A loft desk bed is a piece of furniture commonly used in tight rooms such as dorm rooms or small apartments. It features a loft bed, which is a mattress on a frame set high above the ground so a desk can be fit underneath it. The desk is usually an integrated part of the loft desk bed, though in some cases, the desk and the bed may be two separate pieces. A ladder is usually part of the structure to allow a user to climb into and out of the bed.
The materials used to make a loft desk bed can vary. Wood is a common choice because various woods are naturally beautiful, easy to manipulate during construction, and relatively strong. These beds are often commonly made from aluminum or even steel for durability, stability, and aesthetics. The structure must be built properly, as any sway in the frame can lead to injuries, since the user will be sleeping fairly high off the ground. The desk itself is often used as part of the bracing system that keeps the loft desk bed stable during use; the desktop can act as a cross brace along the length of the bed.
The size of the mattress as well as the frame that supports it can vary. The loft desk bed is usually fairly small to accommodate smaller rooms; a twin size mattress is the most common size used on a loft desk bed. Full size mattress models can also be found; queen size loft desk bed models are rare, and king size beds are very hard to come by.
While the advantages of the loft bed with a desk include space savings and convenience, one of the major disadvantages is the need to climb a ladder in order to get into bed. This can be problematic for many people, especially those with injuries or medical conditions that prevent them from climbing. The ladder also adds a safety issue, since users may want to climb out of bed during the night. It can be difficult to get down from the loft bed safely on the ladder, especially with inadequate light in the room. Small children generally should not sleep in such a bed, since young kids may be prone to rolling off the bed and falling to the floor.
