The vast majority of children who share a room absolutely love the idea of getting a bunk bed, it’s a novelty that kids love and is overall, simply a cool thing. Not only this, but bunk beds can be a great way to save or maximise the space of a bedroom, leaving enough room for toys, accessories, and other furnishings and storage.
So, since there are so many different kinds of bunk beds available on the UK market, we’ve decided to put together this blog to help guide you towards the best bunk beds for kids.
Let’s start with the general kinds of bunk beds you can purchase for children.
The classic.
The traditional bunk bed is generally wooden in terms of the materials used, with either a ladder or steps to reach the top bunk.
Storage is key with any bunk bed so there tends to be an option for drawers or boxes to be kept under the bottom bunk of a traditional bunk bed. This is to help make the most out of the space.
These are the most popular kinds of bunk beds and have been a mainstay in homes around the world for many years for good reason!
If you are a lover of traditional wooden beds, check out our wooden bed frames here.
Take a traditional bunk bed but with a little less height, and you’ve got a mid-sleeper.
Oh, and they also don’t usually have a bed at the bottom bunk, but instead, a sofa or other form of furniture like a play area or even an easel or table. This table can be used for all sorts of fun, from crafts to playing with toys and even homework… Imagine that!
Cupboards, shelving units, even draws can be used in place of a bottom bunk, and you can also turn the space into a sort of wardrobe with a clothes rail hanging from the top bunk to help with clothing storage.
This is essentially the traditional bunk bed with an extended height of generally around 30cm.
The additional height is great for storage purposes, allowing for even more storage underneath the bottom bunk.
Another benefit of a high sleeper is the fact that the bottom bed is at a right angle, meaning the bunk bed can be used as a sofa during the day and a bed at night.
Wooden bunk beds tend to be made of a fairly cheap softwood, with pine being a popular option for bunk bed manufacturers.
This is because they are lighter than most other wood materials such as hardwoods like oak. These are also much more expensive to make and therefore sell, not to mention the hassle of trying to move such a large, heavy structure into a bedroom, which is generally upstairs.
Since most wooden bunk beds are made of softwood or other light wooden materials, they tend to be quite flimsy when compared to an oak, hardwood, or metal frame. Artificial wood is particularly flimsy, and if you have particularly energetic children who like to jump about in bed, a wooden bunk bed might not be for you.
Wooden bunk beds are a bit awkward if you have pets too, particularly a cat.
If, like most cats, yours enjoys scratching and biting furniture, there’s nothing quite like a large wooden frame for them to sink their claws or teeth in to. While most feline friends might seem well-behaved to your face, a lot of them are quite sneaky and will think you’ve bought them a huge scratching post to play with while you’re not in the room.
Generally speaking however, wooden bunk beds pass consumer product safety standards so there’s little to worry about, but for extra piece of mind, if you’re purchasing a wood bunk bed then it needs to be a strong material.
Or even better, pick a different material altogether.
Another one that your cat will love, fabric bunk beds are becoming popular with consumers around the UK and Europe.
They are quite nice to look at and fit the aesthetic of certain bedrooms and homes, colour-dependant. However, for the most part, they are yet to catch up with metal or wooden bunk beds in terms of popularity with kids.
Unlike with wooden or metal bunk beds, you are unable to split a fabric bunk bed into two single beds as the material simply won’t allow for it. They’re also an absolute nightmare to clean, so aren’t really the best option if you have kids with a tendency to spill things or make a bit of a mess.
You know, like pretty much every single child ever.
Even a wooden bunk bed is easier to clean than a fabric bunk, and unlike duvet or bed sheets, you can’t simply replace the fabric if you get it stained with paints, food, or God forbid… slime!
Metal bunk beds are generally your best bet for a kids room, for a number of reasons.
First of all, they look more modern and up-to-date than their wooden counterparts or even a fabric number. For the most part, they are sturdier than wood bunk beds, particularly those made of soft woods, and are of a higher build quality too.
That’s not to say they aren’t without their drawbacks however, and they can indeed hold the cold in bad weather conditions and wintery months. For most modern homes however, this isn’t too much of an issue thanks to insulation within the home, so a metal bunk bed is generally the best option and all-rounder for bunk bed buyers.
They’re also easy to clean with a simple wipe, which can be a life saver for parents who are constantly chasing their kids around cleaning up after them. Some metal framed bunk beds can be a bit flimsy in design, so it’s always best to give them a test to ensure they are super sturdy and therefore super safe.
It’s always a good idea to use a well-trusted brand for your metal bunk beds, like Oslo. They provide a classy, three sleeper bunk bed as well as a two sleeper, both with an array of colour options and available online and in-store with Number One Beds.
Another new kid on the block, polyethylene bunk beds are making an impact in the new year as a statement piece in a kids bedroom.
The styling of these is a little out there to say the least with a wide colour range, and the size makes them quite awkward to transport and set up, but they do look unique! If that’s the kind of thing you’re after.
There are no sharp edges in a polyethylene bunk bed, unlike certain wooden bunk beds, and they do provide the added benefit of being quite easy to clean, especially compared to fabric.
A lot of these benefits are also applicable to metal bunk beds however, which have a more classic style that are much more likely to look normal in your kids bedroom.
Yes!
All bunk beds have to pass certain consumer standards tests to ensure they are suitable to be sold in the UK. This means that they are safe in the vast majority of circumstances.
However, if your child is particularly, let’s say, energetic, then it’s a good idea to give any bunk bed a test run as even the sturdiest beds available can take a tumble with an overactive child who likes to jump up and down on their mattress.
For the most part though, bunk beds are incredibly safe, and they come with the benefit of a reduced height from ceiling to bed for any mattress-jumping kids.
Sometimes, if you can’t clean a mattress, then it’s beyond repair. If there’s a particularly bad stain or smell emanating from the bed that won’t go away, sleeping in it is a bit of a no go. And if this is the case, you’re going to need to buy a new one.
We stock a massive selection of mattresses online, so take a look around and find one that suits you. Or you can give us a call on 01325 485000 to find out more, or visit our physical showroom and shop in Darlington to test drive a new mattress and buy in-store.
