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Hi collegemom!

Are you or any other parent familiar with loft beds in college dorms? My son and his roommate are talking about this. I have never seen one. Apparently, both beds are off the ground (unlike in a bunk bed situation), freeing up floor space for desks and stuff. I will do some web search on this. Good idea if colleges allow this and if they are stable.

By collegemom--Anon Mom on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 08:37 am: Edit

Yes, we looked into them when my son was going off almost two years ago now. There are at least a couple of companies that make these, and the ones I saw looked sturdy and stable. My son's college had a particular company that they wanted us to deal with, and who would deliver them and set them up. They sent us a brochure during the summer, which also showed various accessories that were available for them.

They are great if the ceilings in the dorm rooms are high enough and/or the student doesn't mind not being able to sit upright on their bed (and if there can be a comfortable chair stowed underneath, that may be OK). We decided against getting one for that reason, though. Instead we settled for "rackraisers" to lift his bed up high enough to get the most possible storage space underneath (clear plastic boxes with pull out drawers and other tub w/lid storage that you can get everywhere, esp. places like Linens 'n Things and Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Walmart, etc.).

Some students build their own loft beds, and I found one set of instructions on the web at http://www.oploftbed.com. If you or your son is handy with some basic tools that could also be the way to go!

By collegemom--Anon Mom on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 08:53 am: Edit

Re loft beds: Here's one company that sells pre-built systems: http://www.universityloft.com/products.htm

For some reason I can't seem to find the other loft bed company that I had checked out once before.

By Roger on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 09:41 am: Edit

I've known students who loved their loft bed setups - they can really create more space in a cramped dorm room. Be sure to check on dorm rules about lofts and/or lifts. I heard of one campus that banned cinderblocks, which many students had used to raise their beds. The problem was that (naturally) students didn't take the blocks with them when they moved out, and the janitors ended up having to dispose of hundreds of the heavy blocks. (Apparently, no entrepreneurial janitor decided to store the blocks and then resell them on move-in day. "Complete bed lift system, delivered to your dorm room... Only $25!")

By collegemom aka Anon Mom on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 01:25 pm: Edit

Cinder blocks -- They damage the floors too, and chew up the carpet, and the beds can fall off them if the legs slide around as kids use their beds...they have lots of drawbacks! They were banned at my son's college.

By amd on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 02:21 pm: Edit

'If you or your son is handy with some basic tools that could also be the way to go!'

Perish the thought, both of us are just writers ;-) [We can analyze Mark the Freudian way and Freud the Markian way but are all thumbs when it comes to lifting a screwdriver.] I once started a wooden swing set but had to hire somebody to finish it. The 'A' frame was on the lawn so long that it burned an 'A' [scarlet letter ? ;-)] on the grass.

By amd on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 02:26 pm: Edit

'We can analyze Mark the Freudian way and Freud the Markian way'

I meant to say Marx - apparently, I can't write either ;-)

By Emptor on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 02:29 pm: Edit

I just saw some plastic bed lifts at Bed, Bath & Beyond, a set of 4 for $15, the ubiquitous $5 off coupon makes them a really good deal.

By collegemom aka Anon Mom on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 04:56 pm: Edit

Bedlifts--as in those cup-like things that get the bed up about six more inches? Those are a great idea when you just need a bit more height under there. It can make all the difference. I also saw some version of those in the "Solutions" catalog. I'm glad they're getting them out into the stores now.

By collegemom aka Anon Mom on Wednesday, May 01, 2002 - 05:02 pm: Edit

amd -- I can't imagine why I am not surprised at your response to the suggestion of building a loft bed yourself! You never seemed to be the type who spends his weekends in his workshop! Funny story about the swing set.

By California Mom (Calmom) on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 12:18 am: Edit

AMD, when I was in college a lot of the kids had loft beds - we just built our own. The kids who were good builders helped out the ones who weren't. The lofts were very well built and sturdy -- it is amazing the talents can be found among freshmen in a dorm. (At least 30+ years ago -- not sure if the current generation is quite as handy.)

This is probably something to wait on, and work out with the roommate. It's one good way of freeing up space, but not everyone likes sleeping so close to the ceiling.

