Hey all! Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on lofting beds in dorm rooms? I see the appeal but it also seems like a lot of work and extra money just to get a little extra space. Plus safety concerns, but I guess adding a railing could stop any of those? Just wanna see if anyone has any opinions/advice on whether or not to loft.
It is very common. I believe that the equipment and means for doing it are built until the beds themselves, not something that the students build or figure out on their own (at least it was this way at my kids’ schools). So it shouldn’t be any extra money or effort.
There are safety concerns that yes, a rail addresses; some colleges have rails upon request, third party rails can be bought. There is a huge thread on here somewhere about lofting. The height of the loft (half or all the way up) also determines the risks.
In general, good advice is to see what room you get, check out the size online, and figure out from there if you will want the extra space under your bed or not. You are wise to think of practical and safety concerns.
@TS0104 Thanks for the advice! I was referring more about constructing a loft that’s like a bunk bed but with a desk/couch underneath while I think you’re referring more to bed risers, which you are right about usually being built-in, to create more space underneath. Some of the colleges I’m looking at give you the option to purchase a loft kit from a 3rd party source and you have to construct yourself to set your bed pretty close to the ceiling (not adjustable or multiple height options). Anyways, thanks for the insight.
OK! My kids’ dorm beds were built so that they could be lofted at varying heights, or not at all, including all the way up and then sliding the desk or a couch underneath. Definitely something to check with your college before you buy anything.
My D lofted her bed freshman year but her college made her contract with a 3rd party vendor to loft. Students were not allowed to do it themselves. A bed rail was mandatory. This year she just lifted her bed.
I think lofting totally depends on the size of your dorm room.
Some schools do not allow it, my daughter school did not and it was enforced by the school via the RA
Thanks for the advice everyone!
It seems that this is the standard at some schools and rare at others. Most schools will require you to use their beds or an approved vendor. At our local state college most freshman loft their beds and use the space under for futons, etc. At the school my D attends lofting is possible, though you need to use the materials from the school, but hardly anyone does it. Many raise their beds enough to fit a short dresser and other stuff under but not as high as a loft. Once you decide on a school you might want to see what their policies are are what is typical.