10 Ways to Use the Space Below Your Loft Bed

Having a good and comfortable bed to rest your head on at the end of the day is one of the highest priorities for all of us. Loft beds offer you both comfort and a ton of space. In this article, we discuss all the different things you can do with the space below your loft bed. If you want to know more about loft beds, check out this comprehensive guide on loft beds.

Here are some ways to use the space below your loft bed:

• Keep a desk for an under-bed study and work area
• Hang curtains and store anything you want or maintain a private space
• Have a sofa where you can work on your laptop or with friends
• Place storage drawers or a dresser there
• Hang a hammock for relaxing
• Creating a living cube
• Think differently and consider making a laundry room
• Bring in some workout equipment and make a home gym
• Build some Shelves and Make your Home Library
• Make a Small Area just for Your Pet

There are, without a doubt, a dozen other interesting ways you can use the space below your loft bed. We hope to spark your imagination so you come up with some new ideas.

Related topics:

• Learn to make your loft bed more sturdy
• Learn to make your loft bed ladder safer and more comfortable
• Curious about how much weight a loft bed holds?

Keep a desk under your loft bed for a study and work area

By keeping a desk under your loft bed, you can utilize one room as a home office and bedroom. All you need is a slim desk, some lighting, a chair, and a cabinet to complete your home office and provide yourself some storage while utilizing very little square footage.

Convert the space under your loft bed into a home office by adding a simple desk and chair. Image from Amazon.com.

Hang curtains below the loft bed and store anything you want or maintain a private space

Another practical way to use the extra space beneath your loft bed is to install curtains and convert it into storage or a private room. Try a lofted bed with cabinets, drawers, or shelves underneath it (here are some more storage ideas!). Even if you decide to buy a low loft bed, you’ll have plenty of space to stash books, clothes, and other essentials. Using curtains also makes the space below playful and fun for your child. Note that children under 6 should not sleep on loft beds.

Hanging curtains below the loft bed is also a great idea if you don’t want everyone to see what you are putting in your private space. There’s no reason for anyone else to enter the space below your bed so it’s a good anti-snooping tool :)

By installing curtains you can hide the space below your loft bed. Here, the user has created a small play / lounge space for their child with cushions and mini storage shelves. Image from ana-white.com.

Have a sofa where you can work on your laptop or lounge with friends

Don’t you wish you had some space in your home where you can hide when you feel like it, perhaps browse youtube videos or watch movies on your laptop peacefully, or a space you can share with friends when they come over?

This is exactly what you can create out of your free space underneath the loft bed if you put a sofa and organize it correctly. A simple sofa is a great place to have 1-on-1s with your best friends. If you have teenagers in the house, they’ll enjoy using their loft bed sofa area as a lounge to hang out with their friends.

You can also outfit the space under your loft bed with lots of additional seating and bring in a TV for video games and movies. A small snack station could be set up with a mini-fridge, microwave, and baskets of snacks (great for college loft beds!)

And, one more tip you should remember, a simple lamp and a few books add a touch of personality without overwhelming the small space. Here are some great tips for layering your lighting to make it easy to enjoy your under-loft space. With plenty of books to read, a comfy sofa, and proper lighting, you’ll never want to leave your bed room. 

Here, the decorator has placed a large day bed with trundle under a queen-sized loft bed. This provides plenty of space to lounge and sleep. Notie how even the staircase has drawers that can be used for storage. Image from sofacouchs.

Place storage drawers or a dresser under your loft bed

Many bedrooms in older homes and apartments don’t have ample storage space, and sometimes they have none at all.

You can turn the space underneath your loft bed into a walk-in closet big enough to fit all your stuff. One option is to install closet shelving, mount a rod, and conceal it all behind bold curtains.

Another option is to install some drawers and ensure you have more than enough space for your stuff while also concealing all your items. Wondering about the cost of loft beds? Take a look at our guide.

This loft bed has storage drawers and a desk with a chair underneath. With proper lighting, this can make a great home-office space with plenty of storage within a very small square footage. Image from Wayfair.

Hang a hammock for relaxing and lounging below your loft bed

If you're craving your own slice of serenity, then you might consider adding a hammock underneath your loft bed.

Adding a hammock can create an extra place in your home where you can relax with just the right atmosphere. Minimalism, warm lighting, and cozy accents can all combine to make that space your favorite part of the house. It’s also a great way to provide some space for guests in your college dorm room.

