All about bunk beds with sofas downstairs

It often happens that in one room we need separate places for sleeping and resting. A sofa cannot be compared to a full bed, and it is not always appropriate for gatherings with guests. Layered furniture easily solves this problem, creating a stylish and interesting interior.

A bunk bed with a sofa downstairs is a modern solution for a city where living rooms often cannot accommodate both pieces of furniture. Such options are very popular for decorating children's rooms, one-room apartments or studios. But there are advantages and disadvantages to any purchase.

Here are the pros of bunk beds.

• Saving space. The obvious and most significant plus. We are accustomed to counting the usable space in square meters, and the purchase of multi-level furniture allows us to use the vertical along with the horizontal. On the same plot of the apartment, you can place not one, but two places for rest.

• Unusual appearance. The two-tier structures are very beautiful. A wide range of finishing materials allows you to create a very different design to your liking. If you are planning a purchase for a child, children usually really enjoy climbing upstairs.

• Budgetary. Combined furniture is often cheaper than two pieces separately. In addition, the structure can hide defects in the walls or beat the niches that already exist in the apartment, which will also save money on repairs.

• Functionality. In addition to the main function, built-in elements can carry additional semantic load. For example, a small wardrobe, a table or a clothes hanger can be included in the design. Convertible models are also very popular. A roll-out sofa or a sofa-book will become another sleeping place, and the side wall can easily turn into a dining area with the help of a folding table top.

• Zoning. You can easily demarcate your space with a bunk bed. Corner models will harmoniously divide the room into left and right parts: for leisure and sleep. If one family member decides to go to the side, the second can calmly continue to read a book or play on a tablet on the couch below, without disturbing loved ones. Especially true for those who have children.

It is worth mentioning the shortcomings of two-tier structures.

• Difficulty cleaning. Such furniture is heavy. When cleaning the floor, you cannot simply move the bed to the side and dust it off. In addition, making your bed at a height can also be quite uncomfortable. A teenager or child is unlikely to cope with such a task on their own.
• Not suitable for everyone. There are categories of people for whom, in principle, it will be difficult to climb to the second floor. Elderly relatives, for example, are less likely to want to sleep upstairs. If you have back or joint problems, lifting will become problematic.
• Difficult to make out. It largely depends on the material of the frame, but common models are difficult to assemble and disassemble. If your job involves moving, or you like frequent rearrangements, a bunk bed with a sofa will be a headache.
• Injury hazard. Small children can be injured by falling from the top tier. Getting used to the presence of tall furniture also most often means filling a couple of bumps in the dark. Pay attention to the design of the stairs so that you do not stumble when you are asleep, standing up for a glass of water.
• Microclimate. Insufficient ventilation in the room can lead to dampness of the mattress and linen on the top floor of the bed. The heat rises to the ceiling, and sleeping from above can be stuffy. Pay attention to the material of the ceiling covering: the whitewash can crumble and spoil your sheets. Provide fresh air for comfortable use of the raised berth.

Bunk beds vary in size and function.

The loft bed is a real joy for a child.

And also for comfort, the headboards are often soft upholstered. In the nursery, natural materials are usually chosen, such as jacquard, matting, tapestry.

The height of the steps of the stairs should be small so that the child can easily go down and up.

The standard sizes of sleeping places for children of different ages are as follows:

• for babies up to 6 years old - from 140 cm in length and 60 cm in width;
• from 6 to 12 years old - 160 cm or more in length and 80 cm in width;
• over 12 years old - from 190 cm long and 80 cm wide.

And also pay attention to the height. There should be enough room between the lower and upper tiers to stand up so as not to bang your forehead against the bar.

For adults, the height of the tier is even more important. If the level of the ceiling does not allow making the structure higher, you can beat the difference with the help of the width. For example, a spacious sofa at the bottom with a voluminous soft back and a narrow bed on the second tier.

A bed with a large sofa downstairs would be a great option for receiving guests. On the ground floor, it will be equally convenient to arrange gatherings with friends, or make a place to sleep during an overnight stay.

