Kids Bed Design: Car Beds, Play Beds and Boys Rooms

A kids bed design has to please two judges: the child who wants a race car or a little house, and the parent who wants rounded corners, rails and a frame that will last until the teenage years. This gallery covers theme beds, play beds, boys room beds and cot style beds with sides, all shown in empty rooms so you can focus on the furniture.

Most children's beds use a single mattress, 36 inches wide, or a 30 inch one for very small rooms. A theme bed often grows out of fashion before the child grows out of the size, so many parents pick a plain frame and add the theme with a headboard, bedding and the wall behind.

Two sharing a room? See the bunk bed page. For pastel and canopy looks, open bed design for girls.

Car Design Bed and Bubble Bed Ideas for Kids

Theme beds are what most children ask for. A car design bed for kids or a soft bubble bed design turns bedtime into a game.

Car design bed for kids in glossy red with moulded wheels and low sides — SizeSingle 30 x 72 in
BuildMDF, red gloss duco
StorageUnder-bed drawer
A race car frame with low sides keeps a young sleeper from rolling out. The low height makes climbing in easy.
**Tell your carpenter**Ask for rounded edges all round and a sealed, low odour paint finish before the room is used.

Wood car bed design in natural ply with cutout wheels and a slat base — SizeSingle 36 x 72 in
BuildPly, clear matte coat
StorageNone, slat base
A wooden car bed looks less loud than a gloss one and suits a child who may tire of bright colours soon.
**Tell your carpenter**Sand every cutout smooth and round the wheel edges, since fingers explore every hole.

Bubble bed design with a padded headboard of soft round cushions — SizeSingle 36 x 75 in
BuildPly, pastel fabric
StorageLift-up box
Soft padded circles on the headboard look like bubbles and make a safe spot to lean. Pastel fabric keeps it calm.
**Tell your carpenter**Ask for removable covers on each cushion so they can be washed after spills.

Play Bed Design with Box, Tents and House Frames

A play bed design adds a slide, a tent or a house shaped frame. These work best for younger ones and in rooms with space to move.

Kids room bed design with a house shaped frame around a low floor bed — SizeSingle 36 x 72 in
BuildPine, natural oil
StorageNone, low platform
A house frame around a floor level mattress gives a cosy den with no fall height. Easy for little ones to climb in.
**Tell your carpenter**Keep slats under the mattress for air flow, and check the frame posts are bolted to the base.

Play bed design with box storage and a small slide at one end — SizeSingle 36 x 72 in
BuildPly, white and blue lam.
StorageBox and cubbies
A raised bed with a short slide and box storage below gives play and space in one piece.
**Tell your carpenter**Ask for guard rails on the raised bed and a smooth, rounded slide edge.

Children bed design with a fabric tent canopy over a low wooden bed — SizeSingle 36 x 72 in
BuildRubberwood, white paint
Storage2 foot drawers
A tent canopy makes the bed feel like a camp. The low frame suits younger children and is easy to tuck in.
**Tell your carpenter**Use a light cotton canopy that can be removed and washed, fixed firmly at the top.

Kids Bed Design for Boys Rooms

These bed design for boys ideas lean on navy, grey and wood, with room underneath for cricket kits, shoes and term-end books.

Kids bed design for boys in navy with a shelf headboard and drawers — SizeSingle 36 x 75 in
BuildPly, navy and oak lam.
Storage3 side drawers
Navy laminate hides scuffs and a shelf headboard holds books, a lamp and trophies.
**Tell your carpenter**Ask for soft-close drawers and rounded corners on the headboard shelf.

Double bed design for kids room in grey with a padded headboard — SizeDouble 48 x 75 in
BuildPly, grey fabric
StorageHydraulic lift
A 4 ft bed gives a growing boy room until the teen years, and suits sleepovers with a cousin.
**Tell your carpenter**Pick a lower piston rating for a light lid so the top does not spring up near young hands.

Boys bed design with a black metal frame and wooden rails — SizeSingle 36 x 75 in
BuildMS tube, black powder
StorageNone, open legs
A metal frame suits an older boy who wants a grown up look, and moves easily if the room changes.
**Tell your carpenter**Run a finger over every weld, and get rubber shoes fitted under each foot to spare the tiles.

Baby Bed Design and Cot Beds with Rails

For the youngest sleepers, high sides matter most. See the cot bed page for more cot styles.

Baby bed design with high slatted sides in white painted wood — SizeCot, made to mattress
BuildRubberwood, white paint
StorageUnder-cot drawer
High slatted sides keep the sleeper safe and let parents see in. White paint keeps the nursery bright.
**Tell your carpenter**Buy the cot mattress first so it fits snugly with no gaps at the sides.

Child bed design wood convertible cot that becomes a small bed — SizeCot to small bed
BuildTeak, natural matte PU
StorageNone
One side panel comes off so the cot turns into a small bed later. Good value as the child grows.
**Tell your carpenter**Ask how the side panel removes and that all bolts are hidden or capped.

Low kids bed with side rails and a padded headboard in soft beige — SizeSingle 30 x 72 in
BuildPly, beige fabric
StorageNone, low platform
A low frame with short rails suits the step from cot to bed. Falls are short and the bed still looks neat.
**Tell your carpenter**Keep rails on both long sides and choose a firm mattress that matches the frame size.

Choosing a Kids Bed Design by Age

Stage	Bed type	Mattress
Infant	Cot with high sides	Made to fit the cot
Small child	Low floor bed or cot bed with rails	Single 30 or 36 wide
School age	Theme bed, play bed or bunk	Single 36 x 72
Teen	Single or 4x6 with storage	36 or 48 across, longer 78 if tall

See the single bed page for frames that last into the teen years.

Safety Points for Any Children Bed Room Design

Rounded corners and smooth edges on every part.
Rails on raised or loft beds, and on low beds for small children.
Sealed, low odour finishes, with the room aired before use.
Furniture anchored to the wall if it is tall.
Gas lift lids with a gentle rating so they do not spring up.

What to Tell the Carpenter

Share the mattress size, the child's age and how long you want the bed to last. Ask for MR grade plywood or treated solid wood, rounded edges and a finish sample. If the theme is loud, ask whether the theme panel can be removed later so the base stays useful. A bed with a study table can also be planned as the child grows.

Questions people ask

Which kids bed room design works in a tiny space?

Drawers under a single, or a raised sleeping deck over a study corner, frees floor quickly. Very young ones do well on a floor bed, which keeps sightlines low and the room airy.

Are car beds safe for children?

Car beds are low and have raised sides, which helps prevent rolling out. Choose rounded edges, a sealed finish and a mattress that fits snugly.

Which material is best for children bed design?

Treated solid wood or MR grade plywood with laminate is strong and easy to clean. Avoid sharp metal edges and check that paint is fully dry and aired.

Should I buy a double bed design for kids?

A 4 ft bed suits older children and teens who want space or have sleepovers. For young ones, a single with rails is safer and saves floor.

How long will a kids bed design last?

A plain good frame can last through the teen years. Theme beds may be outgrown sooner in style, so pick a removable theme panel if you can.

What is a bubble bed design?

Shops use the name for a bed whose soft headboard is built from round padded cushions, like a cluster of bubbles. Cosy and soft for leaning, it also takes colour themes well.