Double and single bunk beds come in many varieties these days to fit any home or apartment. In fact, many are available online and in stores where furniture is one of the largest expenses. Whether you're looking for double beds for your own room or for use as a rental unit in a vacation home, here are some things to consider.

Instead, of two stacked single bunk beds, single and double bunk beds often have a single bed lofted above a lower twin bed. This creates them perfect for several reasons: for a small apartment or bedroom, you can sleep an entire family of four with parents on the upper bunk and the younger child up top on the lower bunk. If space isn't an issue, consider a loft bunk that's equipped with a desk and chair so that your child can study. If you do choose a loft bunk bed that has a desk and chair included, make sure there is adequate floor area so that the kids don't hurt themselves if they fall off the bed from the chair. A child who's old enough to understand should be able to climb up and down the ladder on their own. If not, a few extra hands on their backs are much appreciated.

Some single bed bunk beds come equipped with a trundle. This allows you to keep one bed open at night, so you can save space during the day while still having two beds available. In some cases, this trundle folds inside the main bed during the day to create more sleeping space for the family. It works great for a couple, although single children may find it a bit awkward and troublesome.

If you'd rather keep things more uniform, there are actually two single beds that can be purchased with this feature. One comes with the trundle, and the other comes with two single beds. These units are identical in look and even feature the same type of ladder. One of these bunk bed sets usually has a built in storage unit underneath the bed.

Of course, some parents like to have three beds available when their children are small. They don't necessarily want to invest in three triple bunk beds, but there are certainly situations where this would be wise. If the children sleep in separate bedrooms, perhaps they won't all share the single bed. Or perhaps there will only be two of them sleeping in a room with three beds.

The safety standards for most bunk beds are based on standard size mattresses. Therefore, a twin-sized mattress is usually a safe choice. If your children get older, the safety standards will change, obviously, but will usually stay on standard sizes. Since you can purchase complete bed sets now with the mattresses already purchased, this is an option if you are looking for the safest bunk beds possible.

Single bunk beds that feature storage options underneath is another style that has become quite popular over the past few years. These units are usually lower in cost than typical full sized bunk beds. The benefit of this style is that one child can have their own desk or bookshelf without having to share it with another. This is an added advantage for younger children who might need a little more space to themselves. However, there are still some single bunk beds that offer only a few drawers, so they won't be as helpful as a more spacious set.

There are also single bunk beds that are called loft beds. The loft bed is high off the floor, like a loft in a house. It is a handy solution for a child who may have issues climbing up into a bed on their own. The advantage of the loft bed is that it does not offer as much storage space, but it is great for use as a toddler bed where you can tuck a sleeping bag away until the child is old enough to move out on their own. Single bunk beds are available in many different styles and finishes, so finding one that will fit with your personal preferences should not be a problem.