Underbed Storage/ Trundle Bed

Updated on April 24, 2015
F.B. asks from Kew Gardens, NY
16 answers

Mamas & Papas-

time we move from the toddlerbed to the twin (we are probably overdue). we'll be buying from ikea, and are toying between one which allows a trundle bed, or one which allows for underbed storage, or just a bed. which did you choose? why? if it's the trundle or the underbed storage, is it actually seeing regular use?

we live in a 950sq ft apt, which is spacious by NY standards. DS's room is about 9x10.

thanks a bunch,
F. B.

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Featured Answers

S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Living in a small space I think a loft bed with dresser and desk underneath would be the best space saver.

3 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

Hmmm. Is his room ever used for guests?? If not, I'd go with the underbed storage option. We had bunkbeds at one point for friends spending the night etc. NEVER used it. They always wanted to sleep on the floor with sleeping bags near the TV, food, ping pong table (the entertainment stuff). Think the storage would be a better use of space.

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A.G.

answers from Dallas on

We chose a captain's bed (underbed storage) and have an air mattress for times when friends spend the night. It works well for us.

We bought it for my oldest who is now 17 and passed it down to our youngest who is now 11. We love having the storage!

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

My sister had IKEA trundled in her spare room/doubles as office. Great for her.

So I purchased a trundle from Costco on a deal thinking that it would be great for sleepovers and guests.

What I've found is it is a pain to pull it out. Heavy, and we have to move nightstand every time (light, etc.) and make room for it. You have to walk on the trundle to get to the bed.

So our kids grab the LL Bean pop up cot (love it - like sleeping in a hammock) and that's what they use instead. Before that it was a mattress pad. Way easier to roll out and let it inflate in 3 minutes.

So for me, it wasn't the best choice.

If you have the room, and can pull it out easily, and don't need storage - maybe.

My child would have preferred the storage.

Hope that helps!

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

the trundle option is great if you will ever really use it. But If you don't think you will use it I would opt for one that has a drawer that pulls out. My grandson has a trundle that has a drawer that pulls out. It has never had a mattress in it lol but has had multiple legos, toys, clothing etc. depending on what was needed at the time. its nice to be able to shove all the toys in and shut the drawer.

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

We did a twin bed and later our son upgraded to a double bed, which increased the underbid storage.

Our neighbors did trundle beds and swear by them, but they always had a lot of visiting company, between relatives and sleepovers for the kids. If relatives came, they got one kid's room with the trundle (forming a king sized bed out of 2 twins), and that kid moved in with her sister in the other trundle.

Both our houses had good sized rooms with a good closet in each one.

You have a smallish space, so if you don't have a lot of company, I'd go for the storage. That can mean storage drawers that are part of the unit itself, of a regular bed and some purchased plastic storage bins made for that purpose (if you do the latter, get the clear bins so you can see what's in there!). That leaves more floor space for your child to play with a friend or to spread out something like a puzzle. Good closet organization helps too - we did a double closet rod (with lesser-used stuff on top) and some open shelving/bins in there as well.

If your kid has an occasional sleepover, you can put an inflatable air mattress in there or just let them use sleeping bags on the floor. For occasional company, you can figure something out with a borrowed rollaway bed, a rental, or a hotel.

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J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

The first big girl bed my daughter had was a low loft bed. She had a very small room and it was nice to keep all the toys under it (she would also hang a blanket and make a fort). Here is a link to a similar one to what we had. Once we moved to FL we gave it to her cousin.

It's not as high as a regular loft bed and we used a foam mattress so that it was well below the railings (no way to roll off).

http://www.sears.com/canwood-whistler-junior-loft-bed-che...

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

The question to ask is: do you NEED a trundle bed? If it would really be just to have, then I would go with the storage. If it is to have for future possibilities, you could go with the bed with the trundle drawer, and put baskets inside for storage. Then later change it to an actual bed. I have used drawers for storage and split them up using cloth bins I got from IKEA. My kids would take them out when using and then put them back. Opens up the floor for play. On the other hand, if you will never use the trundle piece as a bed, then I would get the split drawer so your little one only had to open one drawer to get his things. Makes it easier for little arms to reach.

And when you get the bed, make sure you have awesome wood glue to put together. All furniture I got from IKEA put together including wood glue has held up great. And my kids are rough.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

we did bunkbeds, which obviously you don't need. i think one with drawers under the bed would be terrific in a small-ish city apartment.
khairete
S.

T.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

we are looking at storage drawer beds. we need the extra storage for the toys they play with

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

Unless you have a big need for a trundle, get the underbed storage and an air mattress.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I love the idea of a trundle bed or a bed with drawers under it for storage. I love the idea of having a place out of sight to store toys and stuff.

⊱.⊰.

answers from unknown city on

My boys both had captains beds (with 4 large drawers for clothes storage) and I love them. It's nice not having to have a dresser taking up space in their room. When my oldest got too big for his and needed a standard bed and we lost the twin with storage it was a bummer losing the drawers.
Do you need a trundle? Do you plan to have a lot of sleepovers where you need an extra bed? If so, it would come in pretty handy.

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

From what you describe and for your space, I would opt for storage.

We have 2 trundle beds upstairs and they were used a lot when our daughter (now 20) was growing up.

When daughter moved into her condo in 2013, she took one of the trundle bed sets for her guest room and it has worked well.

We currently have 1 trundle left and we've got each bed set up in different rooms upstairs.

That said, we have no issue with storage space so the trundle worked well but

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Storage and extra everyday play space vs. an occasional guest.....seems like a no-brainer to me.

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K.F.

answers from New York on

When my son was little I opted for the storage. He didn't get a dresser until we got him a loft bed and did away with his old bed because we needed more floor space.

A trundle is particularly nice if you have lots of lots of overnight visitors. Our guests perferred sleeping bags and the spare bed.

Which ever you choose will be just fine.

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