We all remember what a train wreck the entire year of 2020 was, right? So for Christmas, I wanted to do something extra special for my littles. Amelia had just turned 4 and Hendrix was about to turn 3.
I decided to give them a bedroom makeover. In my true fashion, I made this judgement call about a month before Christmas. With the holiday coming in hot and my Etsy sales at an all-time high, I had to get my butt in gear.
I decided to convert the playroom into their new bedroom. Their old bedroom would later become my home office (hehe! More to come, but check out the gallery for photos).
I started by giving the room a fresh coat of paint. My go-to color is Pure White by Sherwin Williams. I used eggshell sheen so I can wipe the walls easily.
Then, the BIG surprise:
a BUNK BED.
I followed these incredible plans by Cherished Bliss for my inspiration!
My kiddos love sharing a room, but our bedrooms are small! Building this bunk bed was one of the best decisions I’ve made for their space. I adore the industrial pipes Cherished Bliss used for her build, but her kiddos are a bit older than mine. Those pipes are also fairly pricey! So I modified my plans a bit: I used all wood, added a staircase, and added a few more braces up top to keep the wild ones contained.
TOOLS I USED:
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Lumber (given in perfect detail on Cherished Bliss’ website!)
2-1/2” Wood Screws (star drive, flat head = game changer)
Here we go:
The first thing I did was make my cuts as described in Cherished Bliss’ plans.
I have a Dewalt planer that I ran all of my boards through. However, this step is not needed. Planers are expensive and unnecessary unless you plan to do a lot of big projects. You can just use a random orbital sander. Which I still did, lol. I wanted to make sure the boards were as smooth and splinter-free as possible.
Next up, I added pocket holes where Cherished Bliss’ plans indicate, and then sanded everything down.
I chose to paint before assembly. I laid every board down in my garage and hand rolled them (2 coats)! I used the color Mined Coal by Behr (just like the inspo) in flat sheen. I gave it one coat of polyurethane after assembly.
Once everything was painted, I took the boards inside and got started on the staircase.
Tools I used:
Materials:
(2) 2’ x 4’ sheets of ¾” plywood
(1) 2x4x8 cut down to (7) 12” pieces
Scrap ½” plywood
Scrap ¼” plywood
I started by laying out a 2’ x 4’ sheet of ¾” plywood. I used an L-square ruler to mark the lines for the stairs. I made the top (aka “run”) of each stair 6” deep and the rise of each stair 12” high. These dimensions were custom for this build so the stairs did not stick out any further than the bunk bed and went to a perfect height to climb onto the top bunk. Modify as needed!
Once my lines were marked, I used a jig saw to cut on my outline.
I then set this cut out on top of my other 2’ x 4’ sheet of ¾” plywood and traced my steps. Repeat the same process with the jigsaw.
Next, I cut (7) 12” long pieces of 2×4 and used these to connect the two sides of the staircase. I added these on the bottom front, bottom back, and top back. Then I added one across the front of each step.
Next I cut down some scraps of ½” plywood to cover the run of each stair. I attached these pieces using wood glue and 1-1/4” wood screws.
I used some scrap ¼” plywood to cover the rise of each stair. I attached these pieces using wood glue and 1-1/4” brad nails.
I did use a round over bit in my handheld router to round the edges of each stair. This is an added safety benefit, but you could just use a random orbital sander to soften the edges if you do not own a router.
Now that the stairs were finished, I gave them two coats of paint and one coat of poly too!
I assembled the headboard and footboard just as directed in Cherished Bliss’ plans. I did use wood glue and 2-1/2” pocket hole screws for assembly.
I used 1-1/4” wood screws to attach the Rockler Bed Rails to the long braces. I used 2-1/2” wood screws to attach the Rockler Bed Rails to the 4×4 bed frame posts.
I also used 2-1/2” wood screws to screw through the inside of the staircase into the 4×4 bed frame post. This ensured the stair case and bunk bed are secure and don’t have any kind of wobble effect.
Once the bed was assembled, I added the 1×4 support slats. I used 1-1/4” wood screws (no wood glue) to attach the slats directly into the 2×2 support.
Note: I added two more 2×4’s running length-wise across the top-front as added safety since I opted not to do the industrial pipes. I wrapped some twinkle lights around the bed and viola!
This bunk bed has survived nearly one year of toddler abuse and still looks good as new. Everything has held up great and the kids are so proud that their mama built it for them. Anyone who comes over HAS to go see their bunk bed! I love sharing those special memories with these babes.🥺
Remember: I did this entire room makeover in about one week, all by myself. If I can do it, you absolutely can do it too. I encourage you to pick up that power tool, and make those memories!
I want to hear about any projects you tackle for your littles. Let me know what you are planning in the comments below!
Disclaimer: DIY and working with tools have inherent risks. The projects presented on this website are meant for inspiration only, as the conditions, materials and tools on your own project will vary. Always follow the manufactures’ instructions provided with your tools and abide by local building codes. Noble Dizzigns will not assume any liability for any damages, losses or injury sustained in the course of your own project.
