Back when I was growing up, space was tight. My brother and I shared a barely big room for two beds, but one bunk bed changed everything. That wooden frame became more than just a place to sleep. It was a hideout, a reading cave, and sometimes even a launchpad for pillow fights. We didn’t have much, but that bunk bed made our tiny room feel like a castle.
Now that I’ve got kids of my own (and a bit more experience with tools), I’ve built a few bunk beds over the years — and every one of them had a little something extra. A hidden drawer here, a stairway instead of a ladder, or a playhouse face that makes bedtime feel like an adventure.
This guide walks through a few ideas that worked well for our family. Nothing too fancy — just solid, practical builds that make the most of your space and your weekend.
Why Bother Building One Yourself?
You can size it to your exact space
Add extras like toy storage or reading corners
Save a chunk of change vs. buying retail
Make it safer and sturdier than some prefab stuff
Plus, it’s honestly pretty satisfying to build something your kids will use every day
My first bunk bed project involved a circular saw that wouldn’t cut straight and a borrowed drill that barely held a charge — and it still turned out solid. Don’t overthink it.
Start with the Basics: Sizing
Most bunk beds are built for twin mattresses — that’s 38″ wide by 75″ long.
Here’s what else you’ll want to know:
Top bunk base should sit around 60–66″ from the floor
Leave at least 30″ from the top mattress to the ceiling
Use slats instead of box springs (4–5 spaced out evenly)
Always, always use a guardrail up top
If you’ve got low ceilings, you can drop the bottom bunk closer to the floor or skip it entirely and make the lower space into a desk or fort.
Real Bunk Bed Ideas That We’ve Tried (and Loved)
🛋️ Bottom Bunk Turned Sofa
One of the first bunk builds I did for my nephew had no lower mattress at all. Instead, we tossed in a couple of firm foam back cushions and some bright pillows. Suddenly, it was a hangout spot — perfect for reading, games, or even crashing during movie nights.
If you’re short on floor space, this gives you a place to sit without adding extra furniture.
🪜 Staircase with Built-In Storage
Ladders are fine — until your kid is half-asleep at 2 a.m. and tries to climb down in the dark. So for my niece, I built a stair setup from stacked plywood boxes. Each box worked like a drawer or a cubby, which meant fewer toys all over the floor.
It wasn’t hard. Just measured, cut, stacked, and screwed them together from the inside out. It made the whole setup feel more solid, too.
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