Bunk / Loft and Cabin Beds.

Bunk beds are a great way to fit two beds into a smaller space, or to maximize the floor space of a shared room. There are now bunk beds available with storage drawers, roll out mattresses and even some that double as desks and workstations. All the additional amenities that bunk beds now offer are certainly something to be considered, but nothing is more important when purchasing a bunk bed than safety.

All bunk beds should have rails for the top bunk. Without question, the number one cause of bunk bed related injuries stems from children falling out of the top bunk. A quality bunk bed will never lack rails for a bed so high off the floor. Additionally, parents should always make sure the rails are tight and secure after the bunk bed has been purchased or assembled.

Ladder placement is important. Ladders will either be on the sides or front of the bed. A good rule of thumb to follow is that bunk beds with four feet or four posts touching the ground should have the ladder in front; meaning on the long side of the bed that usually faces out from the wall (provided the bed is set against a wall). You should only see ladders on the short "ends" of the bunk bed if the bed has a solid foundation on both ends, meaning wood or metal all the way across the end that touches the floor. The reason for this is that front side ladders are at an angle while end ladders are straight up and down. If your child slips on a front sided ladder, which is always angled, he or she will not fall straight down, eliminating the possibility of landing on the bottom bunk rails or getting an appendage caught in the bed. This can happen with a vertical ladder, which is why they should only be placed on the ends of beds, preferably with "walled" or "semi-walled" ends that go all the way to the floor. This will prevent your child from getting an appendage caught on the bed should he or she fall on a vertical ladder.

Bunk bed construction, as one might imagine, is also very important. Wood has substantially less compression strength than metal, so while wooden bunk beds are certainly fine, be wary of those that don't weigh much more than their metal counterparts. Wood bunk beds are just as good as metal bunk beds, but should weigh considerably more.

When looking at loft beds, the newer, stylish beds are made of metal. Additionally, metal loft beds take up less space so that tight spaces will not be further infringed by bulky metal creations. Also, metal beds allow a greater amount of decoration than wooden beds, so these are quite popular with the feminine crowd. Additionally, a change in style requires nothing more than a can of spray paint in the new and improved color.

Most older bunk beds are made of wood, and are generally easier to make safety modifications and enhancements. Also, the price of wooden bunk beds may be more economical, especially if you are shopping at second hand stores or using a bed previously used by a friend or family member. Furthermore, wooden bunk beds can be easily repaired, painted, stripped, or stained to create a completely different look for differing tastes.

Donna Somerkin specializes in Beds www.u-loft-beds.com
To purchase furniture visit www.ezbuyfurniture.com