BUNK BED

Bunk bed is essentially a two-in-one bed, with one bunk placed above the other and held apart by support struts. The top bed is surrounded by a railing to prevent the sleeper from falling out and accessed by a ladder or steps. 

Bunk beds are popular choices in homes with children as they are space-saver beds.




MAIN COMPONENTS OF A BUNK BED:

  • Support frame: Bunk beds are normally supported by four poles or pillars, one at each corner of the bed. Because of the need for support, the upper bunk is almost always single-person, whereas the lower bunk can either be a single-person or a larger two-person bed. While buying a bunk bed, always check its sturdiness by shaking the upper bed to detect any kind of movement. 
  • Ladder: The top bunk is accessed by a ladder. The ladder should be locked into the bed frame. It is advisable to have a nightlight near the ladder, so that sleepy children can find their way down safely. 
  • Guard rails: The top bunks are equipped with safety rails. In case the guardrails are railings or slats, the gap between should not allow the child’s head or upper body to slip through. 
  • Drawers: Some bunk beds have built-in drawers and shelves. 
  • Curtains: Some models also have a privacy curtain for the lower bunk. 
  • Detachable: Nowadays, bunk beds are designed in such a way that the upper bunk bed is like a separate bed placed on top of the lower bed. This allows it to be detached from the lower bunk when required, for example when the kids grow up.

TYPES OF BUNK BEDS:

Bunk beds are available in many styles and variations from traditional and rustic to contemporary and modern. The economy models are made with metal or softwood frames while the expensive models are made from hardwood and fitted with drawers, shelves, and other accessories. Some of the popular types are:
  • Standard bunk bed: The most common type is the standard bunk bed which has two same-size bunk beds placed one directly over the other.
  • Double bunk bed: In this type the lower bunk is a double bed size that can accomodate 2 people.
  • Futon/couch bunk bed: In a futon bunk, the lower bunk is a Western-style futon  bed which converts into a couch during the daytime. This type of bunk bed is used to save space in small apartments or rooms.
  • L-shaped bunk bed: In an L-shape bunk bed, the bottom bed is oriented at a right angle to the top bed such that when viewed from above, the beds form an ‘L’. This creates a small alcove where a desk or bookshelf can be placed.
  • Loft bunk beds: A loft bunk bed is one that has only the top bunk, creating an open space underneath that can be occupied by a chest, drawers or even a work area. This way the entire vertical space is utilised efficiently. Some loft beds even have stowable/trundle beds while retaining workstations and drawers.
  • Triple Bunk bed: A triple bunk bed has 3 tiers instead of the regular 2 bunks.  A triple L-shaped loft bed is an arrangement involving three beds, where a loft bed is perpendicularly attached to a bunk bed to form an L-shape. Since the top bed is likely to be even higher in this arrangement and a long way to the ground, safety becomes even more important.

ADVANTAGES OF A BUNK BED:

Bunk beds are great space-savers and quite popular because of the advantages mentioned here:
  • Durability:  The bunk bed is durable and can be used by your child from age three through college.
  • Sharing a bedroom:  A bunk bed allows two kids to share a small room without having to sleep in the same bed. 
  • Space-saver:  It frees up valuable floor space for a desk and play area for your child.
  • Resale:  A good quality bunk bed can be sold later and you can get a good resale value for it.
  • Flexibility: Metal bunk beds are more flexible, which makes it easier to change the format of the bedroom.

USAGE OF A BUNK BED:

By using vertical space, a bunk bed allows two people to sleep in the floor space of one. Therefore, it is popular in places where multiple people must sleep in a small space like children's bedrooms, dorms, hostels, prisons and summer holiday accommodation. The following points should be taken into consideration while buying a bunk bed:
  • Safety: Safety is vital when using bunk beds, whether it’s adults or children sleeping in them. As well as the possibility of falling, entrapment is a serious potential risk for kids in bunk beds. For these reasons, the top bunk of a bunk bed is not recommended for children under six years of age.
  • Positioning: The best place for a bunk bed should be in a corner of a room, where the bed will have support from two walls. The top bunk placement of the bed should be done in such a way that an adult should be able to enter and exit the top bunk without hitting the ceiling, ceiling fans, or light fittings.
For information on other beds go to:



PLATFORM BED

A platform bed is a  raised, flat, hard wooden or metal platform on which a mattress is placed. It does not have a box spring and in many cases, no head or foot board. Because there is no box spring, a platform bed is usually very low set. 

A platform bed is a “minimalist” bed, ideal for people who prefer spacious but simple rooms.

COMPONENTS OF A PLATFORM BED:

  • Structure: A Platform bed has a raised, flat, hard, horizontal surface, meant to support just a mattress. The platform is raised on legs or a support structure and does not contain any springs. Usually there are a number of individual slats criss-crossing between the edges of the outer frame. This helps to reduce the weight of the bed and also gives it a small degree of “springiness” that can make it a more comfortable piece of bedroom furniture than you might expect.
  • Material: Platform beds are made from different materials such as wood and metal.
  • Mattress:  A platform bed is often used with a simple high quality futon mattress and for extra comfort, a modern foam mattress can be used. However you should be aware that some mattresses can be used only on a solid plank and a slatted surface might not be acceptable. 
  • Attachments: Some platform beds have additions such as headboards, footboards, canopies, extra flourishes and storage units. The storage area can either be in unison with the bed frame or can have rolling drawers attached to it, supported by castors.

TYPES OF PLATFORM BEDS:

  • Contemporary Platform Bed:  A contemporary platform bed has low features with straight bold lines and colour contrasts that give a dramatic effect to the room as a whole. 
  • Japanese or Asian:  Though platform beds are mostly designed in the European style, some also draw inspiration from the Asian style. For instance, there are beds similar to the traditional Japanese tatami mats.
  • Traditional and Transitional:  For people who are fond of the traditional look, a traditional headboard is incorporated so that the bed looks traditional, yet contemporary. These beds beautifully infuse the traditional and conventional aspect of designing, in a contemporary platform bed.
  • Storage Platform Beds: Though Platform beds are generally low set, beds with storage space underneath the frame are also popular. The storage drawers may be located beneath the side rails or maybe  incorporated into the foot-board of the bed. In other types, beds with a retractable storage headboard offer a deep storage within.

ADVANTAGES OF A PLATFORM BED:

Platform beds are popular for a variety of reasons:
  • Design: The platform bed can be successfully incorporated into a variety of themes,The sleek, minimalist design works well with both a traditional Zen or Japanese theme as well as with a more modern, contemporary look.
  • Light: They are less bulky and therefore often easier to move around than some traditional beds of the same size. 
  • Comfort: It offers the users a comfortable good night’s sleep, without them ending up with back pains or numb muscles in the morning.
  • Stability: The sturdy platform of the platform bed is more stable which means that a platform bed would be more secure to sleep on and will be less likely to collapse, than its counterparts.
  • Do-it-yourself: Platform beds are also popular with ‘do-it yourself’ enthusiasts. Assembling or building a platform bed is not too difficult a project as so many kits and plans are available online.

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