This loft bed has storage drawers and a desk with a chair underneath. With proper lighting, this can make a great home-office space with plenty of storage within a very small square footage. Image from Wayfair.

A simple hammock made of parachute material can provide a durable and relaxing space under your loft bed for yourself and for your friends. Image from Ana-white.

Create a living cube

The living cube consolidates several pieces of furniture into a single multipurpose living space under your loft bed. A classic ladder and loft bed design is combined with a space for your TV, bookshelves, a drop-down desk, closet, wardrobe, set of drawers, and a hidden room inside the box.

This can be quite practical if you live in a smaller apartment, it will definitely give you the impression that there is a lot more space then there actually is. It also provides you plenty of privacy and a space that can be sound-proofed for extra comfort and isolation (for work and play).

Simple and effective. This loft bed has storage space for clothes, a tv, and plenty of other items. It also provides a nice private space for work along with a bed on top that can be accessed via a ladder. Image from Bob-vila.

Think differently and consider making the space under your loft bed into a laundry room

Think outside of the box and turn your loft bed space into a laundry room. This would most likely require additional plumbing and a vent for the dryer. But if your home has a small laundry room or lacks one altogether, this could be an option for you.

It is a bit odd to think of having this loud set of machines in your bed room, but when you have limited space and think creatively, you’ll find it very convenient to sleep, work, and do chores quickly in your loft bed room.

Sleep, eat, work, and do laundry all in the same room! The space below your loft bed can be used to store a washer and dryer. Image from Apartment Therapy.

Bring in some workout equipment and make the space below your loft bed into a home gym

Get in shape by bringing in some workout equipment and making your own home gym. The area below your loft bed can also make a great yoga or meditation space. If you love to dance, cover a wall in full-length mirrors to create your own private dance studio.

This is a very practical way to use the free space under your loft bed.

Hand a pull-up bar and buy some weights that you can store below your loft bed. This makes your bedroom into a practical sleep, exercise, and work space. Image from CollegeInfoGeek.com

Build some shelves below your loft bed and make a library within your room

One of the most creative ways to use space below a loft bed is to turn it into a mini-library. You can easily build some shelves under your loft bed and add some decorative accessories.

If you enjoy reading books in your spare time, there’s no better place for you to keep your books than under the loft bed. Just imagine that every time you go to bed, you can walk next to a library full of books you really love to read, grab one, read in bed, and then go to sleep when you’re tired.

The space below your loft bed can help you organize your library and provide you some great habits that will serve you for years.

Convert the space below your loft bed into a library for your child by adding shelving and a bean bag. This also makes a great play-area which can contain your child’s toys. Alternatively, you can convert the entire space into a bookshelf that you can enjoy. Sleep every night after reading comfortably in bed. Here are instructions from BanjoBradley to make this bed.

Make a small area just for your pet under your loft bed

If you have limited space in your house, the area under your loft bed makes a perfect spot for your pet. It allows your pet to stay close to you while still allowing him/her to feel safe and secure.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Put your pet’s bed under your loft bed – You can put your pet’s bed under your loft bed and you will always be near him or her without all the messy hair or dander making your bed dirty.
2. Keep your pet’s toys below your loft bed – Definitely the best way to keep all your pet’s toys in one place is to put them in ‘’his’’ place. You can even teach your pet to always drop off their toys under your loft bed as a useful trick!
3. Store your other ped essentials under your loft bed - You can store your pet’s crate, kibble, food bowl, leash, toys and more under your loft bed. It’s up to you.
4. Keep a ‘’treat’’ box there to give your pet a bedtime routine – One of the best ways to ensure your pet learns what’s his spot is and knows when to go there is to use positive reinforcement. Every night, go to the light switch under your loft bed, provide a treat, and then go to sleep. This informs your pet that your loft bed is a safe place for resting every night.

Conclusion

You may think that loft beds are only useful in dorm rooms and tiny houses, but in fact, there are plenty of stylish loft bed ideas that maximize the space in any room of your house. Ready to buy a loft bed? Check out our favorite loft beds and bunk beds

Whether you live in a studio and need extra storage space or want that tiny home office to double as a guest room, we’ve gathered loft bed ideas that will help you make the most of your space and add new spots for working, storage, or lounging. You might also enjoy our article on ideas for beds in guest bedrooms.

Take advantage of those high ceilings and create a cozy sleeping area that’s out of the way and on another level-literally.

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