Bunk beds: Useful space saver or more hassle than they’re worth?

With an expanding family, space inevitably becomes limited and in order to make room for your impending new arrival, you may decide to invest in bunk beds for your children. On first glance, they’re a great space saver and can create additional floor space with some designs even offering built in storage, but are they as useful as they first appear or simply more hassle than they’re worth? We weigh up the pros and cons here…

Kids love bunk beds
There’s a certain novelty surrounding bunk beds that kids seem to love, and they’re particularly fun for sleepovers and playtime. We’ve all been there, creating ‘dens’ with our friends and telling ghost stories under the covers. Bunk beds are also handy for when other children stay round, as many are now designed with a double bed on the bottom bunk, and a single on the top. You won’t have to worry about squeezing in air beds and sleeping bags on the floor!
They can often be separated
As your children grow up into their teenage years, it’s likely that the novelty of bunk beds will be long gone, and they’ll want a bed of their own. Bunk beds can provide good value for money as many designs can now be separated into two single beds. When the eldest child heads to University or moves out, or perhaps you move into a larger family home and sharing a room is no longer required, you won’t need to purchase any additional single beds.

They create more space
With a growing family, space is more precious than ever, and if the floor is occupied with two single beds then it likely won’t leave sufficient room for activities. Bunk beds can free up space for toy boxes and floor area to give your children adequate room to play, grow and spend time with their siblings and friends. You’ll also find that some bunk beds come with built in storage systems too, which can help to house the never-ending supply of toys!

While this may sound ideal, you should also consider the downsides to owning bunk beds…

They can be dangerous
Sleeping at height is potentially dangerous, and even with safety barriers accidents do happen. Some parents may feel nervous about having their children sleep six feet up, and the injuries that could be associated with this. Even with safety railings to stop them from rolling out, there’s still the chance they could get their foot caught in the ladder or become a little too brave with their jumping…

They can feel claustrophobic
Sleeping close to the ceiling may feel uncomfortable for some children, and bunk beds can feel claustrophobic for the top bunker. There’s also the usual argument of who is sleeping where, which can cause a real headache for mum and dad! The decision of whether to buy bunk beds should include the children as after all, they will be sleeping in them.

They’re often flimsy
Unless you’re splashing serious cash or making your own, bunk beds are often constructed with cheap materials and aren’t the sturdiest of beds. This doesn’t help with any safety concerns, and you may end up buying new beds anyway thanks to overexcited kids and cheap easily-broken bunk beds! It might look like a good investment but the longevity of these beds does need to be considered.

If you’re concerned regarding the safety of bunk beds, but require a space-saving alternative then it might be worth looking into divan style beds from the Divan Beds Centre which offer a great amount of storage space for books, toys and clothing.

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