Thoughts About Using Bunk Beds

Here are some thoughts about using bunk beds in today's more modern and sophisticated world. Actually, the bunk bed hasn't changed all that much in basic design, but it has evolved somewhat in that area, as well as in color and style. Bunk beds have been used for many decades and sometimes go by other names for their styles, such as 'futon beds' or 'loft beds'. No matter how you say it, bunk beds have been a child favorite for a long time.

No-one has nailed it down for certain, but lots of people agree that the bunk bed concept was given to us by the Egyptians. There aren't a lot of hard core facts to back that up, so I guess you can take that one with a grain of salt. But anyway, that's what you hear. No matter where the concept began, one thing for sure is that American children have been enjoying bunk beds for many decades.

In the past a bunk bed was kinda plain and ordinary. But today they've been upgraded to colorful and decorative. They're design and shapes have come a long way since the fifties, and they're made out of more various types of material than they used to be. I guess you can say we've experienced a bunk bed revolution.

You can find bunk beds made out of all sorts of different types of wood. They can be Maple, Walnut, Pine, or Oak. There are many other types of wood used to make them as well, and even different metals. Iron is used to make some of these artistic bedroom enhancers. They sure have come a long way from the old box-like forms of long ago.

One of the most famous arguments among kids with bunk beds, has been about who gets to sleep on top. They love to climb the ladder and roll into their top bunk. Then they lay and talk with whoever gets the bottom until they fall asleep. It's one of the many great memories from a lot of people's childhood that they cherish.

Kids have such active imaginations, that a bunk bed can turn into a sailing ship, or a space ship, or even an airplane. If you have wallpaper with outdoor scenes on it they can be in an army tank rolling out to war. But amidst all the fun and imagination, they should be made aware of bunk bed safety. And as a parent, you need to be sure the bed is sturdy enough to hold your child.

Bars across the top bunk are a must-have. Even if you tell the kids not to jump on the beds, you have no guarantee that they won't. If you have a twin-over-twin bed, then the child will certainly have a quick trip from the bed to the floor if he gets too close to the edge. With a twin-over-queen or king this is less likely, but still has no guarantee.

Having some thoughts about bunk beds before turning your children loose on them can save some heartache. By making sure of the slats and that they can't dislodge easily, you've got a good start on bunk bed safety. Also ensuring that your rails only have about a three inch gap, and that the slats not only can't be dislodged easily, but are sturdy enough to hold your child's weight if jumped on. It pays to be safe rather than sorry.

Annie Deakin is a journalist, fashion and furniture expert and editor at mydeco and is currently very impressed by the great range of dressers, oak coffee tables and office furniture.