It’s common for siblings to share a room, but the more beds you add, the less space you get. That’s why bunk beds are such a hot pick, but what if you want more than two beds? Well, then there’s the triple bunk.
Unless you have really high ceilings, your best bet for a triple sleeper is a set of bunk beds with a trundle. You can find these types of beds for anywhere from $175 (for super basic ones) to over $1,000. A decent quality one would likely hover around the $500 to $600 mark.
What if you could create a unique triple bunk bed for around $175? That’s what Dario Pimpolari decided to do since he found two used IKEA KURA beds for only $70. It was the perfect solution for his kids to share a room and have an extra sleeping space for a friend. Here’s a peek at how he did it.
What You’ll Need
- 1 IKEA VIHALS trundle bed
- 2 IKEA KURA beds
- Reciprocating saw
- Clamps
- Sander
- Basics — Screw gun, drill, tape measure, pencil
How to Hack a Triple Bunk Bed
1. Assemble the KURA Beds
Put together one of the KURA beds with the bed on top, according to IKEA instructions. (If you’re purchasing KURA beds secondhand, you may need to do some disassembly to get them how you need them.)
For the second bed, you only need to put together the bottom structure. Build the bottom of each side and use the two white short panels to close each short side.
Only mount one long panel. Leave the other side (where the ladder would be) with just the upper wooden pole.
2. Make Cuts
At this point, you’ll need to cut any excess wood that you don’t need from the second bed (the one that will be your bottom bunk). The hacker mentions it being necessary to build the bed, make the cuts, disassemble, and rebuild to make sure you get your cuts in the right place.
Basically, take your time and be thorough. Be careful with the ladder pole. You don’t want to make any wrong cuts, because then you’ll lose stability. The hacker says they’re happy to answer any questions about specifics.
3. Add the Slat Guide and Slats
Position the slat guide on the bottom bed on the ladder side. This position helps add strength to that side of the bed. Next, secure the slats into place.
3. Connect the Two Beds
Place the fully completed KURA on top of the one you cut and clamp it into place while you add screws. Dario used two screws on each side, trying to use the existing holes in the poles when possible. Now you have your set of KURA bunk beds.
4. Add the Trundle
Assemble the VIHALS trundle bed according to IKEA’s instructions and slide it into place under the bottom KURA. If you want, you can adjust one of the poles to make the front panel of the VIHALS align with the KURA base, but this is optional.
Something worth mentioning here, if you plan to purchase the trundle from IKEA, I didn’t see it on the US site. However, when you look at the VIHALS twin bed on the site, it mentions being able to buy the trundle separately. Just something to keep in mind. Or you could find a trundle secondhand.
Things to Think About When Creating Bunks
Dario said the hardest part about this hack was figuring out how to make it solid. Primarily, since the second (lower) KURA needed cuts, and there needed to be room for the VIHALS, without compromising the stability of the beds.
Dario mentioned possibly adding an iron bar or something similar to add durability to the structure. However, he says the beds are solid as-is, and there have been no issues.
I agree with the hacker that durability and sturdiness are the most critical considerations. If you’re going to DIY something like this, make sure to take extra precautions and ensure it’s safe.
This project was worth it from a budget standpoint because Dario found the pieces used. He even says to look for used or free pieces to make this project worthwhile. Otherwise, if you have to buy all the pieces new, you may as well purchase new bunk beds with a trundle.
Price for this hack: About $175 using two secondhand KURA beds and a new VIHALS pull-out
Time for this hack: Approximately 6 to 8 hours
Do you need a way to sleep three in one room? Bunk beds and trundles offer a great space-saving solution, so this hack could be exactly what you need. What do you think?