Every project has a story and this built-in bunk bed project is no exception. My brother-in-law and sister just built a custom home a few doors down from where we live. They have two twin boys who are currently seven years old. Being neighbors is going to mean lots of sleepovers and many walks to their aunt Brooke’s home in the near future.
We’ve had the opportunity to be involved in some of the design choices and projects in their new build. My brother-in-law is a contractor and my sister has great style, but as we know all too well, designing an entire home can be overwhelming.
Henry and I stepped in to help them pick out a few things here and there, design a couple of projects, and get our hands a little dirty doing a few projects. This bunk bed was one of those projects that we were able to take on. This one was pretty special considering I knew this bed would contribute to making lots of memories with my nephews.
After several years of sleeping together, my sister thought it was time for each boy to have their own space and own bed. The twins, Max and Miles, were very excited about designing their own room and each boy got a say in lots of the design decisions including bed choice.
Max chose a very simple big boy bed, but Miles requested a built-in bunk bed. Not just any bunk bed, a green bunk bed with shelves, a desk, and a light. Then he looked at Uncle Henry and asked it if he could build this. You know Uncle Henry didn’t say no!
The Built-in Bunk Bed Plan
As Henry planned and designed the bunk bed, he wanted to make sure and include the few things Miles had requested, and of course a few other things. To start with, Henry knew that both boys would want to sleep together on occasion, so he made the bottom bed full size. This allowed both boys to sleep on the bottom and even have room for a friend on top.
While the boys are getting a little older, it was still important to make the top railing tall enough. Henry made the railing 12 1/2 inches tall to try and avoid any accidents. Like most boys, they can get a little wild!
As Miles requested, Henry made sure to include some shelving. This would give him a place to store books and all kinds of little toys. Another must-have was a few lights around the bed. The ones next to the bed will allow Miles to read at night and not have to get out of bed to turn it on and off.
They will also come in handy for those nights he may just need a little light to go to sleep. Henry placed another light above the desk area. This area will be great as he gets older and starts to have more homework or could even serve as a place to do artwork.
The plan was pretty simple to design, but the added detail is what really makes a simple design stand out. Things like the tongue and groove ceilings, the stained wood elements, and the shiplap are features that make this bunk bed special.
Paint, Stain, and Bedding
As I mentioned above and as you can see from the photos, Miles requested a green bed. After all, it is his favorite color. We chose a shade of green called Oakmoss by Sherwin Williams. This green really makes a statement against the Sherwin Williams Pure White walls. To add a bit of warmth and personality, he used a stain called Aged Oak by Minwax on the ceilings, ladder, railings, and desk.
My sister and Miles picked out the bedding together. It’s a beautiful neutral color that truly fits Miles’ personality. It is comfy and cozy while adding in a little fun with the stripes.
16 Comments
It’s really amazing bunk bed. Can you share where you got the two desk bars? Thank you in advance!
October 28, 2020 at 1:34 pmThanks! We had a local fabricator make them for us.
October 28, 2020 at 1:49 pmGood Morning, could you tell me the overall dimensions of this bunk bed please?
November 1, 2020 at 1:53 pmHi Kelly. The footprint is 90 1/2″ x 58 3/4″ and it’s 8ft tall, but you can adjust the height for taller ceilings.
November 1, 2020 at 3:12 pmHi! I love the bedding too, can you link it please?! My husband just built our son bunk beds and we are on the hunt for the perfect bedding that isn’t too bulky 😊
November 2, 2020 at 2:54 pmCould you tell me at what height you put the lights?? We are putting bunk beds in a room and want lights by them but not sure correct height to put them both??
November 4, 2020 at 4:13 amIve followed yall for a while and i absolutely love you guys!! Question we are building and the columns and tongue & groove on the exterior are already installed and i love the aged oak look accept it comes as a gel im totally clueless on how to go about applying that? Any tips are greatly appreciated!
November 16, 2020 at 3:27 pmLooks awesome! Ballpark on material costs?
November 11, 2020 at 3:21 pmAbout $800 in wood. In the process of completing now!
December 21, 2020 at 1:35 amI absolutely love this bed and it would be perfect for my son who is a animal and nature lover. Any idea of how much it will cost and how to find an amazing carpenter in my local area that will help me build it?
November 20, 2020 at 11:48 amHi, i would really love to replicate this built in bunk bed for my two sons. Is there anything you can share in terms of how you made the frame and dimensions etc?
Unsure whether you may have a video online which is a little more step by step?
Thanks
January 5, 2021 at 11:54 amWe created a printable plan for the bed. There is a link in the article.
January 5, 2021 at 12:32 pmHi Henry,
I just bought the plans for this bed. We have a 9ft ceiling. Do I need to make any adjustments or build exactly as is? I wasn’t sure if I need to order 8ft or 9ft boards. Thank you.
February 9, 2021 at 2:38 pmHi Delena. Thanks for getting out plans. Basically the vertical pieces of the top bunk framing will need to be a foot longer. You should be able to get a foot more out of the current material list. And you’ll need to replace 6 of the 8ft 1x8s with 10ft 1x8s instead. Hope that helps!
February 9, 2021 at 2:49 pmLove the lights, do you have a source for them?
April 5, 2022 at 5:56 pmI love the bed so much! We are planning on building something similar in our new home. But first, we need to replace the carpet and I LOVE the look of your carpet here. Did y’all pick it? If so, I would love to know where you got it.
Love your site! Thanks for sharing.
June 1, 2022 at 2:09 am