8 Loft Bed Railing Ideas (And What To Look For)

Sleeping in a loft bed often means sleeping high above the ground.

Suppose you’re the kind of sleeper who tosses and turns throughout the night. Or you regularly start the night on one side of the bed only to wake up on the other the following day.

In that case, you need some sort of safety railing to ensure you stay in bed. What kind of railings you should get depends on the model of loft bed you have (or want), your ceiling height, the size of your room, and of course, your personal preference.

Here are some railing options you might want to consider if you have a loft bed.

1. Glass rails 

If you don’t like the look of railings for whatever reason but still want some sort of guard to make you feel safe at night, you might want to opt for a loft bed with glass rails like this one here. Yes, it’s not quite invisible, but it’s as close to a rail-less-looking bed as it can be. 

2. Box-like rails 

Or maybe you feel the complete opposite and actually like the look of rails, in which case maybe you would prefer a bed with a box-like design.

You could opt for something like this bed here (or here if you prefer metal over wood.)

3. Book shelves guard rails 

Loft bed railings can also serve multiple purpose (which is one of the best reasons for getting a loft bed, in my opinion).

One great use of railings is a bookshelves, like this one here, or this studio apartment loft bed. 

4. Pipe rails 

Maybe you have some spare pipes lying around and you don’t know what to use it for. Well, you can use it to build loft bed stairs, or you can use it to install rails for your loft bed. 

5. Picket fence 

Perhaps you like your railings to be a little bit more decorative. Why not get a loft bed with a picket fence design like this one here.

6. Built-in loft beds 

This one is technically not a railing, but it does serve as some sort of safety guard. If you opt for a box-like loft bed design like this one here, the box-like design offers similar protection to a railing. 

7. Partial railings 

Maybe you don’t want to commit to a full-on railing. Then it might be worth getting a loft bed with a partial railing like this one 

8. Treehouse style 

I know what you’re thinking, treehouse beds are for kids! But as an adult, you actually can do whatever the hell you want, even if ‘society’ (whatever that means) deem it to be childish.

Here’s a sliding-barn, treehouse-style loft bed for inspiration. 

Related: Loft bed ideas for Low Ceilings

What to consider when choosing a railing

Now that you know what kind of railings exists out there for your loft bed, you might be wondering, how do I decide? 

First, be aware that if you’re buying a ready-made loft bed, the railings will likely be included as part of the model. I mean, nothing is stopping you from customizing it, but if you’re not the DIY type, it’s good to bear in mind. 

At the same time, the type of railing that a loft bed comes with should be part of your decision-making process when it comes to buying a loft bed. And that should depend on how you sleep, your loft bed materials, and also the height of your loft bed. 

Suppose your loft bed is particularly high off the ground and you are an aggressive sleeper who tosses and turns. In that case, you probably want something as sturdy as your railing (like a box-type railing), rather than one with gaps. 

Alternatively, you might be clumsy and prone to poking yourself with sharp ends of furniture (me). In that case, a glass railing might not be a good idea (or you might want to get ones with rounded ends rather than rectangular pointy ones). 

Or you live in a studio apartment, and you don’t really like the idea of your bedroom being the same area as your dining table and workspace. Totally get it. Sometimes, compartmentalization is necessary. If this is you, perhaps you might want to go the treehouse route to create a bedroom feel.

What railing works best for your loft bed is going to be different than what railing works best for someone else. Just don’t discount its importance when you’re looking for a loft bed because choosing the right or wrong one can make or break your loft bed experience.