Lofty Ideas, or The Highs and Lows of Bunk Beds
Bunk up! This is a tried-and-tested space-saving idea for kids' rooms when you have more kids than bedrooms
You might often hear others advising, when one is faced with a small room or tight space, “Build upwards!” This suggestion is easily translated into a space-maximising idea in your kids’ bedroom: bunk beds (and don’t forget the storage possibilities!).
Single kid? No problem … the bunk or loft bed offers up more floor space for a play area, a study area or even a short-term visitors’ crash pad. The roundup below isn’t just standard siblings-share-a-room fare … it’s a clutch of ideas to spur your creativity.
Single kid? No problem … the bunk or loft bed offers up more floor space for a play area, a study area or even a short-term visitors’ crash pad. The roundup below isn’t just standard siblings-share-a-room fare … it’s a clutch of ideas to spur your creativity.
Blocks of fun
Note the rail along the edge of the bed base – aside from the safety aspect, the individual bars subtly pick up the colours from the wall mural and the Lego-inspired storage cabinets below the bed.
Designing with Lego
Note the rail along the edge of the bed base – aside from the safety aspect, the individual bars subtly pick up the colours from the wall mural and the Lego-inspired storage cabinets below the bed.
Designing with Lego
Two and a spare
The ceiling-hung bunk and the pull-out in the elevated wooden platform are great ideas for extra bed space when needed.
The ceiling-hung bunk and the pull-out in the elevated wooden platform are great ideas for extra bed space when needed.
Doubling up
Soft pastel shades in this girl’s room could work for a nursery too. Just add a cot to the room. The bottom bed (if you’re custom-making this, consider a pull-out or additional storage) could easily double as a spot for nursing baby.
16 essentials for your baby’s room
Soft pastel shades in this girl’s room could work for a nursery too. Just add a cot to the room. The bottom bed (if you’re custom-making this, consider a pull-out or additional storage) could easily double as a spot for nursing baby.
16 essentials for your baby’s room
Welcome!
Frequent visitors? Make them feel right at home in this bunk bed cluster (storage underneath the bottom beds for spare bedding needs) set at right angles. A whimsical scattering of clouds on the ceiling and bright-and-bold bedsheets are all it needs.
Frequent visitors? Make them feel right at home in this bunk bed cluster (storage underneath the bottom beds for spare bedding needs) set at right angles. A whimsical scattering of clouds on the ceiling and bright-and-bold bedsheets are all it needs.
Think bubblegum pink
A sweet ensemble with built-in storage cubbies and drawers on rollers below the bed. No mess!
A sweet ensemble with built-in storage cubbies and drawers on rollers below the bed. No mess!
Quiet sanctuary
The muted tones of the bed frames and stairs as well as the rug offer a soothing cocoon of a room to rest and recharge.
What colour should you paint your bedroom walls?
The muted tones of the bed frames and stairs as well as the rug offer a soothing cocoon of a room to rest and recharge.
What colour should you paint your bedroom walls?
Sweet dreams
Overcoming bedtime fears is just one of the challenges that you might face with a young child. No worries! Just pop yourself down on the lower bunk and snuggle with your child till she falls asleep. Moving her back to her bunk bed is optional!
This bunk bed set-up is great for overnight guests or short-term visitors too.
Overcoming bedtime fears is just one of the challenges that you might face with a young child. No worries! Just pop yourself down on the lower bunk and snuggle with your child till she falls asleep. Moving her back to her bunk bed is optional!
This bunk bed set-up is great for overnight guests or short-term visitors too.
A fantasy hideaway
For the child who’s fascinated with all things boat and nautical, this is an all-in-one space that lets your child play, take a nap or just chill.
For the child who’s fascinated with all things boat and nautical, this is an all-in-one space that lets your child play, take a nap or just chill.
Simplicity in design
… With a whole lot of storage to keep things neat and tidy.
… With a whole lot of storage to keep things neat and tidy.
