-05:00

I receive a lot of requests for white or colored bunk beds, but most of our beds are solid wood and come stained, not painted. However, if you're not afraid of a little work, you can customize your bunk beds to create the perfect room for your child.

There are a few steps that need to be taken, but things will be much easier if you choose a bed that does NOT have a polyurethane seal. We have several beds that fit this criteria; mainly our Discovery and Ginger finished products. Ginger is the better of the two, since it has a lighter finish. Those two finishes can take a new coat of stain without having to do any additional priming, so if you want to darken the furniture to match items you already have, all you need to do is choose your desired stain and apply it.

As for painting your bunk beds, this is what you need to do:
* prime the wood
* sand the wood with a 180 or 220 grit paper because the primer will raise the grain making it rough
* paint the bed whichever color you prefer
* apply a second coat of paint if necessary
* Hit it with the sand paper again lightly

There you go! It's simple, but will require some elbow grease on your part. Within the next few months we will be getting some new bed designs in black and white, so if you prefer, you can wait for those. I will announce the new products on our website (Bunk Beds & Loft Beds Galore) and on this blog, so be sure to bookmark us. :)

Item Launch: Ginger Twin All in One Loft Bed

2007-01-07T12:07:00.000-05:00

Every now and then our manufacturer launches a new item and the most recent addition to our inventory is the Ginger 4-Drawer All in One Loft Bed. This bed uses the patented All in One Loft design, but comes in a light ginger finish. Since this bed has a dry oil finish instead of polyurethane, and the color is so light, it is a perfect bed to customize with your preferred color of stain. You can apply the stain to the finish to match whichever furniture you already have, as long as the color is darker than the ginger finish (see picture below).

This bed normally retails for $949, but we have it on sale for only $899 and will ship it for free to the contiguous 48 states. This is the lowest price available anywhere, and if you're in Florida, you get an additional 10% off (use discount code FL).

This bed has a twin bunk bed on top and a twin trundle on the bottom. The trundle can be converted to a storage area by putting shallow plastic containers easily purchased at your local Wal-Mart or Target stores. In addition to that, this bunk bed comes with a built-in 4-drawer chest and a computer desk with 2-drawers and a keyboard tray that pulls out 18". The keyboard tray is sturdy enough to be used as a desktop. You also have a rear storage area that runs the complete length of the bed, with access doors on both sides. The desk and chest are reversible, as is the ladder. There is no bedroom that this bed won't fit in, since it's only 65" tall at its highest point.

Since all connections are metal to metal, you can disassemble and reassemble this bed numerous times without it getting wobbly, which makes this bed ideal for sending with your child to college.

Only $899!
Dimensions: 83" wide x 42 " deep x 65 " tall
Trundle Bed 40" deep x 75" long holds up to a 7" thick mattress
Drawers (inside dimensions) 21.5" wide x 17" long x 5.5" tall / deep
Desk tray pulls out 18"

Metal Bunk Beds vs. Wood Bunk Beds

2006-12-18T22:37:00.000-05:00

If you've decided to buy a bunk bed, you'll find that there are a wide variety to choose from, as well as a wide price range.

Some of the least expensive bunk beds are made of metal, and like most things, you get what you pay for. The reason we no longer carry metal bunk beds is because of all the inherent flaws that that type of construction has. Below are some of the common issues you'll find with metal bunk beds.

* Dents
* Rust
* Weld Failures
* Hardware not lining up (sometimes this happens with wood bunk beds, but with wood you can always use a drill to correct any misalignment issues)
* Bending of the bunk rails
* Too many safety recalls
* Wobbly

Also, as the cost of metal has sky rocketed, manufacturers in China keep using thinner gauges of to keep the price down, which just exacerbates the problems listed above. There is just no comparison from metal to wood.

So if you're seriously thinking of purchasing a metal bunk bed, you may want to reconsider. I cannot speak for other manufacturers of wood bunk beds, but I know every bunk bed we sell meets the ASTM Safety Requirements.

Suggestions?

2006-12-14T15:35:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

I see the traffic stats for this blog and I wonder if there's anything in particular all you folks would like me to write about. If there is something you'd like to see on this blog, please send me an email and if it's a good fit, I'll address it in a future post.

Thanks again,

Lisa

Assembling Bunk Beds Made Easy!