By Dadster on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 10:33 pm: Edit

With as much interest in loft beds as there is, it seems likely that someone must have come out with a kit by now... has anyone seen one of those?

By Lauren Deborah on Monday, July 01, 2002 - 02:49 pm: Edit

http://www.loftworksllc.com has a great kit.

By Dadster on Tuesday, July 02, 2002 - 09:32 pm: Edit

Those look pretty cool, but where the heck to the legs from the bed frame go? Aren't they usually welded on?

By BBB on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 08:21 am: Edit

Yeah, I wondered about that, too... I couldn't see the legs in the pix...

By cam18 on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 04:05 pm: Edit

are there lift kits that raise the bed that is already in the dorm to the loft height?

By MFreds on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 02:07 pm: Edit

Depending on the school, go to www.loftconcepts.com.

By Burton on Saturday, July 20, 2002 - 01:11 am: Edit

http://www.sfloftbed.com/welcome.htm

Check them out, too.........

By ddj609 on Monday, August 19, 2002 - 03:22 am: Edit

You can buy loft bed kit plans for $15 which includes a complete material list and drawings. The materials should only cost around $100 and can be completely assembled in less than 1 hour. The bed frames are 4" X 4" with 2" X 8" bed frames. The bed can hold the weight of 4 people (although I'm sure no parent wants to consider that). The only tools you will need is a HAMMER and ruler.

By Ed Abersfeller on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 10:03 am: Edit

Sorry, Ed. We don't entertain commercial solicitations here on our forum. Post deleted by admin.

By IBaker on Wednesday, September 25, 2002 - 12:05 am: Edit

I'm looking for acceptable lofts for Kent State....any info?

By tchrlindsey on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 11:38 am: Edit

Interesting site. We needed a loftbed for our son and had one built by a manufacturer of OP Loftbed. The cost seemed comparable to others we saw. The selling point was how unusually sturdy and well made it was - well worth the price when you consider how much wear and tear they take. And then we sold it when he was done with it and recouped a lot of our cost. Has anyone had any experience with the metal loftbeds I see advertised? They don't look very sturdy. Thanks

By ashley williams on Wednesday, October 02, 2002 - 08:08 pm: Edit

Hi. Found this site after searching long and hard for just a simple loft for my dorm. My college sells them but they are sold out for the rest of the year and we deperately need two lofts for our room. If anyone can help please email me at a_jeter02@yahoo.com. please remember we are college girls so we can not afford a $300 loft. thanks

By william case on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 - 12:15 am: Edit

IKEA sells a full size loft bed for $199. All metal. I saw one the other day. Quite nice.

By College girl on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 04:30 pm: Edit

Anyone know where I can find the requirements for lofts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln? I've gone to the web page and not found any information on standards. It just says that the University sells them. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

By Jetty Rabeler on Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 06:26 am: Edit

One daughter attended TCU and had the use of a school supplied lofting kit. It was wonderful -- extremely sturdy, stable, safe and comfortable. We liked it so much we ordered the same loft kit for another daughter to use at Syracuse University in New York. Since they, and the friends who also used it, have graduated we now use it, and the extra spring we ordered, at our cabin -- with the extra spring at times it is bunked, and at times it is used as a pair of twin beds, or now they are even moved together as a king bed. We absolutely, completely appreciate the versatility and comfort. As a free-standing loft it is very sturdy and stable, and easy to transport from school to school, and as twins each bed can be raised high off the floor for storage underneath, or be raised or lowered according to what is a comfortable height for any guest. They are extremely simple to use and easy to alter, set up or take down -- within 5 minutes. The company that sells this product is Southwest Contract out of Temple Texas. (They do have sales personnel in other states.) When we bought ours they only were in Texas, and we were in Nebraska, but the safety and stability was totally worth the shipping costs. Because of the stability, the comfort, the clean lines, and the ease of use we are soon going to be purchasing another unit with the extra spring to use as additional twin beds. The website where you can see these beds is www.southwestcontract.com, and their phone number is 866-SWCONTRACT, or 254-742-0061. After seeing so many shakey lofts in the various dorms, and having happily and safely used this unit for seven years (and it is still in great shape), we are very pleased we made this purchase for our daughter's safety.