How to Choose the Best Bunk Beds for Teens

Loft and bunk beds can bring fun and utility in the room for kids. They can also help reduce space.

Find bunk beds that can be adapted like ones with drawers for storage at the bottom or a trundle that is easy to remove. There are also twins that can be stacked and separated to make two beds. Also, consider the weight of the top bunk.

Size

You should think about size as well as style and safety when selecting a bunk bed for your kids. Examine the height of the ceiling to ensure that the bunks can fit in the space. Also, ensure that there's enough space around the bunks to allow children to move around. The beds should be spaced enough apart that kids can get up and down safely and not collide with each other or crash into walls. Additionally, you should find out whether the top bunk is able to support mattresses that is the same size as the bottom one so you won't need for a trundle, or an extra bed in the near future.

You may also opt for a bunk design that is not traditional, if it suits your space better. For instance an L-shaped bunk might be ideal for a small bedroom or even a shared guest room. It can help save floor space, and allow for a queen-sized or twin-overfull mattress on both upper and lower levels depending on the model you select.

A lot of the top bunk beds for teens are built to adapt to your child's needs and can be converted into two free-standing double beds when they're ready to an adult bed. Storkcraft Solid Wood Ladder Twin Bunk Bed for instance it has the classic farmhouse look with curving headboards. It also has wagon-inspired guardrails on the top bunk. It's made of knot-free New Zealand Pine and has an inbuilt, stationary ladder that connects the upper and lower bunk beds. This gives more room for kids to play.

Another alternative is a loft bed which optimizes corner spaces in rooms with tweens. It's ideal for smaller spaces because it takes up less vertical space and allows you to use the lower level for desks, storage cabinets or dressers. It's a great choice for older children because it doesn't require stairs or ladders which makes it more accessible to adults and children of larger sizes.

Before purchasing any type of bunk bed, check it out in your kids bedroom using blue painter's tape to determine how high it will be off the ground. This will give you a sense of whether it could be easily climbed in and out of at night, without bumping heads 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 guidelines for bunk beds, which set standards for guardrails and other features that prevent the chance of entrapment and falls.

Safety

Bunk beds are an excellent option for families with children of all ages, but it's important to take into consideration the safety features when buying. You'll need a bunk bed with guardrails that are high enough to keep children from falling off or becoming trapped, and a mattress which doesn't raise up the sleeping surface excessively. You should also pay attention to the weight capacity, since certain bunks have a lower limit than others.

When choosing the bunk bed you want, look on the website of the manufacturer to find specifications on the mattress's sizes and weight limits. The majority of manufacturers will offer guidelines for the maximum thickness of the top bunk mattress. They'll also list the maximum capacity for the weight of the upper bunk bed as well as the bunk.

The ideal bunk beds will be sturdy and feature an stairway or ladder that is securely attached to the frame and comes with handles on the sides. It is also recommended to avoid bunks with slatted sides, as they could be dangerous for children to climb up and down, especially if the slats aren't tightly connected. If your children love to play on the ground, select a low-slung bunk that allows them to play and sit without being too far off the floor.

Consider an L-shaped mattress if you don't have much space in your child's bedroom or if you don't want it taking up a lot of space. They require less space and are generally about the same size as a single bed. This makes them perfect for rooms with narrow ceilings. They're also suitable for children who may be scared of higher bunks.

If you have more space, consider a full-over-full-size bunk bed. These are the most stylish and secure bunk beds that are available. They can be used for twin or full-size beds. Pottery Barn Kids' Belden is a stylish solid and sturdy option that can grow with kids as they grow older and accommodates trundle mattress (sold separately) for older teens and adults. It's Greenguard Gold certified for low chemical emissions. It's made from sustainably sourced Baltic birch wood, and it comes in a variety of colors options.

Style

Whether it's for a shared room or just one kid, the right bunk bed can give teenagers something to be happy about. Some designs are sleek and minimalist while others are more playful elements. Bunk beds also come in a variety of sizes, ranging from twin over twin to full-over-full or even queen. A twin-over-full design is popular for tweens because it lets them accommodate two children in a single room, and still leaves space for a desk, dresser or storage drawers at the lower level. Some designs come with a trundle bed that allows the upper floor to accommodate an extra mattress.

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

For a truly cool bunk, you should consider an T-shaped or l-shaped design that's basically an elevated platform bed. The beds feature a ladder on the end that gives the appearance of a sleeker design and makes room for a desk or dresser beneath. They aren't as spacious as a bunk bed, but they provide teens with more space in their rooms.

If you're looking to find a more affordable bunk that can offer plenty of security and comfort, think about a futon bunk. Futons are small and flexible, so you can move them around if your kids wish to redesign their rooms in the future. They are not as durable as metal or wood bunk beds, and the top bed has no guardrails.

Bunks that include stairs or ladders are also available. Ladders are more efficient and less space-consuming to climb. Stairs, on the other hand, can also be used as a seating area by children who are younger. Some models can be converted into a desk or chair so that your child can have the perfect bedroom set for both study and play.

Budget

When you're looking for a bunk bed, it's essential to think about your budget. There are a variety of affordable options available, but if you want a bunk bed to last through the teens and on into adulthood, it's worth spending a little more for a high-quality product that can be used indefinitely.

Think about who will be using the bunk bed and what their sleeping needs could be prior to shopping. For instance, a twin over a twin configuration is great for rooms with siblings, while a full-over-full bunk is perfect for adults looking to reduce space and avoid the cost of buying a separate queen or king-sized mattress. It is also important to determine how much headroom you want between the top and bottom bunks--if kids are still sleeping in toddler beds, for instance, it might be best to choose a lower-to-ground arrangement.

The best bunk bed for teens will be a good value and one that will grow with them. Select a style that can work in both traditional and modern rooms. Or, choose the Oeuf Perch Bunk Bed, an Editors' Choice for the Spruce. It can be split into two twin beds if required. This style features a modern sleek, clean lines, boucle upholstered guardrails and a stationary, easy-to-climb ladder. It's also Greenguard Gold and fair trade certified for its social and environmental responsibility.

A bunk bed that has built-in storage is an additional way to save money. This could include drawers underneath the bed, or shelves underneath the top. This will help keep the bedroom clutter-free, and it's especially useful when you have a small space. Many of the bunks listed on our list have this option, and a few offer additional storage options like a bookcase headboard for the top bunk and a desk for the bottom.