2006-12-08T23:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, so you've bought a bunk bed and now it's time to put it together. Hopefully, you purchased a bed that doesn't require a degree in mechanical engineering, but if you did... well, crack a beer and hire a handyman, because that's just more effort than I'm even willing to write about. :) However, if you purchased a bed that is meant for normal people to easily assemble, then I have some tips that will make the job even easier.

IMPORTANT: Recruit a friend or family member for the furniture assembly. I cannot stress this point enough. I put together one of our futon bunk beds by myself (I'm a 5'1" tall woman) and everything was peachy until I got to the point where I had to put the top bunk in place. Ugh! What a nightmare, but somehow I managed it without ending my evening in the emergency room. :)

The next step is to unpack all of the boxes and clear the debris out of the room. You're going to need some elbow room for this task.

Once you've done that, what you want to do is take out all the hardware and arrange it in separate piles. Little styrofoam cups make great hardware holders, plus you can write on the outside of them so that you know exactly which parts each cup contains.

Once you've got your pieces-parts organized, you should really read through the directions. If this is too much to ask, then at least skim them to get an idea of which parts of the bed get assembled and in what order.

Chances are, you will begin assembly with the lower bunk. This makes perfect sense, since this is the foundation of the entire bed. Once you've got the lower bunk assembled, it's usually easier to assemble the entire top bunk on the floor, then lift it into place. This is where that extra pair of hands are going to come in handy.

Basically, that's the process. It's so simple that a large portion of the testimonials we receive are from people raving about the ease of assembly of our furniture. Good luck!

Making the Most of Small Spaces

2006-12-04T17:52:00.000-05:00

As adults we're used to having our master bedrooms being large enough for a queen or king bed, plus dresser and nightstand, but kids' bedrooms are usually the smallest in the house and you just can't cram all that furniture into them and leave any floor space for playtime.

One of the major benefits of getting bunk beds, captain's beds or loft beds is that they often combine the bed, plus storage, in the same space that a normal bed would take up. For instance, our All in One Lofts come with a top bunk, bottom trundle, PLUS built-in chest of drawer, a desk and a rear storage area. What this does is keep the room open and your child can utilize the floor space for sleepovers or playtime with barbie dolls and/or matchbox cars (those were my favorites as a kid). Since our All in One Loft Beds take up the same amount of floor area as a regular twin bed, you can see how it's an efficient use of space and perfect for tiny bedrooms.

If you only have one child or just don't like the idea of your kid sleeping on a top bunk, a captain's bed might be the way to go. All of our captain's beds have the option of having 12-drawers underneath the bed, thereby eliminating the need of having a dresser or chest of drawers.

So, when you're budgeting for your child's bedroom furniture, keep in mind the money you'll save by not having to purchase additional accessories that will only crowd your child's bedroom.

Bunk Beds that Will Spark Your Child's Imagination

2006-11-29T11:03:00.000-05:00

These days kids have so many toys and distractions that hinder their imaginations (think television and video games), so anything you can do to get them thinking on their own can only be a good thing. What works great is playtime that doesn't depend on small moving parts of poorly built electronics. Our castle and dollhouse bunk beds set the stage for your child's imagination to run wild. Creative thinking is what you want and that's exactly what you'll get. Not only that, but these beds are so much fun that you'll probably find it easier to wrangle the little one into their rooms at bedtime. :)

Sure, this isn't a bed that your child will want to take to college, but since they're so well made you shouldn't have a problem selling them once it's time for them to graduate to a big-boy or big-girl bed. I highly recommend posting items for sale on http://www.craigslist.org when it comes time. It's free, easy and gets tons of traffic.

Back to the fairytale bunk beds. Each of these beds has a top twin bunk and a huge play area underneath (will accommodate a queen bed). They also come with built-in bookshelves and a recessed nook in the play area that makes a great nightstand or semi-secret hiding place. Your child can hang a sheet in front of the play area, thereby converting it to a pretty spacious fort. Also, the styling of the beds provides a starting point for the imagination and you'll be surprised at the creative scenarios your kids will dream up.

Although I was lucky enough to have a bunk bed as a kid, not to mention how popular it made me and my brother with our little neighborhood friends, what would've been even better was if we had had something cool like the castle or dollhouse bunk beds. Oh well, I'm pushing 39 now and will have to make due with my boring king-sized bed, but it's not too late for your kids.

