Best bed for nearly 12yo?

[SadLampshade]

Hi all,

My DSS lives with us, we’ve been in the process of doing up his bedroom - taking a while as both have full on jobs and an 18mo, too, but we finally seem to be getting there!
The reason I mention that it’s taken us a while is that initially, we were thinking of getting a raised cabin style bed, with desk underneath/cupboards/etc, but just feel that now DSS is nearly 12, this might not be age appropriate?
Other complicating factors are that he is obsessed with trains (he has been referred for an ASD diagnosis) and he wants his bedroom to look like an old style railway station!
He wants ‘friends’ (in inverted commas because we’re not convinced how friendly these friends are) to stay over, so we’re also aware that we want his bedroom to look ‘cool’ and not be a potential point of being bullied.

Phew! Thank you if you’ve read this far!
Any recommendations gratefully received.

[GeorgeTheHamster]

I'd buy an adult bed for a twelve yo

[afromom]

We've just bought a 3/4 size bed for DSD who is 11. She loves it and said she feels more grown up for having a 'double' bed.

[SadLampshade]

Sorry! Meant to say, he has a small double already, but he feels it takes up too much space for his Lego/trains/etc.

[Heratnumber7]

Normal single bed.

Any cabin or bunk bed is a PITA. It's really difficult to change the sheets or to tend to a sick child.

Could you paint the room cream with a brown stripe, and put up lots of posters of old trains or stations, and some old railway style signs?

[SadLampshade]

Yes, herat, that’s exactly what we’re doing, except green/cream like Pickering train station. We’ve got all the signs and fake brick wallpaper, so we’re good to go in that respect, but I think you’re right about the bed.
He’s such a sensitive soul that I want to make sure it’s right when these friends come round!