Trundle Beds – Yes or No? Pros and Cons, Tips and Tricks

Trundle beds are beds that have a bed on wheels that fits underneath the regular bed frame. The lower bed can be pushed under the regular bed or pulled out whenever needed, and the lower part of the bed sometimes comes with drawers or extra storage space. Having a trundle bed means having two beds in one; when the lower part of the bed is not in use, the trundle bed will take up the floor space of only one bed. But is a trundle bed right for you – yes or no?

Trundle beds can be a great investment if you need additional sleeping space in your home but don’t want to take up too much floor space with an extra bed. Trundle beds are not suitable if you live in a humid climate or have trouble getting into either a high or low bed; the parent bed of a trundle bed is higher than normal to accommodate the pull-out bed, and the trundle bed is quite low to the ground.

Trundle beds are great if you do not want your room to look too crowded by having two beds. To find out what size trundle bed will best fit your space, take a look at our article What’s the size of a trundle bed for more details.

While the lower part of a trundle bed is usually just a bed on wheels, the style of the upper bed can vary greatly. The upper bed can be a traditional bed with a headboard and footboard, a day bed, a bunk bed, or a canopy bed.

It can be difficult to decide whether a trundle bed is right for you. We will discuss a few pros and cons of trundle beds below to help make your decision easier.

Should I Invest In a Trundle Bed – Yes or No? Pros and Cons of Trundle Beds

You should invest in a trundle bed if you need to save some floor space while providing extra sleeping space for kids or guests. If you’re willing to put some work into assembling a trundle bed, it can be a great investment for your home. You shouldn’t invest in a trundle bed if you don’t want to find a specialized mattress for the lower part of the bed, or if you’re on a tight budget. 

Below, we’ll discuss some additional pros and cons of trundle beds.

Pros of Trundle Beds	Cons of Trundle Beds
Save floor space when not in use because the trundle bed is stored under the main bed	Can be more difficult to assemble than traditional beds
Provide two beds in one	In most cases, the trundle bed needs a specialized mattress
Trundle beds are easy to pull out and push back in	Trundle bed frames are more expensive compared to regular beds
With some types of trundle beds, the trundle bed can be raised to the height of a regular bed (pop up trundle bed)	When not in use, the trundle mattress will not get much ventilation

Be sure to take a look at our related articles, what is a slide-away bed and slide-away bed measurements before deciding to invest in a trundle bed.

When Should You Buy a Trundle Bed? 

A trundle bed can be a great option for many different rooms in your home. Image from Amazon.

You don’t necessarily need a reason to buy a trundle bed – it may just be your personal preference. However, there are some specific situations where having a trundle bed can be a great choice. So, when should you buy a trundle bed?

You should buy a trundle bed when:

• You do not have a guest room at home and you want some extra sleeping space for when guests come over.
• Your kids share a room and you do not want the room to look too crowded by adding an extra bed.
• You simply want to add some style to your room.

When Shouldn’t You Buy a Trundle Bed?

Although trundle beds can be a great choice, there are some reasons that you might prefer an alternative type of bed. But when shouldn’t you buy a trundle bed?

You shouldn’t buy a trundle bed when:

• You live in a humid climate and you have a mattress that requires ventilation. When the trundle bed is pushed in, the mattress receives little to no air. This lack of ventilation can ruin the mattress and will vary depending on the climate you live in and the type of mattress you have. For more information about bacterial growth in mattresses, see this study.
• You do not want to go through the hassle of finding a special mattress size for the lower part of the bed.
• You want a parent bed that is low to the ground. To make room for the trundle bed, the parent bed (upper bed) of a trundle bed has to be relatively high. So, it would be difficult for you to use a low-profile platform bed, as a parent bed (for instance).

What Kinds of Rooms Are Good for Trundle Beds?

Trundle beds can be used in many different rooms, but there are certain rooms that are particularly well-suited for trundle beds. However, this may vary depending on the type of trundle bed you have. But what kinds of rooms are good for trundle beds?

Rooms that are good for trundle beds include guest rooms, kids’ rooms, living rooms, and studio apartments. Some trundle beds come as part of a bunk bed or a loft bed and are more suitable for rooms with high ceilings, while others can be used in any type of room.

Below, we will discuss why certain kinds of rooms are good for trundle beds.

Are Guest Bedrooms perfect for Trundle beds? Yes or No? 

Twin size trundle beds are perfect for a small guest room. Image from Crate and Barrel.

It is a good idea to have a trundle bed in a guest room, especially if your guest room is small. Sometimes you may have to accommodate a number of guests in your home, and having just one extra bed may not be enough. In cases like these, a trundle bed can be very useful. Here’s an affordable trundle bed for your guest room, from Amazon.

