Anyone DIYed a bunk set before?

[Middy]

I've decided I want to keep my guest (craft ) room, so 2 of our children are going to be sharing. Our bedrooms aren't huge so I'd like a bunk set in there. The trouble is, I just don't like the look of anything I have seen within our price range!

Has any one made anything from scratch? I'm thinking a set-up that is actually fitted to the room, rather than a piece of furniture. Like a downscaled version of this:


I don't see us ever moving, so potential buyers aren't a concern. And I figure we'll be up for a repaint when the kids get older anyway, so I'm not too bothered by damage to the room either.

Crazy idea? MDF isn't cheap, but it's definitely going to be cheaper than a nice set of bunks. Surely??

[MumAmber]

Wow that is a fantastic set up, and it looks more like two separate spaces rather than bunks. love the wall lights too. its almost a mezzanine? I guess the main wooden post would make it easier to attach the beds securely and then you only have to figure out how to attach the rest to the wall! I imagine you'd need to be finding studs hopefully at the right height?

[hannah]

Thats pretty fabbo! You should do it! Its a fairly basic form with some decorative trims. You could even do pull out drawers on castors rather than the same as the pic.
I built Maya a playhouse bunkset for her 4th b'day. L shaped with the corner turned into a house with windows and door, very cute and girly rather than uber styley as that one (I'd build her something so different these days!) I did a furniture making course at polytech and used all their tools. I plan to do it again actually as I remember people would stay enrolled just for all the fabulous machinery I love bulding things but since finishing my degree and having Arlo I havent had a chance, I think I'll see if they still run the same night classes. You have to take progress pics though

[Middy]

I think the lighting and the bold coloured wall make that one extra fabulous Our stud isn't as high, but there would still be plenty of room. It makes sense to put it in Sophie's room, but Caleb's (which is next to ours) lends itself to it more in terms of space and lack of obnoxious windows and wardrobes. Maybe The Tinsy One will just live in our WIR for a few years until s/he is old enough to share!

Hannah, DH would love to do a course like that. He is a bit distraught that Step-FIL put his amazing collection of cabinet-making and wood-turning machinery in storage when they moved into their motor home instead of trusting them to him

[Minty]

Wow that is gorgeous Middy! Fabulous idea.

[nicky-noodle]

How would you make the top one? As in make them with sheets etc.

[Miss Shelley]

Love them! there have been some cool ones come up on Pinterest too a little while ago

[inkypinkyponky]

We had a 'loft' built in to our bedroom when we were kids - not fancy but we fought each other to sleep up there! Mum and Dad build some shelves in and put a mattress on a futon base up there - perfect.

Have you seen this site? Might be something here you could adapt. Those bunks in the OP are fabulous.

http://ana-white.com/plancatalog?keys=b ... &style=All

[Claire]

that's way cool. You should totally make that and take photos so I can be tres jealous (like I am of your fort and sandpit and play kitchen.......)

[Rochelle]

We built these ones a year ago for our two. In the end it cost us about the same as buying some ($500 ish) but as you can see with DH up there they are very sturdy! It was the slats that were the expensive bit. We have since put a ladder on and when DD gets bigger will raise the lower bunk off the ground. It was "mama" off here who inspired us with the two sets she built single-handed for her guys

kids' bunks

DSC00219_360x480.jpg (38.75 KiB) Viewed 309 times

[Middy]

http://ana-white.com/plancatalog?keys=b ... &style=All

**gasp** Love that site! I see very little work being done today...

Making the top bunk will be a PITA. But I figure it pretty much always is, right? I figure I'll make it the eldest child's responsibility so I can blame them when it looks like a dog's breakfast

They look great, Rochelle. Is that recycled rimu, or a really lovely stain? I think I'll have to compromise my love affair with timber over this one due to cost.

[inkypinkyponky]

Gee, I wouldn't have wasted hours on that site at all...nope, not me!
Fitted sheet and no top sheet, change the duvet cover when you change the bed for the top bunk I reckon.

[Rochelle]

They look great, Rochelle. Is that recycled rimu, or a really lovely stain? I think I'll have to compromise my love affair with timber over this one due to cost.

Just the cheapest stain we found at Mitre 10. "Redwood" or something.

[Emma]

Gee, I wouldn't have wasted hours on that site at all...nope, not me!
Fitted sheet and no top sheet, change the duvet cover when you change the bed for the top bunk I reckon.

Yep, and I've often thought of making kind of a one piece top and bottom sheet kind of thing - a fitted bottom sheeet with top sheet fitted and attached at the bottom and maybe along one side (hope that makes sense - need coffee )

[Plingie]

To save money on slats you could buy a cheap as bed from Trade Me and reuse the slats