By Marica

For many families the option of a separate bedroom for each child is a rare luxury. Homes are getting smaller, budgets are getting tighter. Even here in South Africa most of the newly built homes have tiny bedrooms. This means we most likely have to stuff two or more siblings in one room.

Sharing a room is not easy.

Organizing a shared room for two siblings can be quite challenging. Not only do you have to accommodate two personalities in one room but also the belongings of children that probably have vastly different interests. The last thing you want is kids stumbling over stuff in a too crowded room.

Bunk beds are amazing space savers. To quote the movie Step Brothers, it really opens up some much-needed floor space to do “SO many activities” (language warning).

To me though, bunk beds can often come across as a little tacky – a big clunky wooden / metal frame taking up half the room. I feel bunk beds should either be tastefully nondescript or otherwise a cool and unique feature. I found some images of really awesome bunk bed rooms which I will share below.

I also saw brilliant examples of rooms with loft beds – that is where the bed is on top with a desk or activity space below. Another interesting concept is that of multi-bunk rooms – rooms that contain four or more beds – I can only assume these are for vacation homes or really large families. I think we should have additional posts about these in the not so distant future.

10 Awesome Bunk Bed Rooms:

What little boy wouldn’t adore this “lumberjack” themed bunk bed room. The L-shaped positioning of the beds allow for additional space below for a reading nook. Even though the beds have cool contemporary lines, the wood has been treated with vinegar to give it a more aged look – love the texture. By the way,  if you want to make this bed yourself, you can follow the image link above for DIY instructions (it’s got plans and everything)!

The staggered design of this built-in bunk bed creates a sense of space. I’m sure the kid occupying the bottom bunk feels less crowded. And, I bet you that bottom bunk contains an additional pull-out trundle bed…

This tiny bedroom would never have been able to fit two beds, however the addition of a second platform bed above solves the space problem. I love the chunky wooden ladder that serves as a textured contrast against the white bed. This little boys’ room has a slight beachy / nautical feel.

Another staggered bunk bed setup. This tasteful bunk bed room could easily serve the needs of two teenage girls. It also has quite a bit of built-in storage which we know is a must in shared rooms.

This is so cute – a house-shaped bunk bed with a cubby-hole for each child. The drawer steps, while allowing for adorable storage, are perfect for younger kids and toddlers that might have difficulty climbing a ladder.

Gosh, I love this suspended rope bunk beds. I think it’s the coolest thing! The wooden bed platforms hangs from the walls with thick rope which are threaded through metal hooks. Each bed is also bolted into the wall for extra support. I’m also nuts about the grey and yellow colour scheme.

Want something a little more rugged? The these bunk beds are for you! The bed frame is made out of hollow steel pipe and matching cast fittings and joints. This bed would be perfect for a rocking Industrial-styled boys bedroom.

Now here is something you don’t see everyday – a bunk bed with a deep-buttoned (tufted) upholstered headboard and foot-end. Talk about luxurious! If you are creating a feminine and elegant girl’s bedroom fit for a French princess then this bunk bed is just what your little girl’s room is missing.

This bunk bed would not look amiss in a teenage bedroom – it will even do as adult sleeping space in the guest bedroom of a vacation home or beach house. The nondescript white painted bed frame and ladder fades into the white wall creating the illusion of space and light. The pops of bright blue in the décor accessories makes for a beautiful and fresh contrast.

Here’s an interesting idea. If you are tight on space with no possibility of a separate nursery for baby or toddler, bunk them in with their big brother or sister. In this image the bottom bunk of the bunk bed has been removed to make room for a cot. When baby is old enough remove the crib and replace it with a bed.