Make it Modern
This stylish spin on the classic bunk bed is more sculptural, yet sturdy and compact with plenty of room for sleepovers. Graphic bedding in coastal blues and greens gives the space a calming feel. See more of our favorite beachy bunk rooms.
Add Vintage Accents
Vintage nautical flags found at a yard sale add supercharged color to this boys' bunk room in Amagansett, Long Island. The free-standing bunks and red, white, and blue color scheme perfectly suit the family, which designer Jarlath Mellett describes as "cheerful, sporty, and chic."
Begin with White
White paint can cover a multitude of sins, especially in a well-loved beach cottage. Designer Tim Clarke kept the background light to let the California beach views shine in this bungalow. White is also an ideal stage for bright accents, like this punchy pink.
Embrace the Power of Built-ins
A long narrow space on the second floor of this Kennebunkport, Maine, cottage became the perfect place for a row of bunks. Built-in shelves double as headboards, and drawers underneath are perfect for stowing clothes and toys.
Craft a Cottage Look
Blue on white is always a winning combo in a beach house, and this Santa Barbara bunk room marries the two beautifully. A slipcovered sitting chair and beachy striped rug finish the look.
Focus on Fun
From the pretty painted floors to the quilt-inspired throw pillows and boat ladder lead-up to the top bunk, this coastal Massachusetts bunk is nonstop happy.
Create Bunk-like Beds
Bunk-like built-in beds require less space so you can sleep extra guests. The more the merrier! Walls between each bed provide privacy, while porthole windows are perfect for sharing secrets after lights out. Drawers and shelf space below provide storage for each bunk.
Plan for All Ages
This Manhattan family usually decamps to their Jersey Shore house from June to September, making a well-appointed space for children a must. Built-in bunks have rails suitable for the younger members of the family, and the coral, pink, and chartreuse color scheme adds to the youthful feel.
Let it Roll
A spacious Gulf-front house in Seaside, Florida, is a favorite destination for an extended Louisiana family, and this fun and practical bunk room helps accommodate the younger generation. Library-style rolling ladders, fun bedding, and fluffy stuffed animals add the perfect dose of whimsy.
Try a Tropical Scheme
A clever addition to this 1920s cottage—which included this multi-purpose bunk and hang-out room—brought the home's sleeping capacity to 20. The deep bunks and ship lap-covered walls reference sleeping quarters you might find at sea, while the punchy duvet cover and bright pillows recall the lush landscape outside.
Embrace an Unusual Space
In our 2012 Ultimate Beach House in Rosemary Beach, Florida, an angled ceiling ruled out traditional second-level sleeping in the girls' bunk, so two lanes of twin beds embrace the room's horizontal space. Solid custom-crafted beds have simple design details, making them perfect canvases for a pop of bright color, like Pratt & Lambert's Hedgerow Mist. Caged lights and a wallpapered starry sky give the girls' bunk a fun and feminine summer camp vibe.
Use Soothing Hues
In the boys' bunk room in our 2012 Ultimate Beach House, each bunk has a privacy curtain and a sconce controlled by an individual switch so kids can stay up and read or snooze as they please. The top bunks' safety rails double as tracks for ladders that slide along the beds. The gray-beige color scheme is equally suited to a rowdy group of boys or an adult looking for a quiet getaway.
Get in Shipshape
In this bunk room on Galveston Bay, the designers went nautical, with shiplap walls, sconces for easy nighttime reading, and smart storage underneath the lowest bunk.
Go for Seafaring Style
Industrial meets nautical in this Stone Harbor, New Jersey, beach house bunk room. A ladder constructed from plumber’s pipe gives kids access to the top bunk, and metal chains act as decorative supports. The red, white, and blue color palette lends a patriotic vibe.
Get Location Inspiration
Nautical sconces, rope pulls, a signal flag, and red, white, and blue theme give this Cape Cod bunk room a beachy feel.
Call on Color
Beaded board, fun portholes, and built-in drawers make this Stonington, Connecticut, bunk room the perfect place for extended family and guests. Bright bedding adds a fun pop to the room.
Navigate Toward Nautical
The addition of floor-to-ceiling wainscoting transformed this small, closet-like room into charming sleeping quarters.
Find a Focal Point
Custom bunk beds in this Southern California kids' room are topped with comforters in an eye-catching gray stripe. A fun poster and yellow accemts add more visual interest.
Think Big
The best part about beach houses is having space to host plenty of family and friends. The bunk room in our Coronado Showhouse has two queen beds and two full beds, perfect for a full house of fun visitors.
Hang It Up
An oddly positioned closet made furnishing this North Carolina children's room a challenge. So designers Lili O'Brien and Leigh Anne Muse installed four hanging bunks (made of teak, suspended from the ceiling with cable, and bolted to the wall for extra security) that fit perfectly into the unusual space while still providing room for play. The kids access the top bunks via a simple painted hardware store ladder.
