Bunk Beds: Problems and Solutions
Bunk beds are great. Kind of. They solve a lot problems but also create some. We have small bedrooms so they allow us to have multiple beds in a small space. Duh. Our kids sleep situation is a bit of a revolving door. One week they want all want sleep together and the next they wouldn’t dream of it. They also present some logistical issues such as where to put a light or where to put a nightstand and each level of the bunk is a slightly different scenario. So lets break it down.
Problem One: Where to put a night stand.
Usually the platforms are a bit higher or you have a trundle so a typical night stand is awkward or won’t work. Also the pillars of the bunk tend to force your nightstand in the middle of the room. Bed Shelfie to the rescue! I like this one for many reasons. First, it comes in lots of colors so we could match her bed. It has a little cord slot for a phone or a diffuser. Your cord does not shoot away into the Bermuda Triangle when you unplug it. I hate that. The shelf clamps on to the bed and is crazy STURDY. (Tested by my 35-lb two year old that has rolled over is on more than once occasion). No screws needed so you can clamp, unclamp, move it around as much as you want. Side perk- your child only has space for a drink and one or two items. NO MORE bedside hoarding of weird gnomes or other creepy treasures found at the park that day.
I realize the arrow is going the wrong direction. Can’t win ‘em all.
I guess you could use one for the top bunk but I don’t like the idea of it sticking out. So, you still need a place for a drink and book for your top bunkers. This leads me to….
Problem Two: Top Bunk Nightstand
Top bunkers need a little love too and are in a far greater pickle. Ikea makes these wall mounted spice racks. You can paint it any color or leave it natural. Its almost 4 inches deep so it fits a cup, books, pens- whatever your top bunker desires. $4.99 DUN. (these are also great for craft supplies next to a table/desk.).
Problem Three: Lighting
Lighting is tough with bunk beds because the projection of a sconce or the placement of a swing light is awkward and the battery operated ones are only good for occasional use- not every day. It felt like we tried every clip on light on the market. It either would not clamp where we needed it or the power would die too fast. We use a reading light every night.) So for the lower bunk we found this light bar. Here is why I like this particular one. It’s slim so it tucks away out of sight. The on/off switch was on the bar itself so we don’t have to fish around to find it on the cord and we can tuck the cord out of the way. So many weird needs.
Problem 4: Top Bunk Lighting
Gracie primarily sleeps on the lower bunk so I was fine with a wireless solution here. We bought these puck lights and have found SO many uses for them around the house. We’ve use them in our utility closet, nursery reading light, pantry or a poorly lit closet and as a top-bunk reading light. They give off a TON of light for little suckers.
Problem 5: Changing the Sheets on the Top Bunk
This is a pain in the arse and I do not have a great solution. But I will share what we do. My daughter thankfully chose the lower bunk as her everyday bed. We also shower every night before bed (delaying the urgency to clean the sheets) and/or I will often ask siblings or friends to sleep in a sleeping bag on the top bunk. I know. My laziness is suffocating. But it’s my truth.
The Bunk Bed Itself:
When we started looking into bunk beds, I had a lot of concerns. If we were gonna get one, it needed to hit a lot of marks, which I list below. These might vary for you, but good food for thought.
1. Lots of room between bunks. My hubs and I are both tall and we wanted to be able to sit on the lower bunk without needing to see a chiropractor for the next 3 months. BUT, we also have 8-foot ceilings so we didn’t want it to be TOO tall. I feel like Goldielocks already.
2. It needed to be robust and sturdy. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted a deal and cheaper ones are available but they looked so flimsy. This is not an area I wanted to skimp. I also didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars like the ones in the fancy catalogs that come to your house. I won’t mention names.
3. Because I am a commitment phobe… I wanted it to convert to separate twin beds later in case this whole idea was a fail or our needs changed later. Then we could still use one or both beds later for any child.
4. It needed a straight ladder. Not the kind that popped out into the room. We didn’t have the space.
5. A top level with a substantial rail. So many I saw online looked like the mattress was higher than the rail. What’s that about? Mine roll around a ton in their sleep and I didn't want to worry.
6. And lastly, I wanted an option for a trundle with a finished front. All three kids can sleep in one room if they decide they like each other that day.
That’s a lot to ask and this bunk bed had it all.
Upper bunks are only to be used by kids 6 and older. Oddly, my two-year old didn’t read the fine print.
You are probably thinking I’m pretty high maintenance at this point with all my NEEDS. You would be right. I like to keep my laziness in tact. I love hearing about gidgets and gadgets that make life a little smoother, so please share yours. Happy bunking.