I'm in the process of building a full-size loft bed with a desk underneath and I need some advice on the right height. I'm 5'7" and my ceiling is 8'10" high. My mattress is 10 inches thick. I feel a bit claustrophobic, so I want to get the clearances right for both sleeping and sitting, especially since I tend to play a lot of video games and want to ensure the desk is comfortable for long sessions. Any guidance on how high to set the bed for both sitting and sleeping comfortably?
3 Answers
You’ve got 50 inches from your sitting height to the ceiling, so let’s break it down: you need space for your mattress (10 inches), and for you sitting up (let's say at least 33.5 inches based on your height). That leaves you with about 6.5 inches left to play around with—good to have some adjustment space! Also, if you’re creative with materials, you might find ways to optimize that height a bit more. Mocking it up with some cardboard to see what it feels like could help, especially with your claustrophobia in mind.
When it comes to loft beds, clearance is really a personal choice. From my experience, a minimum of 5'8" is a good start—this way, you can at least stand and walk underneath. I’d recommend measuring how high you sit when you're in a chair; in your case, it seems you’re about 56 inches tall sitting. Given that, I’d suggest having about 11-12 inches above your head when you're sitting in bed, just to give you room to breathe if you wake up startled. Just keep in mind your preference for headroom when sitting up too!
From what I remember building setups like this, always leave at least a foot above your sitting height. In your case, with your desk area, aiming for around 60 inches or more clearance would allow for some comfort. Plus, heat rises—so keep in mind that it can get warm nestled up near the ceiling.
That's a great point! I might give that a try. Better to test it out before building.