Creative DIY parents, help me figure out a bunk bed hideout

[Anonymous]

My kids have a bunk bed. My daughter really wanted some "walls" for her bottom bunk so she can have a private little "house". I found a set cheap on eBay. Like in this picture
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flexa-high-loft-bunk-bed-curtain-primary-color-/160672375849?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2568d1e429

However, I haven't set it up for her yet because I know her brother on the top bunk will be so unhappily jealous of her private space. I would love to get him something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Flexa-Pink-cave-unit-twin-size-bunk-and-loft-beds-/160672376374?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2568d1e636 But this is only in pink. Also, I think it might be nice to have something that covers the whole S bed. (Though hm, it's already a pain to change sheets on that top bunk...) So, I'm thinking of hanging some fabric from the ceiling. (The top bunk isn't that far from the ceiling anyway.) But this is a rental and I don't want to do anything too major. I would love some creative suggestions.

[Anonymous]

I don't have any suggestions, but both of them look awesome! (On a side note, I want to create a kid-sized fort in our basement. I'd love any suggestion for finding walls for that.)

[Anonymous]

Can you hang curtain rods from the ceiling above the top bunk? One long one down the side and shorter ones at the head and foot? Then attach the curtains of your choice, in the length you want.

[Anonymous]

Ikea used to have the top bunk part in blue stars.

[Anonymous]

You could use those 3M Command hooks that remove cleanly. Attach to the ceiling, string sturdy cord between them, and hang the curtains on the cord. Or, ooh! You could get those 70s-era beaded curtains! That would be grooooovy.

[Anonymous]

The pink ones are made of cotton. Any chance you could dye it? To a dark blue or dark green?

Have you looked on etsy?

What kind of ceiling do you have? That popcorn spray ceiling that is bumpy, or something smooth?

If you could somehow attach a thin rod to make an L shape on the ceiling, you could hang fabric on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pink ones are made of cotton. Any chance you could dye it? To a dark blue or dark green?

Have you looked on etsy?

What kind of ceiling do you have? That popcorn spray ceiling that is bumpy, or something smooth?

If you could somehow attach a thin rod to make an L shape on the ceiling, you could hang fabric on that.

Thanks!! I didn't notice that the fabric was cotton. I guess it is probably removable and then I would be able to dye it. Unfortunately, my son loves bright colors and would like it yellow or orange, which wouldn't work over pink, probably. But we could dye it dark, then I could let him paint on it with brighter colors. Hmm!

though I still don't like the idea of changing sheets with that thing on there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ikea used to have the top bunk part in blue stars.

yes, we looked at this one at IKEA, but it's made only for a specific bed. They told us it wouldn't work on other bunks.
But thank you!

[Anonymous]

I'd go to Target and get curtain rods and curtain hooks and attach the hideout that way. You can do the same for your son's bunk bed, but you could maybe bring him to the fabric store and let him pick out whatever fabric he wants.

On another note, growing up, My father built bunk beds for me and my sister. They were L shaped, in the corner(so the two beds formed a right angle). In the space between the lower bed and the upper bed, he closed it in with particle board, covered it with that horrd (but totally awsome) 1970s faux brick wallpaper stuff, and put in a little door on hinges so we could use it as a play house. Man oh man, did we have an awesome time with that thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could use those 3M Command hooks that remove cleanly. Attach to the ceiling, string sturdy cord between them, and hang the curtains on the cord. Or, ooh! You could get those 70s-era beaded curtains! That would be grooooovy.

3M also has velcro strips. You can stick one side to the ceiling and staple the other to the fabric of your choice. I would recommend putting the 3M strips close together. I did this at my old apartment to "wall paper" a particularly ugly wall. I worked really well. You should also be able to take them down and wash them easily.

[Anonymous]

I got some 1" PCV pipe and elbows from Home Depot, 4 C hooks (big enough for the pipe to fit in)and some sheer curtains on sale from JCPenny. I attached the hooks to the ceiling, slipped the pipe in the curtain like it was a curtain rod and then set it in the C hooks. The kids LOVE it. When you leave the rental, it will be really easy to remove the C hooks and just put a little spackle in the holes. I've got a picture but can't figure out how to post it here. It took all of about 30 minutes to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could use those 3M Command hooks that remove cleanly. Attach to the ceiling, string sturdy cord between them, and hang the curtains on the cord. Or, ooh! You could get those 70s-era beaded curtains! That would be grooooovy.

There are also 3M Command velco-like sets that are supposed to be easy to remove from the wall (or ceiling or bunk bed edge) that you could use to attach the fabric to the ceiling and then it should be easy to take the fabric down and hang it back up. You can buy curtains or get fusible webbing (AKA Steam a Seam) to hem the edges of fabric you pick out. Steam a Seam is really easy to use--you iron it. There are some really great and not too expensive print fabrics for kids in JoAnn Fabrics/Michaels. You could pick out a different material for each child. If you have a friend with a sewing machine, sewing straight lines on large pieces of fabric is actually pretty quick and easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could use those 3M Command hooks that remove cleanly. Attach to the ceiling, string sturdy cord between them, and hang the curtains on the cord. Or, ooh! You could get those 70s-era beaded curtains! That would be grooooovy.

There are also 3M Command velco-like sets that are supposed to be easy to remove from the wall (or ceiling or bunk bed edge) that you could use to attach the fabric to the ceiling and then it should be easy to take the fabric down and hang it back up. You can buy curtains or get fusible webbing (AKA Steam a Seam) to hem the edges of fabric you pick out. Steam a Seam is really easy to use--you iron it. There are some really great and not too expensive print fabrics for kids in JoAnn Fabrics/Michaels. You could pick out a different material for each child. If you have a friend with a sewing machine, sewing straight lines on large pieces of fabric is actually pretty quick and easy.

For example, here are some "novelty" prints from Joann's:

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/category.jsp?_DARGS=/joann/catalog/categoryleftnav.jsp.19_A&_DAV=fullPath&_dynSessConf=8073873725541639086&categoryExpand=true&CATID=cat3162&supercatId=cat2699&allProducts=All+Products////Product+Home&categoryName=novelty+quilt+fabric&categoryfullPath=all+products////product+home////fabric////quilting+fabric+%26+kits////novelty+quilt+fabric&narrowSelection=false&subCatName=novelty+quilt+fabric&categoryPage=categoryPage