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Consider an extravagant built-in bed, or spruce up your current one with lush curtains.

Loft beds are not only fun to tuck yourself into (that is... if you're not afraid of heights!), but they're also excellent for maximizing your home's square footage. Whether you live in a studio apartment, are furnishing a guest room, or want to create a kid-friendly hideaway, a loft bed can work in a variety of spaces. With that extra room, you can create anything from an at-home office to a living area complete with a loveseat. If you're in need of some expert input on how to bring your dream loft bed to life, we have you covered with designer-approved ideas—from simple additions like lush curtains to exploring built-ins. And if you're living in an actual loft or are considering building one yourself, we have plenty of ideas for those layouts, too.

Whether you use the space under a loft bed as an office or a play zone for kids, consider hanging curtains to close off the space. Not only will they add softness to the room, but they'll hide any mess. The blush pink ones in this bedroom designed by Heidi Callier lighten the mood and offer a pop of color.

In designer Natalie Chong's four-story townhouse loft space in Toronto’s West End, glass walls separate the guest bedroom from the rest of the home while letting natural light in.

If you don't want to go too high with your loft bed and desire more stability, make it a built-in. In this bedroom by designer Vern Yip, a short ladder leads the way to a durable landing and cozy bed. A nearby armchair and side table make an excellent spot for reading.

If you have a big lofted space—like this bedroom by Maltsev Design—consider adding a sleek iron railing and sconces. The railing, of course, will prevent you from walking off of the edge. The sconces are a more sturdy selection than a table or floor lamp that could potentially be knocked over the railing.

A built-in staircase, desk, and cubbies make this lofted bed in a room designed by Nicole Hollis functional and ideal for various age groups.

Designer Stephanie Housley's Wyoming cabin is full of wonderful features, including this incredible wooden staircase complete with a railing that exists along the edge of the loft space it leads to.

Ditch a plain staircase or ladder for a fun spiral one. If your loft space came with a spiral staircase that leads to the bedroom, highlight it with a vintage newel post as HGTV star Alison Victoria did in her new Atlanta loft. She hung white curtains for extra privacy.

For a sleek yet soft touch to a modern loft space, invest in an arched canopy bed like this one in a bedroom designed by Leanne Ford. A large black-and-white piece of art and potted plant add character.

Instead of putting your bed on top of the lofted space, use it for storage. If the ceiling is high enough, consider using it as an office, writing room, or art studio. In a kid's room, you can turn it into an elevated fort as Hao Design did in this bedroom.

Anyone who leans toward a minimalist aesthetic should consider a sparse color palette. Here, the white bedding and book niche over the bed blend in with the white walls for a subdued, cozy atmosphere. Brown wood beams and a railing warm it up.

Give a wooden loft bed a soft touch with upholstered panels on each side of it, like this one available at West Elm. It also has a built-in desk and dresser, making it easy to to give your bedroom a cohesive look.

For moderate elevation, consider a thick bed with storage drawers underneath, like the one in this home by Fitzhugh Karol and Lyndsay Caleo of The Brooklyn Home Company. Use a screen and/or console table to divide your living and sleeping spaces if you're in a studio.

With your loft bed in front of a high or tall window, you'll be able to wake up to refreshing natural light and fall asleep to a night sky full of stars. In this small sleeping nook designed by Leanne Ford, striped linens match the beige-painted walls for a calming atmoshpere.

If your lofted space is snug and you don't like the instability of a freestanding ladder, install a more permanent version. That way, you won't have to worry about the ladder toppling over when you're not on it (and when you're on it!) or storing it when it's not in use.