Tips for Building a Bunk Bed
If you grew up with a brother or sister, it’s guaranteed that at some point in time, a fight for who gets the upper bunk was inevitable. Keeping aside the ensuing battle, bunk beds have been the cornerstone for bedrooms for centuries. Bunk beds have drastically evolved over the years and have now become staple bedroom furniture if efficient space utilization is needed.
Nothing is cozier than having a sturdy bunk bed with some comfy blankets. With that being said, different types of bunk beds can be built. Here are 4 popular bunk bed designs and what makes them interesting and space-efficient.
PS:- These can be built on your own. Building a bunk bed is a fun family/friend activity, so we have provided links to instructions on how to build each of the mentioned designs to make the process easier. We have also built and designed the plans for the bed featured here.
Standard Bunk Beds
This is probably the most common of all the different designs. Normal is good and this is the definition of how normal can sometimes be great. The standard bunk bed consists of an upper bunk and a lower bunk (some bunks beds have three levels). These are commonly made with either timber or wood. Furniture shops also sell these bunk beds that have metal frames instead of wood. Metal bunk beds tend to allow more airflow since it is thinner. This works well if there are two kids in the house since it saves the space for a second bed. The bed is comparatively easy to make and can be a DIY with the right materials and tools.
Link to the instructions to build this: https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-and-Strong-2×4-2×6-Bunk-Bed/
Loft Bunk Beds
This takes bunk beds to the next level by making them more space-efficient. Loft bunk beds usually have the upper bunk as the bed while the lower bunk is replaced with either storage compartments, study units or a play area. the lower area is made with enough clearance to prevent any head-knocking while utilizing the space. These tend to look much more modern than the traditional bunk beds and come with added functionality. Such setups are common in households that have a single child and are looking to save on space without compromising on functionality. Some households even have two units of these giving children the luxury of upper bunks for everyone whilst having loads of space underneath.
Link to the instructions to build this: http://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/how-build-loft-bed
Futon Bunk Beds
If you are looking to cut down space usage to the maximum, a futon bunk bed would fit well in the room. These are very similar to the loft bunk beds and fall in a category in between the standard and the loft designs, In such designs, the upper bunk remains the sleeping space but the lower bunk is usually a convertible. Futon beds tend to have a lower bunk bed that doubles as a sofa. This versatility of combining two of the bed units along with a sofa unit into one single unit saves a lot of space. This makes the futon bunk beds a very popular design in modern set-ups.
Link to the instructions to build this: https://www.doityourself.com/stry/building-a-futon-bunk-bed
L-Shaped Bunk Beds
This design has found popularity in recent years and for good reason. L-shaped bunk beds have the bottom bunk and the upper bunk at right angles to each other. This gives extra space on the bottom for shelves or cabinets and other storage spaces. Such a design won’t fit in every room and may not be as common as standard bunk beds but does make for an amazing addition to the bedroom. The irregular design catches any visitor’s eye and the space efficiency value is still existent. Though the design might look complicated, it is very easy to build, provided you have the right tools.
Link to the instructions to build this: https://www.stylisheve.com/stylish-eve-diy-project-l-shaped-loft-bed-two-inspired-ana-white/
There other designs other than the above mentioned. Themed Bunk Beds, Triple Bunk Beds, Novelty Bunk Beds, Loft Bunk Beds, and Study Bunk beds are a few of the other available designs you could choose from, should your heart design. These 4 are the most popular and easiest to make.
With the right instructions and proper research on durable materials, building a bunk bed becomes a simple DIY task.