A Guide to Statement-Making Bunk Rooms

All bunk rooms designed by CLB Architects. Photo by Tuck Fauntleroy

As we have all experienced this year, optimizing a home’s design has become a necessity. From finding space for a new home office, school work station or even health and wellness amenities, post-pandemic home design will take a whole new approach.

With bedrooms in particular, when presented with limited space, bunk rooms can serve as a functional and stylish option. The bunk room is no stranger to mountain homes, providing practical sleeping arrangements for vacationing families.

But, the bunk room isn’t just for kids anymore. The rooms that architects and interior designers are coming up with are a far cry from the summer camp bunk rooms of the past.

Photo by Matthew Millman

“A bunk room is similar in many ways to a powder room. It provides an opportunity to do something more fun, and push the design further,” says Sarah Kennedy, Associate and lead interior designer at Jackson-based CLB Architects.

From unique wall coverings and ergonomically friendly and playful wall lights to dedicated outlets for phones, tablets and USBs, CLB Architects incorporates fun and functional elements into many mountain home bunk rooms.

“Elegant mountain style can be incorporated, too, through soft furnishings and textures such as bedding, decorative pillows, throws, or rugs,” says Kennedy. “Soft layers and pops of color add warmth to a room.”

Photo by Audrey Hall

Her top piece of advice for homeowners looking to add a bunk room? Go for built-in beds. “Rooms with built-in bunks are efficient, practical, and ergonomically friendly, but they are an investment.,” she says. “Free-standing bunks don’t allow the same opportunities for providing amenities for multiple people and are not as substantial as built-in units.”

5 Tips for Designing a Bunk Room

Photo by Tom Harris

1. Lighting is essential when designing a bunk room. We always ensure access to natural light in addition to providing each occupant with independent reading lighting.

Photo by Matthew Millman

2. Another critical factor to take into consideration is storage. We incorporate space for personal items such as phones, sunglasses and books. Considering that bunk rooms are often used for guests, think about integrating cabinets designed to house an entire suitcase, so the occupant does not need to unpack. If you are only staying for a day or two, you may not want to empty your entire suitcase, so an easily accessible and functional storage space reduces the chance of belongings strewn about the room.

Photo by Tom Harris

3. We put a great deal of thought into bedding and seating. Flexible bedding is essential; throws should not simply be an afterthought or a color accent but enable the user to cozy up without unmaking the entire bed. Including ancillary seating areas provides a space to put on shoes or cozy up with a book without using the bed.

Photo by Matthew Millman

4. Privacy is also crucial. We leave an intentional gap or implement a divider wall between beds so that occupants won’t accidentally bump into each other throughout the night.

Photo by Matthew Millman

5. Lastly, accessibility is also a top priority. It’s important to consider how occupants will access the beds and give careful thought to ladder placement.