Bedding for Bunk Beds

2006-11-25T23:26:00.000-05:00

I often get asked if we sell any specialty linens for bunk beds. On the bunk beds and loft beds in our showroom we simply used standard twin and full sheets and comforters, but life would've been so much easier if we had bought bedcaps; these are special bedspreads designed for bunk beds.

Basically, the comforter has sewn corners at the foot end, much like the corners on fitted sheets, but minus the elastic. This enables you to snugly fit the end of the comforter onto the foot end of the mattress, thereby avoiding the painstaking task of trying to tuck all that fabric under the mattress. The end result is a neatly and easily made bed that would make Martha Stewart proud.

Here is a picture of what I'm talking about. (photo courtesy of http://www.specialtylinens.com/bedcaps.htm)

So, if you're the proud owner of a bunk bed and want to make the daily chore of making the bed easier, I recommend investing in bedcaps. You can find vendors by doing a web search for "bunk bed bedcaps" or "bunk bed sheet" or something similar.

Bunks vs. Captain's Beds

2006-11-15T10:37:00.000-05:00

Although bunk beds are a great way to maximize space in a small bedroom, there are also other, less "lofty" (bad pun) solutions that might be more practicle for a room with only one child. Enter the captain's bed...

Captain's beds are essentially a twin or a full bed with built-in storage drawers underneath. The ones we sell also have the capacity for a twin trundle, which can either be used as another bed or an even larger storage area.

If you want to convert the trundle to a storage space, simply get some low-profile plastic containers (with or without lids) and place them on the slat kit where you would normally put the mattress. When the trundle portion is closed, you'll never be able to tell that it's being used for storage. This is a much better solution than having a regular bed with a pile of junk shoved underneath it. :) Since our trundle beds have wheels, you can easily access your stored items.

Of course, bunk beds are so much more fun than captain's beds, but that's something you'll have to work out with your kids.

Bunk beds vs. loft beds; which bed is right for you?

2006-10-17T20:26:00.000-04:00

Most of us grew up either having a bunk bed or knowing a friend who had one. There’s really nothing better than bunk beds for maximizing space in a small bedroom. Kids are active and like to climb, so having their bed is several feet off the floor is definitely "cool". It’s a place they can go to survey their bedroom domain. It keeps them active and inspires their imaginations. Plus, bunk beds are GREAT for fort building!

Bunk beds typically consist of only a bottom bunk and a top bunk, but what about storage? Enter the loft bed. Loft beds incorporate storage into a typical bunk bed, so in addition to the floor space you are already freeing up with the bunk bed, you can now get rid of the chest of drawers and desk that is taking up so much valuable real estate in your child’s room. Many loft beds only have the top bunk, but there are several styles that come with a bottom bed, too.

So, do you choose a bunk bed or a loft bed? Really, the choice is yours, but the loft bed is a great way to go if you’ve got a small bedroom occupied by one child. If you’re putting two kids in one bedroom, you may want to go with the bunk beds and some extra storage (chest, dresser, desk). Also, most bunk beds can be down-stacked into two twin beds, so if your kids are too young for a bunk at this time, you can still invest in one now and use them as twin beds, then stack them into bunk beds when you feel your kids are ready for it.

Benefits of Bunk Beds

2006-10-17T14:20:00.000-04:00

Beside the "cool factor" of bunk beds, there are several practical benefits to choosing one for your child's bedroom.

First, quality bunk beds can last your child from age three on through college. Since most bunk beds can be down-stacked into two twin beds, your child can begin enjoying his/her new room even if they are still not old enough to manage climbing up to the top bunk. As your child grows, you can stack the twin beds into the bunk bed formation, thereby freeing up valuable floor space for a desk, since by this time your child will most likely have plenty of homework to do - much to their dismay. :)

Second, the space-saving features of bunk beds are unparalleled. You can sleep two in the same amount of space that you would normally be able to put a twin bed. With today's homes and their small bedrooms, this is a huge benefit.

Third, as long as you buy a quality bunk bed, you will have no trouble selling it at a later date if you decide your child is ready for something else.

In my next post I'll discuss the differences between bunk beds and loft beds, so be sure to check back.