How a High Loft Bed Can Change Your Child’s Room for the Better

It may seem like there are an endless number of
accessories and furniture that you can work into the design of a nursery or a
young child’s room. Once that child matures a little and starts to identify
objects of interest without having to be prompted, there’s a whole new element
introduced, complicating the process of outfitting a room.

We’re sure there are parents out there reading
this who have heard their children (or their child) clamor for a set of bunk
beds. There’s something about them that holds the intrigue of even the most
easy going children in thrall.

Experts still haven’t cracked the code of what
makes bunk beds so alluring to children. Perhaps it is because they are
different from other beds. Perhaps it gives them an avenue for their imaginations
to soar or to change up bedtime routines with something new.

Whatever the case, kids love bunk beds - but bunk
beds are not ideal for all rooms, settings or arrangements. In that case, we
may have a very viable solution for you, but first we need to provide a little
background.

High Loft Beds vs. Bunk Beds:
What’s the Difference?

That solution may come in the form of a high loft bed instead of in
a set of bunk beds, but we need to draw a distinction on what the difference
is.

Bunk beds are designed to situate one bed on top
of another. In this fashion, they enable two (or more) sleepers the ability to
sleep in the space that would otherwise be occupied by one bed.

In contrast, a high loft bed sits on top of supports. Typically they have only one
bed and provide space for only one sleeper, although there are instances in
which they can be paired with additional, compatible beds that sit beneath the
high loft.

The space underneath is typically left clear for
storage, although some models of high lofts incorporate drawers or other space
for storage beneath them. There are quite a few reasons that high lofts might
be the choice alternative, which we will explore at length below.

To be clear, there are settings in which bunk
beds are decidedly preferable and categorically superior to high loft beds. For example, if you
have two children sharing a room and you need the floor space for other
furniture or supplies, then a bunk bed just might be ideal. Bunk beds, like high loft beds, take up only the
footprint of one bed, and allow two children to sleep and live comfortably.

That being said, there are some unique situations
in which a high loft bed is
preferable to a bunk bed, and in which you’ll be able to indulge your child’s
fancy without the need to purchase a pair of bunks.

Why and
When High Loft Beds Just Might Be
Better

If you’ve been left wondering why you’d ever want
to leave that space beneath a high loft arrangement open when you could occupy
the space with another bed, consider some of the following arguments.

For one, you might want to incorporate a high
loft into the design of a child’s room if there is only one child in it. And
before you conjure thoughts of the unnecessary nature of it all, read through
the following points.

1.More space for storage

Yes, with only one child in a room, there is no
necessary need to elevate the bed, at least on the surface. You can just put a
regular floor model in the room and be done with it. If you did, though, that
floor space would be taken up by a bed. That’s self explanatory.

Now, had you arranged for that room to contain a high loft bed, that floor space could
have been left clear. As you also know, being a parent requires you to be
prepared and ready with essentials and accessories. All of those things need to
be stored somewhere, which requires space.

With a high
loft bed, if the space underneath is left clear, you’ll have extra room for
storage. You can keep a chest of drawers there or even just a collection of
storage bins that you keep relatively out of sight but within easy reach.

It’s simple; with a high loft bed you can enjoy more space for storage, even if the bed
itself doesn’t come with extra room for storage. That space saved speaks for
itself.

2.More space in the room

It also shouldn’t come as a shock that with a high loft bed instead of a regular bed
or even a bunk bed, you’ll have more space in a room. A high loft bed actually provides more space than either of these
options, and it’s because of the fact that both of them occupy the floor space
taken up by their footprint. With many high lofts, that space is entirely left
free.

With such an arrangement, it’s almost like you
can work a bed into the setting without actually devoting any room to it. Since
the bed itself leaves almost the entire footprint underneath it free, it’s like
you’ve just added square feet to the room’s floor plan.

3.More space for your child to play
and explore

So let’s consider a specific situation in which
you don’t really need the extra space for storage or to add space to the room
in question. Getting a high loft bed
can be a bonus for your child even if not for these practical reasons.

Children flourish when their imaginations are
left free to roam and romp, and a high
loft bed will provide space underneath that you can dedicate as a play area
for your child. Creative parents have made playpens in the past; extra creative
parents can help their children create play forts underneath high loft beds that will serve as
personal little sanctuaries for the mind to run free, wander and grow.

4.Satisfy the desires of only
children who have always wanted a bunk bed

There’s another reason that you might want to add
a high loft bed into the design of
your home, but it has little to do with floorspace or the functionality of the
furniture itself. It has to do with indulging the desires of your little kids.