Angled right
Not quite a bunk bed idea but it’s a good one if your kids need to share a room. Each gets a colour of his and her choice. It also offers a stop-gap solution for parents trying to squeeze out a year or more till they move and the kids get their own space.
Not quite a bunk bed idea but it’s a good one if your kids need to share a room. Each gets a colour of his and her choice. It also offers a stop-gap solution for parents trying to squeeze out a year or more till they move and the kids get their own space.
Voila!
It’s a neat trick to keep the sleeping area away from the play or study areas, if the room has space for either or both activities.
It’s a neat trick to keep the sleeping area away from the play or study areas, if the room has space for either or both activities.
Wow with colour
Neutral walls make a great backdrop for strong colours.
A smaller bed over a larger one below – a good idea for siblings with a bit of a size difference?
Neutral walls make a great backdrop for strong colours.
A smaller bed over a larger one below – a good idea for siblings with a bit of a size difference?
As you like
Instead of the seat with storage below, you could easily swap it for a trundle (pull-out) bed and other modular storage options. This is a design that enables the space below to evolve with your kids’ needs as they grow.
Instead of the seat with storage below, you could easily swap it for a trundle (pull-out) bed and other modular storage options. This is a design that enables the space below to evolve with your kids’ needs as they grow.
Plain vanilla
That doesn’t mean it’s boring. Warmed up by the mid-toned wood flooring, this light-filled room is a restful space for kids, after a long day at school.
That doesn’t mean it’s boring. Warmed up by the mid-toned wood flooring, this light-filled room is a restful space for kids, after a long day at school.
The more the merrier
A side seat that goes the extra mile as a reading nook or space to lay out school projects.
Browse kids’ room furniture
A side seat that goes the extra mile as a reading nook or space to lay out school projects.
Browse kids’ room furniture
Hide and seek
Offset bold primary colors with crisp white. Large Swiss cheese-inspired panels act as bed rails and hide the sleeping area from the rest of the room that has been configured into a study and play room.
Offset bold primary colors with crisp white. Large Swiss cheese-inspired panels act as bed rails and hide the sleeping area from the rest of the room that has been configured into a study and play room.
All in one
Simple lines run from the bed to the study desktop, built-in shelves and cubby holes. Bed rail on the top bunk protects your child from accidental falls … and cleverly corrals the stuff he stashes up there!
Simple lines run from the bed to the study desktop, built-in shelves and cubby holes. Bed rail on the top bunk protects your child from accidental falls … and cleverly corrals the stuff he stashes up there!
Singing the blues
The dash of colour from the whimsical gathering of pom poms and paper lamp/light shades on the ceiling will surely chase the blues away!
The dash of colour from the whimsical gathering of pom poms and paper lamp/light shades on the ceiling will surely chase the blues away!
Go subtle with pastel
And let the accessories speak out instead. Note the lower bed – resting on the floor, it’s just the perfect height for very young kids who aren’t too keen on heights (or tend to roll off the bed), yet want to sleep in a bunk bed arrangement.
TELL US
Do you have a bunk bed set-up for your kids? Or do you have other ideas to share? Post a photo or two in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse Designs of Kids’ Rooms
Great Bedroom Ideas That Will Grow With Your Kids
And let the accessories speak out instead. Note the lower bed – resting on the floor, it’s just the perfect height for very young kids who aren’t too keen on heights (or tend to roll off the bed), yet want to sleep in a bunk bed arrangement.
TELL US
Do you have a bunk bed set-up for your kids? Or do you have other ideas to share? Post a photo or two in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse Designs of Kids’ Rooms
Great Bedroom Ideas That Will Grow With Your Kids
This all-white affair gets a lift from the red sofa below the bunk bed – a cosy spot to read or take a nap? Cleverly designed stairs that lead up to the bunk bed has storage for spare bedding or linen. The sliver of light on the top edge of each of the steps is a cool touch – a night light option for kids who prefer not to sleep in the dark.