The Strangest Design Request This Designer Is Getting More of Every Day (You Can’t Guess It)

Cleverly styled and designed bunk beds bring a playful whimsy to a room—and they aren’t just made for kids anymore. Many homeowners are now asking designers for bunks that accommodate visiting family and friends so that everyone can stay together in one room.

Oftentimes, these bunk beds are colorful and fun, but they also include all the sleepover necessities, from built-in storage drawers and cozy reading nooks to brilliant lighting and custom bedding and pillows galore.

To find out more about this growing trend, we chatted with interior designer Megan Gorelick to get the lowdown on what her clients are requesting and how she styles the perfect bunk bedroom meant for adults.

Why Adults Are Buying Bunk Beds All of a Sudden

Designers who work on second homes, homes of empty nesters prepping for eventual grandkids, and houses conveniently located in prime vacation spots, tend to get requests for adult-size bunk rooms.

“Practically, bunk rooms can house multiple people in one space,” says Gorelick.

But she and her team make these bunk rooms fun, creative, and interesting, all while being practical for families. For example, Gorelick recently completed a project she posted on Tik Tok; this particular bunk room for an older couple who wanted a Barbie pink and white bunk room for their daughter in her mid-twenties. She styled the room to grow with the girl in every stage of life.

“At this moment, the bunk beds provide space to invite all her girlfriends to visit and stay over in comfort. Then, should she get married and have kids, the room can function as a ‘family sleeping room’ where the parents and kids can all stay together in one space,” Gorelick says.

Eventually, the room can turn into an all kids bunk room—enjoyed by all the homeowners’ grandkids, their friends, extended family, and more.

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What’s the Difference Between Kids’ and Adults’ Bunk Beds?

One of the key differentiators between adult and kid bunks is bedding choice.

“We can change the entire vibe of a room with bedding. That means color, pattern, and texture,” Gorelick says.

Because these bunk rooms are often located in vacation homes, she can play with the location or interests of the homeowners. She might, for instance, select bedding that fits a nautical theme if the house is a cottage located shoreside. But a change of bedding can also update the bunk beds for the next generation.

“If the bunk beds are for little kids, we love to make bunk rooms whimsical with patterns of fish, bugs, or animals on the pillows,” Gorelick says. “When it is for an adult, we treat the bedding like we would any other bedroom.”

With adult bedding, she focuses on mature color palettes, textures, and ditches any animal prints. For bunk guest rooms located in houses set in coveted vacation spots, she keeps these spaces neutral, so these bunk beds can be enjoyed by guests of all ages.

Gorelick also considers the materials and colors of the adult bunk beds she chooses; she says most of these tend to be white oak, with a little bit of added texture from tambour wood if needed. The result feels clean, sophisticated, and cozy without resembling something you might find in a child’s bedroom.

How to Style Adult Bunk Beds to Make Them Chic

Determining the right bedding, pillows, and mattress is top of Gorelick’s list. Bunk beds, like those from sleepaway camp or dorm rooms, have a reputation of being uncomfortable, resulting in sore backs and muscles.

“Which is why we don’t compromise on good linens, a great mattress, and supportive pillows, so a good night’s sleep can be had,” she says.

But the best design is always about the details, Gorelick says. She leans into this idea when creating adult bunk rooms, paying close attention to high-quality artwork in the room and how best to use bedside tables, nightstands, and other pieces of furniture so that everything feels cohesive and intentional.

4 Tips for Designing Adult Bunk Beds

Here are Gorelick’s top pieces of advice for designing a room of bunkbeds for adults.

• Be discerning in your bedding color, texture, and pattern choices. “You want to create a look and mood that feels like any other adult bedroom,” says Gorelick.
• Don’t use a top sheet for adult bunks. “We go fitted sheet, coverlet, and then instead of a traditional duvet, we use a throw blanket,” she says. Not only does this make it easier to make the bed, but it also creates a polished look in what basically amounts to guest rooms designed to make family and friends feel at home.  
• Add drapes to multi-purpose bunk rooms. This adds an extra touch of personality and privacy, says Gorelick, especially if you intend to house numerous guests of different ages in one space.
• Be strategic in your headboard selection. Gorelick opts for regular king or two queen headboards on the bottom bunk (with appropriately sized mattress and bedding) but then does built-in regular sized bunks on the top. “This way, if it’s a couple using the room, they can sleep in the traditional bed on the bottom, while kids or single family members can use the bunks on top.”