Why should you get a bunk bed?

Most modern families find themselves having difficulty storing things in their children's rooms. Our modern materialistic culture has led to an increasing amount of 'stuff' being bought, and you then have to find somewhere to put it. children are now gathering huge amounts of nice tings, that are quite simply getting to be too much to easily store. Modern, particularly American, homes are larger then ever before, and the families occupying them much smaller then in the past, and yet somehow we still take up too much space. At least in the past, kids had a limited selection of toys available, and so we could usually find somewhere to put them. I don't mean long ago, either. As recently as one or two generations ago there were far fewer toys for children to buy. Just think back to your own childhood. How much did you actually have, then? The solution to the problem is to figure out a way to neatly store everything. We, the adults, have a responsibility to explain to children how to tidy their rooms. We can't just say clean it up, and then leave it for them to do. So we have to figure out somewhere to put all their things.

The way to solve this problem is, of course, to find some unusual storage methods. Think outside the box, as it were. Now you may not have considered this, but simply replacing the bed can provide a great deal of relief. If you swap out the standard twin bed for a loft bed, or even a bunk bed, you'll find you immediately have a whole lot more space to play with. It's hardly original, yet bunk beds have become surprisingly uncommon recently and still offer a great way to reduce overcrowding.

If you are bothered by the safety aspects of stacking beds on top of each other, then let me reassure you that modern bunk beds are far safer already then they ever were before. New designs are constantly invented, and government regulations ensure that the beds made adhere to the highest safety standards. If that isn't convincing enough, then let me offer a bit of personal evidence. I have six children, myself, all of whom sleep in bunk beds and yet I've never had a single accident. Well, at least not any bunk bed related accidents. Kids will be kids.

If you're still with me, then lets take another look at the problem of finding storage space. Almost any bed has extra storage space under it, which you may or may not already be using. Generally speaking, the average children's bed has some 20 cubic feet of space beneath it. That's as large as a small closet. The best way to make use of this space is not simply to stuff things in there willy-nilly, although of course you could do that, but rather to buy a set of storage drawers. Take of the lids you won't need them under the bed) and try to get some with wheels, if you can, for easier access. So take a tape measure, find the exact dimensions of your under bed space, and then head down to your local Wal-Mart and buy a pile of boxes. This is the easiest way to use the space, and the best solution if you don't have time to do anything in more detail. If you do, on the other hand, then I would suggest you go take a look at http://www.bunkbedsunlimited.com/. They have some good articles on how to make the best use of this space.

If you are in need of more space then is provided by the standard bed, you may want to put some thought into alternatives, such as a loft bed. A standard loft bed will easily give you enough space to fit a variety of other items, such as a dresser, a table or desk, some other piece of furniture, or just a big chest of drawers. A loft bed is a great helping a crowded room. You'll be amazed at the space you save.

Let's take a typical kids room with two twin beds, two chests and toys everywhere. With a bunk bed you can put both beds in the footprint now occupied by one twin bed and neatly tuck away 20 cubic feet of toys in storage drawers beneath the lower bunk. The toys are not out of reach. If your storage boxes have wheels, the kids can pull them out easily and they now have a place for their things.

Besides these reasons, there is something else you might want to think about. That is, what your kids want. Every child wants to sleep in bunk beds, as the thought of sleeping high (relatively) above the ground is just plain exciting. After all, every child loves to climb, and a bunk bed makes sleeping an adventure.

If you are considering buying a bunk bed or loft bed, I would recommend that you not buy the very cheapest thing that you can find. The cheap ones often do not hold up long with the rough use kids put them through. If cost is an issue, or you just want to build something nice as a family project, something durable that lasts, consider http://www.bunkbedsunlimited.com/. They have some great designs, easy to follow plans and great prices on hardware kits for the do-it-yourself person. You can also just look for ideas there. They even have a nice triple bunk bed plan that is very easy to build.

Finally, when trying to solve the eternal puzzle of tidying a child's room, you should start by just standing in the doorway and trying to picture how it would look tidied up. Put a plan together, figure out where everything can be put away, and then go on and get it set up. Think about getting a bunk bed, a loft bed, or a trundle bed, and incorporate this into your plan. Of course, if in the end you still can't fit everything neatly away, then your just going to have to clear some of it out. But that's a tale for another time.

Article Source: http://mylilpeanut.com

Patrick Oakley is a professional carpenter with expertise in creating furniture that makes efficient use of space. To this end, has recently begun providing bunk beds and loft beds online.

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