So, you have decided to buy a bunk bed for your room. There are many things to consider before deciding on which bunk bed to purchase. Whether you are looking to accommodate siblings sharing a bedroom, or to free up more floor space for activities, or to add more sleep options for visiting guests, it is important to consider aspects of the room and the desired piece of furniture before making your purchase.
Need help deciding on which bunk bed to go with? Consult our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide!
Once you have made your decision, you can now measure your space to see how your new furniture will look. Here are some tips for making sure your new bunk bed will fit your existing bedroom space.
Before you begin measuring anything, it is important to have in mind the specific product that you are going to place in the room. Go to the product page for the bunk bed or bed frame on the seller’s website and find the exact dimensions of the bed. Make sure you write down the product’s length, width, and height. If the dimensions are unavailable on the website, contact customer service and request the dimensions.
Once you have exact measurements for the bed, find a tape measure and some painter’s tape. Use the tape measure to find the length and width of the bunk bed on the floor and the length and height of the bed on the wall. Place the painter’s tape in these dimensions to outline the space that the future piece of furniture will occupy. Now you can visualize the rectangle of floor space that the bunk bed will take up in the room as well as its height and the amount of wall space taken up. You can also begin to envision the final look and feel of the room with the adjusted floor space.
Be sure to take into consideration your future plans for the room or the occupant. If your bunk bed is for a growing child, be sure that the space will accommodate an increase in mattress size or a switch from bunk bed to loft bed for a teen.
The next step is to make sure that the ceiling is an adequate height to accommodate the bunk bed. Most bunk beds are compatible with a standard bedroom ceiling height of eight feet but it is useful to double check the bunk bed’s product dimensions to ensure that it is not going to be too tall for your room.
Just because the top bunk does not reach the ceiling does not mean that it is a good fit for your child, however. Be sure to consider the size of the child or adult that will be using the bunk bed. It might also be helpful to measure how tall the person is when they are sitting up in bed to make sure that their head will not hit the ceiling. Take into account ceiling fans which will significantly decrease the amount of vertical space available.
The thickness of the mattress will also play a role in the amount of space the sleeper will have, both on the top and bottom bunk. A thicker mattress will reduce the amount of vertical space available for both the top and bottom bunk sleeper to sit up in bed. And there is nothing worse than sleeping in a claustrophobic bunk bed! If you are concerned about the amount of space, you can always opt for a thin mattress. Thin mattresses are several inches thinner than traditional mattresses and come in all the standard mattress sizes. That way, you will save valuable inches and increase head room.
Finally, the space measured with the dimensions of the bunk bed does not represent the total amount of space the bunk bed will occupy. You must also take into consideration the “walk-around” space required for the bunk bed as well as the space needed for the accessories of the bunk bed. This is another important thing to consider when you are measuring your room for a bunk bed and trying to envision its final look. Leaving adequate “walk-around” space includes being able to access the bunk bed, but also means leaving space for doors and ceiling fans to have enough clearance.
Leaving room for bunk bed accessories includes leaving space in front of the bunk bed for climbing the ladder or using a slide, if there is one. Vertical space over the bunk bed for adding bed tents and other decorations. As well as additional space around the bunk bed to access storage, like using drawers or trundles. You might also want to keep in mind using the bunk bed as a loft bed in the future and leaving space to access a desk or couch beneath the bed.
Some bunk beds are “shorty” bunks with limited to no space available between the bottom bunk and the floor. This is useful for a bottom bunk sleeper that may roll off in the night but may limit your storage options if you are used to storing things underneath the bed.
Once you have the measurements laid out and extra space considered, take a walk through the room. Does it feel like it has enough live-in space around the bunk bed? If you are concerned about the size or the fit of the bed, be sure to contact the bunk bed manufacturer for help with determining a better layout. Many bunk beds are modular and can be added to or removed from to fit your space and a custom layout is always an option for particularly tricky rooms.
Rethinking your initial bed placement? Wondering if it is alright to place a bunk bed in front of a window? Don’t worry! Bunk beds placed near windows add an open feel to the bunk bed experience and can actually improve the visual look of the room. Don’t be afraid to play around with unique bunk placements to maximize your space.
Now that you have taken the steps to measure your room for your new bunk bed, you can decide whether this is the right bunk bed for you. If there is anything about the arrangement that you do not like, it is easy to fix now before you add in the actual furniture. If you need help, you can always contact the manufacturer’s bunk bed experts that can help you find the bunk bed you are looking for.