As we belabored earlier in this article, and as
anyone who has ever known a young child can tell you, they’re more often than
not enamored with bunk beds. High lofts are the ideal solution for families
that don’t need another bed entirely but would still like to indulge their
children and give them something to fancy and enjoy .

If you do so, it certainly doesn’t hurt any that
you can enjoy the previously mentioned benefits of extra space in the room or
additional opportunities for storage.

5.Scale more easily with the growth
of your family

One more thing that you should keep in the back
of your mind is that a high loft may make it easier for a child’s room to scale
with the growth of your family. Today you might have only one child, but plans
change and surprises can happen. Someday, maybe even someday soon, you might be
considering adding to the nest. Then you actually will have to provide an
additional sleeping arrangement.

At first that new arrival will need a crib, but
eventually you might have kids sharing a space and many high lofts are
compatible with additions or can accommodate another bed underneath them. At
that point a high loft has effectively become a bunk bed, but it still gives
you the flexibility, nonetheless.

What
Features to Look for in a High Loft Bed?

If you’ve made the choice that a high loft bed is at least worth a
cursory investigation, start in the right place. That’s right here -
Kids-N-Cribs.com - but we’ll still give you some pointers on what you should
expressly look for. Not that all of these are overtly deal breakers, but if you
can, find a high loft that meets the following criteria.

●Solid wood construction

Solid wood construction is nice to have for quite
a few reasons. One is the aesthetic value. Solid wood construction is pleasant
and often the wood itself possesses unique character and charm. Solid wood,
however, also exhibits a much higher level of quality than lower grades of
compressed wood, particle board and synthetics.

Furniture made from solid wood over a hundred
years ago that has been well-maintained is still in popular use. You probably
aren’t thinking about that with the purchase of each piece of furniture that
you make, but it’s worth considering. If you care about quality and longevity,
it’s very hard if possible at all to beat the integrity and durability of solid
wood.

●Few moving parts (or none) and no
exposed hardware

Few moving parts and a minimum of exposed
hardware is a good thing to look for in furniture in general. It means fewer
moving parts to break and pieces to lose, and fewer opportunities to get
scratched or scuffed.

In the search for children’s furniture, it’s much
more important. At this point, moving parts and exposed hardware aren’t just
annoyances. They can be easily elevated to the status of safety hazards. Look
for high lofts that have few moving parts and minimal exposed hardware; you’ll
find them.

●Guard rails and other safety
features

Many high
loft beds come with guard rails and other safety features that make them
more practical and more secure. The list of potential features will obviously
vary according to the model, but some of them are completely necessary.

Specifically, look for guard rails that are high
enough to accommodate a mattress. There needs to be enough clearance for them
to remain safe and secure!

●Non-toxic paints and finishes

Non-toxic paints and finishes are a must. We
pride ourselves on offering the highest quality furniture available here at
Kids-N-Cribs, and that’s why we go to such lengths to secure only furniture
that is completed with non-toxic paints and finishes.

This is the furniture in and around which your
children will sleep, play, learn and grow. Safety and security are of the
utmost importance, and that’s why non-toxic finishes are high on the list of
priorities. Make sure of them when you’re shopping, and if you have questions
about specifics, call us.

●Keep your eyes open for
certifications

Many of our products are widely certified. Like
the construction and safety features provided by any given model,
certifications will vary according to each product, but keep your eyes open for
them because many of our products are widely certified.

●Extras are nice, too

You should also keep your eyes open for any
extras that a given high loft bed
can offer you as well. For example, some models include desks underneath the
bed, or have stairs in place of a ladder, into which is designed a set of
drawers for extra storage. In addition, many high lofts contain additional
opportunities for storage built right into their designs. Keep your needs as a
parent (and as a family) in mind, and you’ll find the extras that you need!

●Last but not least, modularity!

Finally, consider the modularity of a high loft bed, especially as it relates
to scalability. Many of our high lofts are compatible with other beds that can
be placed underneath them, effectively transforming them into bunk beds. Some
of them actually come with additional beds that can be removed or replaced as
need dictates. Flexibility is the game here, so make the most of it.

Contact Us
to Learn More!

If you have any questions or doubts after looking
through our catalog of high lofts, bunks and other furniture for nurseries and
childrens’ rooms, lean on our experience. You can reach us for help anytime you
need a little bit more help, have questions or would like recommendations.

We pride ourselves highly on our customer
service. Get in touch with us at 925-778-2229, let us know what you need, and
we’ll be sure to help!