Bunk bed with white bedding, toys, and books on shelves, red stool, and checkered rug in a children's room. — Credit: Chantal Lamers / The Bunk Bed Book

14 Clever Ways to Take Your Kid’s Bunk Bed to the Next Level

updated May 12, 2022

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In This Article

Bedding
Lighting
Pockets & Caddies
Shelves & Storage
Curtains

Bunk beds are pretty great. I should know because I wrote a book about them, aptly titled The Bunk Bed Book. Sadly, not every amazing bed and nugget of bunk wisdom could fit in the book. Because books need to remain evergreen for years, I couldn’t share all of my favorite bunk beds to buy. Nor could I include the many amazing accessories that are available to make the bunk bed experience even better for both kids and their parents.

From easy-to-make bedding to battery powered lamps, here are 14 products I love to trick out your bunks:

Credit: Weston Wells / The Bunk Bed Book

Bedding

There is no denying that making a bunk bed is hard – so hard, that I joked that my book should come with a warning sticker that told prospective bunk owners that bunk beds are rarely as beautifully made as they are in photos. My best advice is to keep things simple, but specialized bedding can help.

Zippered Bedding: Beddy's All-in-One Cotton Bedding Set

$269

If you struggle with bed making, consider bedding designed specifically for bunks. Beddy’s makes bedding that zips up somewhat like a sleeping bag, making it easy to get the linens into place; I recommend the all-cotton options.

$269 at Amazon

Lighting

Whether you opt for a clip lamp, a wall-mounted sconce, or a battery-powered option, your kid will need something to light their bunk. Here are some affordable options that don’t require the help of an electrician:

Battery Operated Lamp: George Sowden PL1 Portable Table Light

$79

Battery-powered lamps have also come a long way from the camping lanterns you may remember from childhood. Case in point: This kid-friendly silicone lamp with Memphis Design cred.

$79 at MoMA Design Store

Headlamp: Black Diamond Equipment - Wiz Headlamp

$35

If you’re not ready to commit to a lamp, a headlamp will do the job in the short term. But do spend a little extra for one that has an auto turnoff feature like this one from Black Diamond to avoid constantly replacing batteries.

$35 at Amazon

Pockets & Caddies

In addition to light, kids need a place to stash their stuff. Soft, fabric pockets and caddies are a great option because they are affordable and don’t require any tools to install.

Minimalist Caddy: Kikkerland Bedside Felt Caddy Pocket

$25

For a kid who has outgrown characters, this minimalist felt caddy stays in place courtesy of a flap that goes under the mattress.

$25 at Amazon

Water Bottle Holder: TarrahAtHome Bottle Sling

$18

These clever fabric pouches are designed to hold a water bottle from your child’s bunk rail. Available in six colors and has snaps to adjust the size to your railing.

$18 at Etsy

Shelves & Storage

A wall-mounted book ledge is another way to add bedside storage quickly and easily.

Under-Bed-Drawer: Steel Storage Drawer

$499

Add storage beneath a bunk with an under-the-bed drawer. This steel one from Room & Board won’t disintegrate with use like many particle board drawers.

$499 at Room & Board

Curtains

Curtains can go a long way towards making a kid’s bunk feel like a private space in a shared bedroom. Some bunk manufacturers will sell a bed with a curtain included, but if not, you can commission simple drapes and hang them up with Command hooks or a tension rod.

Bed Curtains: Olivia Cottonwood Bunk Curtains

$42

Etsy seller Olivia Cottonwood sells a variety of curtains sized for IKEA’s popular Kura bed, but buyers note that she’ll make custom sizes for other bunk beds too.

$42 at Etsy