What Is a Platform Loft?

Platform Beds

• Platform beds are low to the floor with a mattress resting on a platform or slats instead of a box spring. These beds may have drawers built into the bottom of the platform, providing additional storage in a smaller bedroom. Platform beds have a simple design that creates a neat and tidy appearance in the bedroom.

Loft Beds

• Loft beds raise the sleeping area up off the floor toward the ceiling. The bed works well in smaller bedrooms with very little floor space. The beds use only enough floor space for the supports and ladder to climb into the sleeping area. The design works well in dorm rooms and small bedrooms because of the saved floor space beneath the bed. Extra furnishings such as a desk or sitting area can fit neatly underneath the loft bed.

Interior Design Styles

• Platform beds and loft beds work well in contemporary or modern interior designs. The low profile of the platform bed works well in the minimalist style of an Asian-themed bedroom as well. Using a loft bed in a child's room allows for additional living space for him in the bedroom.

Benefits

• Platform and loft beds have a neat appearance and can use space in the home efficiently. Beds with additional storage built in can help keep a room cleaner. The additional space the loft bed creates provides children with a work area for schoolwork or a place to watch television and spend time with friends. Traditional beds with a headboard and footboard can cause a smaller bedroom to seem cluttered and overstuffed with furniture. The contemporary look of a platform bed can create the appearance of space in a smaller room.