apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Vacation Inspiration: Built-in Bunk Beds

We've always loved bunk beds for how they combine function with fun, but built-ins have the potential to be even more functional and more fun than your average bunk. They're a great option for vacation homes, since even after kids grow up, a vacation house is likely to need sleeping space for lots of guests. So as Escapes Month winds to a close, here are a few built-in bunk beds we love and some thoughts about why they work so well...

 
 

FIRST ROW

1 These sweet bunks from Southern Living show how an awkward corner can be transformed into sleeping space for four. We love the idea of customizing each bunk for a different child rather than decorating them all uniformly.

2 Modern built-in bunks from Livingetc have the feel of berths on a spaceship; they're sophisticated without losing their sense of fun.

3 One of the glories of a built-in is that you can customize your storage situation. The closets underneath this built-in bunk (another one from Livingetc) look big enough to store pretty much anything a child might need (including the child herself, maybe for a game of hide and seek!).

4 More customized storage, this one from This Old House... the stairs that lead up to the top bunk each contain a drawer.

5 Understandably, the nautical look is popular for built-in bunks. We love the netting used as safety rails for the top bunks in this room by Steven Gambrel.

SECOND ROW

6, 7, and 8 Built-in bunks are a great solution for sleeping multiples in a vacation home. In such a relaxed context, it's even fun to incorporate them into great rooms and other communal spaces (even hallways!), so the kids can lounge or nap while the grown-ups sip cocktails nearby. All three photos from Coastal Living.

9 Lining a long wall with narrow bunks is a great space-saver. Photo from Traditional Home.

10 Adding curtains to built-in bunks, like these from Decorno, makes them feel like secret nooks and crannies, and creates privacy too.

Tags

beds & mattresses, nursery furniture, vacation, bunk beds, loft beds, guest beds

Share

Comments (4)

oooh! if only my boys' room was big enough for this! they're definitely going to need bunk beds at some point, since we only have one bedroom for the three of them.

posted by pyjammy on July 29th 2009 at 5:20pm
view pyjammy's profile

I love the little wall lamps in #6! They make the space feel special, even though it may be in a hallway.

posted by slipperymarshmallow on July 29th 2009 at 7:47pm
view slipperymarshmallow's profile

WOW!! Any one of these bunks would be a dream come true for any kid! I especially love #1, wouldn't be able to sleep it would be so much fun.

posted by beautymark on July 30th 2009 at 7:32pm
view beautymark's profile

ditto on the sconces in #6. I love the bunks in the hallway idea. This one is going in my design folder!

posted by st@cy on July 31st 2009 at 8:39pm
view st@cy's profile