An adult is heavier than a child, so pay attention to the material of the crossbars that hold the mattress. The frame must not wobble.

You can use the bed with an ottoman at the same time for the child and the parents. On the top floor, organize a cozy children's area with a place for work or recreation for adults below.

And also multi-level furniture differs in the functionality of the elements.

One of the bearing walls of the upper tier can simultaneously be a wardrobe or a chest of drawers. This gives you extra storage space without wasting space.

The back surface is sometimes replaced with a shelf for books or other items. This will give the bed upstairs a shelf for a charger, lamp or glass of water.

An original and bold solution is a two-level bed inside a voluminous wardrobe.

Another option is to combine a seating area with a work area. You can use a folding table top. If it opens inward, then you can work at the computer while sitting on the couch, and if the table is located outside, then three people will be able to use one piece of furniture at the same time. One is resting upstairs, the second is sitting at the table, and the third is watching TV on the couch.

Place the bed with the sofa next to the window to use the window sill as a work surface. It can be further extended with a table top.

It is convenient to place the computer table at an angle to the resting place in order to beat all the nuances of the room.

Modern sofas are divided according to the type of unfolding. Classic places for leisure do not have any additional functionality, they have a back and a soft seating surface, sometimes armrests.

Models with a draw-out mechanism extend horizontally on special rails and casters.

Versions with a folding mechanism transform the sofa into an ottoman and vice versa.

The so-called "Eurobook" combines both types. Most often sofas with a sliding mechanism of this kind are the largest. The lower part extends forward, and the back unfolds in the manner of a book.

And also bunk beds differ in their arrangement in space.

Classic two-tier designs involve placing two upholstered pieces of furniture vertically, one above the other. At the same time, you can occupy a whole wall by organizing two sleeping places at once upstairs, a sofa with a table or wardrobe will be downstairs.

Most often, you can find models that have a sofa and a bed on both sides of the corner axis. In this case, you get the opportunity to use the space above the sofa as a mezzanine, and the space under the bed for a table or wardrobe.

If you do not plan to constantly use additional elements, they can be made folding. For example, with a folding table top or a pull-out sofa that hides in the main one when not needed.

A soft corner with a bed above one of the halves looks unusual. In this case, the roll-out sofa can turn into a spacious area for children's games or a place for several people to sleep.

When choosing a material, first of all, focus on the maximum weight that the structure should withstand.

The metal base is the strongest and most durable. It does not deform over time, it is able to bear the weight of several adults. The iron bed is not afraid of moisture and fire, it can be assembled and disassembled several times without loss of stability.

The disadvantage of metal is considered to be high weight. Truth, it is due to him that it is possible to use many additional elements at once.

Forged models deserve special attention. Artistic forging allows you to create stunning designs in the spirit of Art Nouveau.

The solid wood frame is one of the most expensive, but also beautiful options. The wood has a unique texture, is easy to paint and is environmentally friendly. The disadvantage is the tendency to dry out near strong heat sources.

The most common material for making furniture today is chipboard. Lamination prevents swelling, the piece of furniture is easy to care for. The variety of colors allows you to fit such a thing into any interior. On top of the chipboard, a thin layer of wood is applied with glue, which provides the complete illusion of using natural wood. Another type of plates is MDF.

The standard dimensions of a double sleeping place are from 140 to 200 centimeters wide and 190-200 centimeters long. But that doesn't mean you can't cheat with a tiered bed. A double bed can be placed along a wall, for example, or at an angle. The lower sofa with a roll-out mechanism will turn into a spacious sleeping place with a slight movement of the hand.

Thus, for the price of single-bed multi-tiered furniture, it will arrange for you a two- or even three-bed place with an area for dining or work without spending extra square meters.

For the decor of the bedroom, calm pastel colors are usually chosen. These colors are soothing and sleep-inducing. If you plan on installing a bunk bed in your living room, it is best to opt for a neutral gray or white. It is easier to combine them in the interior for their intended purpose: both a place for rest and for leisure.

