The Ikea bunk bed is a great way to save space in a small space. A bed in which two sleeping places are placed one above the other is a solution for parents with two children living in a common nursery. One sleeping place in the "attic" allows you to combine personal and work space for a primary school student and even a teenager, increasing the area of the zone for games, creativity and sports activities.
Furniture requirements
A bed with a "second floor" is, first of all, a convenience for its little owner. In it, he should feel comfortable and protected. Therefore, when choosing, always pay attention to the height of the sides. Often they seem high, but when you put the mattress on, their actual height turns out to be 5 cm. In the store, always evaluate this parameter when the mattress is laid on the base. Ideally, if it is 20 cm.
If it is inconvenient for a child to climb onto the second tier, then he will use the structure without much desire. The ladder should have wide rungs that will not cut into the feet and force the child to curl their toes. Ideally, the stairs have steps. When buying, be sure to give your child the opportunity to climb barefoot.
Keep in mind that the child will not be able to make the bed on the second tier on his own. You will have to do this, so choose a bed high enough so that you can tuck the bedspread while standing on the floor or on a small stool.
For a child from 7 years old, the width of the bed should be 80 cm, length 160-170 cm. For teenagers, the width is 90 cm, and the length is 180-190 cm. Children under 6 years old are not allowed to sleep on the second tier for safety reasons.
Models
Midal
This model from Ikea is the frame of two berths. It is made of solid pine, therefore it is safe for allergy sufferers. By default, the bed is not treated with any compounds; some users note poor surface polish, which leads to splinters. Therefore, after the purchase, it will be useful to sand the problem areas and cover the frame yourself with oil, varnish or wax.
The height of the bed is 157 cm, which provides comfortable accommodation for a child and an adult on the upper and lower tier with a standard ceiling height of 2.7 meters. The size of the bed (mattress) is 90x200 cm, and the bed itself is 97x206 cm. There is a limit on the height of the mattress on the bed, it should not exceed 20 cm.
The ladder to the second tier is wooden with narrow slats, which is uncomfortable for the foot during use. If desired, the slats can be turned into steps. The location of the stairs can be changed depending on the layout of the room.
The base for the mattress is lamellar. This means that the load on the bed is distributed evenly over the entire area of the substrate. The second tier will not sag or bend, even if two people play on it.
Some users note the instability of the frame, but exactly the same number of people say that the bed is strong and during several years of operation it was necessary to tighten the fasteners three times.
We can say that "Midal" is a budget option for children's bunk furniture, which, after assembly, will require some processing with a file.
Nordal
This model differs from all other beds of the brand in that it can be easily disassembled from one bunk bed into two regular beds. Two beds are placed on top of each other, connected with fasteners, a ladder is attached to them. Convenience is that with a possible expansion of the area of the room, the beds can be disassembled and put in different places.
The bed is made of solid pine treated with a dark stain. Top covered with hypoallergenic acrylic varnish. You won't have to rub in the irregularities, and you won't be able to change the color. The second tier has a high, but not deaf, 40 cm high barrier (after laying the mattress, its height is 20 cm). The lower tier is not fenced in anything, but a protective barrier can be purchased separately.
The height of the structure is 160 cm, and the sleeping place is 90x200. The frame has galvanized steel strapping.
The ladder to the second tier is comfortable, it is made of thick slats that do not dig into the legs when used. As a standard, the ladder is attached to both the right and left.
The base for the mattress is slatted, damaged lamellas are easy to replace with new ones, they are available on the free sale by the piece in the hypermarket. Additionally, the bed can be equipped with drawers for storage (under the lower tier) and choose a wardrobe to match.
Convolution
This model belongs to metal structures. It is assembled from steel pipes, hollow inside and covered with silver or white epoxy varnish. The bed frame is assembled using the supplied bolts and keys. You can assemble it yourself without specialized tools. During use, it is periodically required to tighten the bolts to prevent the frame from loosening.
The height of the bed is standard for all Ikea bunk structures - 160 cm. The sleeping place has an optimal size for children from 7 years old - 90x200 cm. The upper tier has an increased margin of safety, even an adult overweight man can sleep on it.
The ladder is made of steel tubes with a flat base and is attached to different sides of the bed. The feeling of climbing on it is quite comfortable, in addition, you can stick anti-slip stickers. The disadvantage is the abrasion of the coating on the steps.
The basis for the mattress is a two-piece metal mesh with additional stiffening ribs. Sleeping place - 90x200 cm. If desired, the lower tier can be turned into a sofa for guests, complementing it with pillows.
A feature of this particular model is the ability to supplement the frame with a retractable bed model of the same name in order to obtain three berths. If you need space for toys or bedding, then a storage system is installed under the lower tier.
Tuffing
This is a model with a completely new design and construction, which is suitable for rooms with low ceilings. Its size is lower than that of classic bunk beds and is 130 cm. The low height allows not only an adult to watch the child, but also the child to fill his sleeping place on his own. This height does not in any way affect the comfortable placement of the child on the lower tier, the height between the tiers is 86 cm, which is enough for the child to sit comfortably on the bed while sitting. Reducing the size of the bed allowed a small distance from the floor to the lower berth - 14.6 cm.
The frame is made of powder-coated pigmented steel tubes. The headboard of the lower tier and the sides of the upper tier are made of tightly stretched polyester mesh. The mesh can be removed and washed by hand at 30 degrees.
The ladder is metal, it is located strictly in the middle and does not have the ability to be attached in another place.
Testimonials
Based on most reviews, parents and kids are happy with the beds they bought. But when choosing a sleeping structure, it is worth considering some of the nuances:
Any two-tiered model, no matter what it is made of, requires periodic preventive tightening of bolts in the area of joining parts. Do not wait until the furniture begins to stagger and creak, in this case, the wear of the joints will be greater, and the service life and safety of the structure will decrease. Check the bolts for tightness once a month
Paint from metal beds will fly off over time… The most vulnerable places are the upper surfaces of the steps, the joints of the parts and the legs at the base. In addition, the leg protectors wear out over time and fall into the pipe. Legs can damage the floor
