Doubling up: Bunk beds

The bunk bed is bouncing back, propelled in part by the nation's housing crisis: With so many Americans hunkered down in their home and unable to trade up to a larger residence, growing families are making do with tight quarters. Having children share a bedroom, retailers say, is becoming an increasingly common solution.

A spokeswoman for IKEA in Southern California reports that sales of bunk beds have risen 10% in just the last year. Los Angeles-based Nurseryworks, designer of modern children's furniture, reports that its Duet bunk bed has become the firm's No. 1 seller.

Demand also is growing because of the designs: fresh, modern interpretations of an old idea. What follows is a look at some of the more distinctive bunk beds landing on the market.

Argington, designer of modern children's furniture, makes the Uffizi (pictured) with sustainable hardwood, birch plywood and nontoxic glues. The beds take standard twin mattresses.