8 Space-Saving Loft Bed Ideas for Cramped Quarters

Opening up the chunk of real estate that a bed typically occupies means more square footage for storage, a workstation, or even lounge space There’s plenty of opportunity for DIY customization and creativity. Check out these stellar ways to incorporate a loft bed into your space.

Love a bargain? The STORÅ loft bed, which retails for $299 (available at IKEA), is a versatile wood option that will add utility to any room. The area below can do double-duty as storage and living space with a small clothing rack tucked behind the bed and a couch stationed underneath.

Many bedrooms in older homes and apartments don’t have ample closet space, and sometimes they have none at all. Fear not! You can turn the space underneath the bed into a closet big enough to fit all your stuff as shown here (available at Wayfair). Just install closet shelving, mount a rod, and conceal it all behind bold curtains or sleek doors.

Related: Tested: The Best Blackout Curtains

Suspending a loft from the ceiling rather than supporting it from the floor creates an open and airy feeling, and keeps the space below free of impediments. In the setup shown here (available at Wayfair), the suspended bed can be raised to just about any height needed to suit a space. You could also design a home office area underneath that is perfectly accessible and inviting.

Three beds fit into the space of one in this double loft bed setup. The ladder provides easy access to both beds above, though you could build a more permanent staircase for additional stability—and seating. The dead space underneath the loft beds creates open storage for clothes and shoes, so you can fit everything you need within a few feet of your bed!

While this loft bed design doesn’t afford much headroom, it does maximize the floor space without interrupting the flow of the room. With enough space for some artwork and a mattress, you’ll have everything you really need—with the bonus of being right over the kitchen for late-night snacks! 

This loft bed allows for some serious storage space underneath, from the shelves to the large drawers to the pull-out unit that tucks neatly under the mattress frame (available at Wayfair). If you’re stuck in a small space and aren’t ready to cut down on your stuff, a loft bed and ample storage is a solid option to free up space.

Moody lighting and techie accents combine to create this gaming setup under a loft bed (available at Walmart). A simple desk, dual monitors, and a shelf above provide the necessities for serious gaming without overwhelming the small space.

This sleek, minimal loft bed (available on Amazon) offers an entire little living space underneath. Complete with a TV, area rug, a couple of chairs, a coffee table, and storage shelf, this loft bed idea combines two distinct functions into one.

Related: The Best Area Rugs, Tested and Reviewed