Maximize your Low Loft Bed

Loft beds have always been an adventurous child's dream, where he needs to climb up the ladder in order to reach his sleeping area.  This frees up space below the bed for a study table, closet, drawers that will help organize the child's things.  This can also be a play area where he can keep his toys or build a mini room.  This will save considerable space in an otherwise small room.  For the safety of the child, consider having a low loft bed, one that is just mid-sized or up to an adult's chest level with all the proper protective rails in place.

There are several ideas that will maximize and enhance your low loft bed:

Idea 1 - Put in a ladder and a slide.  This will not only provide much fun for your child but will also give him an option to go down the easy way by just sliding instead of possibly being too sleepy and risk falling off the ladder.

Idea 2 - Outfit the lower portion of the loft bed with a pull out study desk.  Since the loft bed will be lower than standard loft beds, there will not be enough space for a standard desk.  A pull-out desk is the best as it can be stored under the loft bed but can be pulled out for use and not feel cramped or constantly bump your head on the bed ceiling.

Idea 3 - Build shelves under the bed.  This can be used to store toys or books.  Instead of building shelves on the walls, build them under the bed to save on space and dedicate the wall for art work or other things.

Idea 4 - Build drawers.  Drawers are wonderful organizers for clothes, toys and other things. 

Idea 5 - Incorporate an armoire.  Because the low loft bed will never make the armoire high, it will be easy for your child to get his clothes in the armoire and not have to reach for them in high cabinets.

Idea 6 - Build a smaller extra bed or sofa bed which can double up as your entertainment area when friends come over.

Idea 7 - Instead of a ladder, you should build stairs and use the bottom of the stairs as pull-out drawers or shelves.  Stairs are not only more stable and safe; it will also give you additional storage space.  This is most advisable though for rooms where space is not an issue.

You can incorporate all of these ideas in one loft bed and come up with a bedroom that has complete facilities required by your kids including adequate storage, study area and play area. Although low loft beds are fun for kids, their main purpose is to free up floor space.  Loft beds can have a utilitarian design or revolve around a certain theme.  These beds are not only for kids but for teens as well who just find it fun to have to clamber up a ladder to his sleeping area.  There are adults too who opt to have low loft beds just for the fun of it and most especially when the room's space is limited.

On the other side, what we now call as the modern adult low loft bed is most recommended for lofts and other rooms with low ceilings. Putting in a standard bed of 8"or 9" rise from the floor will result in very small space between the sleeper and the ceiling.  It is guaranteed to give one a feeling of claustrophobia and will make the room look very much smaller. A low loft bed is usually 5" from the floor.  Here are several ideas for achieving a low loft bed:

Idea 1 - Make a platform bed.  This type of bed does not have a typical bed frame.  It is usually a platform built with a wooden or plywood base.  You can put a mattress directly on to the platform which will give you a lot of free space.  Use the platform for pull-out drawers or for storage. This way, you maximize the otherwise empty space under the mattress base.

Idea 2 - Use a trundle bed.  A trundle bed would qualify as a low loft bed. Trundles are low bed frames with mattress and wheels that you can move around the room as you see fit.

Loft beds are here to stay, whatever their design or plans may be.