Soft upholstery is often used for design. Usually, this is how the headboard and the side adjacent to the wall are designed. The fabric not only creates coziness, but also allows you to play with texture and color in terms of decor.

The classics are very popular: a sofa and a bed on top of each other. Additional elements are undoubtedly good, but they limit the possibilities for rearranging and changing pieces of furniture at will.

In the end, the best choice would be an individually designed model for your room. So you can take into account the parameters of the room, the necessary functionality and comfort for those who will directly use the furniture.

Pay attention to the height of the tier so as not to bump your head when getting up from the couch. For children, transformer models are best suited, allowing this height to be increased over time.

From a safety point of view, the main thing in a bunk bed is its stability. To correct possible floor defects, you can use adjustable legs, and it will not hurt to additionally fix the structure to the wall if its weight is large.

An important factor is the number of crossbars holding the mattress. The more there are, the less the bed will bend. Everyone is familiar with the options with an iron mesh from childhood, but modern furniture manufacturers almost never use this type. He is not able to withstand a lot of weight, quickly deteriorates and makes noise when driving.

If you already have a sofa, you can simply design the second floor according to the dimensions. Then make sure that the fabric of the upholstery and the colors of the furniture match.

If the room has a window, it is better to choose synthetic fabrics for decoration - velor, flock, artificial leather. They are the least susceptible to fading and also withstand vacuuming and a damp cloth.

If you have pets, go for heavy woven textiles. Jacquard, tapestry, and matting best resist claw hooks and are easy to remove hair from.

It is better to choose a ladder so that the rise is slightly at an angle. This is much more comfortable than climbing straight up.

Usually any furniture comes with assembly instructions, and you can easily do it yourself. Do not deviate from the diagram, and strictly follow the manufacturer's directions.

Traces of self-tapping screws can be easily covered with special furniture stickers.

It is better to start assembling at the place of installation. The final weight of the structure can be large, and it will be an overwhelming task to move it. That's why invite an assistant, because even individual elements can be difficult to lift alone.

Study the flowchart to understand what tools to cook. Most often this is a level, a set of positive and negative screwdrivers, a screwdriver. Sometimes the screw holes are not drilled enough or are missing, and a drill may be needed.

The assembly starts from the bottom, gradually building up the structure up.

Pay attention to the legs of the future bunk bed. In order not to spoil the flooring, it makes sense to stick special pads on them in advance.

You can modify your furniture as you wish. A section with drawers for linen can be hidden in the sofa, and the side wall can turn into a rack.

Consider lighting the space, especially the lower tier. It will be located deep under the bed, and the main light from the chandelier will not be enough. Built-in furniture lamps look interesting. It will be nice to place them on the side, inside the wall of the furniture. It is possible to equip the lower surface of the upper floor with LED lighting. It is economical in terms of electricity, and models with a control unit allow you to adjust the brightness, color and temperature of the glow. The LED strip can serve as the main lighting for the workplace, and play the role of a night light.

The built-in ladder can also have drawers for storage or act as a shelving unit. Place it along the wall and fill it with books or decorative trinkets.

For privacy and space sharing, you can think of a canopy or curtain. So the rest of the household will not interfere with sleeping on the top shelf.

For a children's room, a bunk bed can become a sports area at the same time. Place the wall bars or horizontal bar on the side. It may also have a blackboard with magnets, a dart board, or a height ruler.

For the bedroom, it is important to plan a built-in dressing table or mirror at the end. It will be equally useful to hang a few hooks for clothes or a robe there.

You can decorate the panels with mosaics, photo wallpaper, stucco or a shelf with fresh flowers.

And finally, some beautiful examples of bunk beds:

• laconic and simple bed with a sofa;

• stylish double bed with sofa and stairs with drawers;

• a bed with a ladder, a sofa and a table;

• classic interior with shelving on the back wall;

• corner nursery with a sofa and two berths;

• minimalistic high-tech composition;

• a beautiful bed with a chest of drawers and a hinged bedside shelf.