Having a trundle bed will allow you to have more sleeping space in your guest room without the bed taking up too much floor space when the lower bed is not in use. This will allow you to keep your guest room looking spacious and aesthetically pleasing during the day.

When choosing a trundle bed for a guest room, you may also want to consider getting a pop-up trundle bed that allows you to raise the trundle bed’s height to the level of the parent bed, making it look like one bed. This will be an especially good idea for your guest room if you regularly have families and couples staying with you. This will also help if your guests suffer from back problems or find it difficult to get up from a bed that’s low to the ground. To read more about how bed height may affect some people’s ability to get up easily, see this study.

Trundle beds in Kids’ Rooms make sleepovers easy

Some bunk beds may have a trundle bed that pulls out from the lower bunk. Image from Amazon.

Trundle beds are great for kids’ rooms, not only because they make it easier for kids to sleep in the same room, but also because kids love trundle beds. Kids love trundle beds because they’re different and have an element of fun to them. Pulling the trundle bed out and pushing it in is fun for kids, and so is sleeping on different levels. 

Apart from these reasons, trundle beds leave more floor space for kids to play while accommodating more than one kid in the same room. If you want to create space for even more kids in the same room, you may also want to consider bunk beds that have a trundle bed that pulls out from the bottom bunk.

Even if you have just one child, trundle beds will still be useful when they have friends sleepover. It will save you the trouble of taking out extra mattresses from your basement or garage because the extra mattress will be stored right under your kid’s bed. A trundle bed may also work out well in a nursery! Take a look at our guide on what the best bed for a parent in a nursery for more information.

Trundle Day Beds are Great for Living Rooms

A modern trundle bed will look great in a living room. Image from Overstock.

If you live in a studio apartment or in a home where you do not have an extra room to use as a guest room, you can still create extra sleeping space for guests by keeping a trundle bed in your living room. If you are worried that keeping a bed in your living room will look unappealing, there are many modern and stylish trundle beds that will look great in a living room or studio apartment. Here’s an example of a trundle daybed from Amazon with great reviews.

When buying a trundle bed for a living room, consider a trundle bed that comes as part of a day bed. Day beds can be used as a sofa during the day, but they have enough sleeping space to be used as a bed at night. If a day bed is also a trundle bed, this will provide even more sleeping space; therefore, you will be able to easily accommodate guests without having to compromise on the aesthetic value of your living room.

You can choose a trundle bed frame where the trundle remains low to the ground, or you can choose one where it can be raised up to the level of the top bed. A trundle bed that comes as part of a daybed will further enhance the beauty of your living room and make it look more stylish. You can also make your trundle bed blend in with your living room. Take a look at our article, How to Make a Trundle Bed Look Like a Couch for more ideas.

Related Articles:

• How to Make a Trundle Bed More Comfortable.
• 15 Trundle Bed Bedroom Ideas for Kids and Adults.
• Need to raise your bed up off the floor? Take a look at our five bed riser alternatives.

Can Trundle Beds Be Used on Carpets?

A gray trundle bed on a matching rug. Image from Overstock.

Trundle beds can be used on carpets. One benefit of using trundle beds on the carpet is that this will help keep the bed in place, even if your bed does not have locking casters that prevent it from sliding if the bed moves.

If you have a carpet underneath your trundle bed, it may be more difficult to pull the trundle bed out or push it in because there will be more resistance. This resistance is the result of friction between the carpet and the bed’s wheels, but this resistance can be overcome. One of the ways you can deal with this resistance is by adding a transparent plastic sheet on top of the carpet in the area where the trundle bed is placed. This will help the trundle bed pull out and push in more smoothly, making it easier to use.

Some trundle beds come with handles that make it easier for you to pull the trundle bed out. If your trundle bed doesn’t come with handles and you are using it on a carpet, you may want to add handles to the frame so that you can easily pull it out. You will also want to make sure that the trundle bed’s wheels are not rusted. If the wheels are rusted, consider using a lubricant or replacing the wheels.

After applying these tips, you should not have any problem with pulling the lower part of the trundle bed out. However, if you still have trouble doing so, you may want to consider installing railings for your wheels. Adding railings will ensure that the lower part of the bed moves smoothly. For more information regarding trundle beds and carpets take a look at our comprehensive guide, Do Trundle Beds Work on Carpet?

If you’re not sold on the idea of trundle beds, maybe a different sort of bed would work for you. Take a look at our article comparing air beds vs. waterbeds to see if one of these may suit you better. Additionally, you may be interested in learning what the seven most popular slide-away bed designs are. This related article might help you choose which design will be best in your home. Be sure to check it out!