New ideas for twin beds

Twin beds typically reserved for kids’ bedrooms offer amazing adaptability, making them great choices for a guest room or even a master bedroom.

Upsizing

Twin beds have been a standard in decorating when it comes to housing more than one child in a bedroom. And, while it’s hard to beat their versatility, it’s time to think larger than standard twin size. When children are small, standard twin size beds will fit the bill. But as kids grow into teens -- and into adult sizes -- they may begin to outgrow those small beds. That makes having two full or even queen size beds a terrific twinning option for bedrooms with growing high schoolers or college-age students.

If room allows in the guest room, adding two larger beds is another good choice that allows more than one person per bed. This is great for larger families or for families with a house on the beach or by the lake where extra visitors are common. Of course, the standard twin is always a good choice for both kids’ rooms and guest rooms. If one child moves away, the beds can be pushed together to make a more grown-up king-size bed. The same is true for guests. Pushing the beds together can create a cozy atmosphere for couples and most beds will fit nicely together.

Twin considerations

To put twin beds together to make a king-size bed, you’ll need both twin and king linens. That includes sheets, pillow cases, comforters and dust ruffles. To mask the divide, check online for mattress bridges that fit in between the two mattresses. Sometimes, though, these can create a bump in the middle.

Another option is to add a memory foam mattress topper to put out over the two mattresses. Covered with a mattress protector and a sheet, your guest will likely never notice the separation. It’s also a good idea to check your headboard and footboard styling to ensure that they fit together and don’t rub. Padded headboards make a stylish choice for headboards that are soft, fit together well and won’t mar when placed next to each other.

European twins

In Europe twin beds are often used for both singles and couples. The beds are pushed together and then outfitted separately with a bottom sheet and a duvet with a feather comforter inside. For a continental style and appeal, push twin beds together and add separate duvets and large European square pillows. The bedroom will have a classic, old-world style that will transport guests to a European hotel during their stay. It’s also good for couples who fight over the blanket.

Cost savings

Another advantage of having two twin beds for a guest room is that they may be less expensive than a full king-size mattress and box spring. Often, quality twin bed mattresses can be found on sale because they’re not as popular as a higher quality mattress in a larger size. If possible, consider buying twin extra-long mattresses. The extra five inches in length compared to a standard twin mattress makes extra-long twins more comfortable for both kids and adults.

(For more information, contact Kathryn Weber through her website, www.redlotusletter.com.)

(c) 2018 KATHRYN WEBER. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.