Cabin beds are fun, practical and can transform your child’s bedroom. Because cabin beds are so versatile, there’s a style to suit every family, every child, every sized room and every budget. With so many bed types, styles and configurations available, here are the key points to consider before choosing your perfect cabin bed in 2021.
What is a cabin bed?
Cabin beds are single beds of normal to a slightly elevated height. They usually incorporate storage underneath the sleeping platform or integrated items of furniture such as a desk, cupboard or small wardrobe.
Some cabin beds will have a couple of steps up to the sleeping level but not all. By and large, this depends on the height of the bed.
Cabin beds differ from a mid or high sleeper (although they are different, they do get classed in the same category). These types of bed are taller in height and will incorporate a ladder or staircase up to a raised sleeping area.
Why choose a cabin bed?
When your cot has already been turned into a cot bed, or the toddler who sleeps in a toddler bed finds their feet dangling over the end, it’s time to consider a bigger bed.
Cabin beds are perfect for the child who is getting bigger, who is amassing more and more toys and clothes, and needs room to store their stuff without taking up additional floor space.
Cabin beds are also ideal for the smaller child who would love the idea of sleeping a little higher up but who might not be ready to clamber into a midsleeper or bunk bed.
What age is appropriate for a cabin bed?
The beauty of the cabin bed is that it’s appropriate for almost all children aged four and upwards.
That alone stands them out from beds which are higher. Bunk beds and mid/high sleepers are only recommended for kids who are six and above. And because cabin beds are so versatile, with so many sizes and designs to choose from, they can last children right through to their teens and beyond.
<h2>How much weight will a cabin bed hold? </h2>
Each cabin bed differs in its specifications, but generally, you’ll find that most come with a maximum weight of 100 kg – that’s over 15 stone.
For added stability, it is recommended that any bed which is more than 60 cm in height is secured to the wall to prevent it toppling over.
What size mattress should I choose for our cabin bed?
The manufacturer will recommend the size of mattress most suitable for the cabin bed they sell.
You will find that product listings tend to specify either a standard UK mattress (60 cm x 190 cm) or a European size mattress (60 cm x 200 cm).
The other important factor is to choose the right mattress thickness. Because the bed is raised, the mattress cannot exceed a recommended height which you will also find on the manufacturer’s specifications.
UK or European-sized fitted sheets and duvets will fit standard dimension cabin beds.
What’s new in cabin beds for 2021?
We all spent a lot more time at home during 2020 – kids and adults alike. School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic meant children did much of their learning at the dining table or from makeshift bedroom desks.
While it was a challenge at the time, perhaps there were positives. Your young person may well have become accustomed to home learning with knock-on effects for their future approach to homework.
So, there has been an upsurge in demand for unique and clever configurations of bedroom furniture. A cabin bed with a desk incorporated is certainly one example, with suppliers even selling out as parents sought to future-proof the bedroom-cum-study arrangements for children.
