As time passes, the number of products designed to accommodate the priorities of sleepers continues to grow. This has brought to us the evolution of traditional innerspring to recent editions, such as foam and hybrid. Bunk beds and air beds and waterbeds abound as well.
It’s not only mattresses that get boot-ups. Bed frames, foundations, and the like now come in many styles. One that has become a part of modern living is the trundle bed.
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What is a Trundle Bed?
A trundle bed is a low, wheeled bed that is placed under a bigger bed and pulled out when needed. It is not actually a novel concept. But the updates to this functional bed fit the requirements of today’s sleeping spaces.
Let’s dig deeper into what a trundle bed is and how it works in the upcoming sections. Find out where it is most suitable to use and if you can buy one separately or with a larger bed.
How Does a Trundle Bed Work?
Usually, a room features a standard Twin, Double, or Queen bed. The trundle bed is added to expand the space available for sleeping. The low bed itself has rollers attached on one side, one on each corner of that side. In the past, these rollers were also called trundles. The term has since then caught on in the world of beds and mattresses.
The wheels allow for easy pull-out of the bed. Just raise the side without the wheels and let the rest of the bed slide toward you. Typically, the mattress is already placed on top of the frame. But sometimes, when you seldom use the trundle, you still need to fit the mattress into the frame prior to having a kid or a guest sleep on it.
Types of A Trundle Bed
Daybeds
Daybeds have three sides, similar to a couch. Some may confuse them with a bench because of their functional look. However, you can differentiate a daybed by its purpose. You can usually fìnd one in the bedroom, where adults or kids stay at night. It also stands next to the wall, making for a visually appealing layout.
One of the most interesting features of a daybed is the pull-out section. Here, the mattress is thinner than the one above to ensure the low bed is easy to slip in and out of the underside of the daybed. Some models enable you to align the trundle bed with the main bed, though. This requires the same height for the two beds. When placed together, they should now form a bigger bed, such as a Queen or King.
What a daybed is not: a futon or sofa bed. You may use it in the living room to act as a couch during the day. Then you can transform the daybed, alongside the trundle bed, into a guest bed at night.
Bunk Beds
Let’s say you want to transition your small children to the big kid’s bed. For a long time now, bunk beds have served as parents’ go-to option for this kind of transition. They save you space when every inch of your home matters. You can put two kids together in a room and give them some privacy by making one take the lower bunk and the other the upper bunk.
Easily, you can find bunk beds with a trundle bed attached underneath. In some cases, the trundle bed is detached but remains part of the package. The pull-out section costs lower than a standard bed, especially if you are buying it together with the bunk bed. You can reserve/assign the latter to a third child. Or it can be used by your child’s friends during sleepovers.
This combo is often offered in various designs. And the trundle bed is just as nice as the bunk beds, and it’s complementing.
Read: Best Mattress Under $200 Reviews in 2020
Sleigh Beds
Decorative as they are functional, sleigh beds are usually chosen by customers who want to customize the design of their bedrooms. It’s easy to tell when a bed comes in this design. Both headboard and footboard curl out at the edges, looking like a sleigh. Most sleigh beds dedicate the space underneath for storage. But some clear out that space for a trundle bed.
Why will you insert a trundle bed in the underside of a sleigh bed? Well, for one, you may be planning to transition your child from a crib to a big kid’s bed. Trundle bed seems ideal if you want to ease your little one into sleeping by themselves. Having your toddler move from their own bed while staying near you can be reassuring as well.
For another, you may be a growing family who’s squeezing yourselves into a one-bedroom apartment. Everyone gets their space with a sleigh bed-trundle bed combo despite the limits of the place.
Read: How to Transition from Bed to Toddler Bed
Panel Beds
Have you ever seen a headboard that’s so high? It has its own appeal, right? That is the traditional way of using a headboard. While it is not advisable for everyone to shift to a panel bed, it may be the right model for you. Choose it if you like leaning on your headboard while working, watching Netflix, or reading.
Like some of the models mentioned here, panel beds have space underneath that can be filled by a trundle bed. The former may be equipped with one. Or you can buy a standalone trundle for you to slip into the gap between the bed and the floor.
Are panel beds expensive? Not all of them. With around $150, you can already own one. More expensive models can go as high as $500.
Captain Beds
What are captain beds? In a way, they straddle the boundaries of daybeds, bunk beds, and even panel beds. They let these other beds share one common denominator: the provision of storage space. Shelves and drawers are incorporated into the design of captain beds. And they help you maximize space in a small room or apartment.
So, if a captain bed fits drawers into underneath spots, can it still leave room for a trundle bed? By design, yes. A panel bed can have drawers on one side of the under-bed and the trundle bed on another. The catch is that not all captain bed models can accommodate a trundle bed. Plus, they won’t fit the best of both worlds anyway if they’re working in limited spaces.
Who Should Use A Trundle Bed?
- Kids transitioning from crib/toddler bed to a real bed may find the trundle bed less intimidating than, say, a full bed. This option can ease them into the big kid’s bed. And you can keep your children near you, especially when they’re still growing and/or your space is limited.
- People expecting to entertain extended family can make the most out of limited space through using trundle beds. It is relatively easy to set up and pack up. And you can choose detachable trundles to give couples, for instance, some privacy.
- Kids and teenagers may invite their friends over on occasion. When they’re hosting a sleepover, trundles are a handy alternative to sharing a bed or sleeping in the living room. It’s pretty easy to slide in and out of the under-bed, so your child and their friends can also learn a thing or two about responsibility and discipline.
- Managers who want to create a safe space for those who want to take naps during breaks can set up a daybed with a trundle. They can place it in the break room or multipurpose room. It saves you space, especially if you’re renting a limited area. It can serve as a sitting area during daytime and sleeping space at night (if you require overtime from time to time).
Conclusion
It may be unlike standard beds as it doesn’t take center stage. It’s often hidden, tucked away in the dark. But that doesn’t mean it’s useless. In fact, it proves to be a valuable piece of furniture at home or in the office.
So if you’re hesitating to buy a trundle, just go through the checklist of its uses once again. Perhaps the feature or benefit you need will leap right out of the page and speak to you. And you won’t regret getting one when the day to put it to use finally arrives.
If you’re pretty much Team Trundle at this point, let us know which type you’re getting or why you like trundles.
For more information on sleep, mattresses, and accessories, visit phatfusion.net.