How to Redo a Small Room With Bunk Beds

Keep the color palette in the room light. Neutral colors with cool undertones on the walls will create a spacious feel, as the cool undertones visually recede. Neutral colors on the walls also allow you to alter the look of the room by changing the accessories rather than the paint.

Paint woodwork, ceilings, doors and skirting boards with white gloss paint for a clean, fresh look.

Add a fun and funky mural to the wall for a kids' room. This adds texture and interest to the walls while still maintaining a light and airy effect. Choose from a themed picture, such as a space scene or jungle scene, a favorite movie such as "Batman" or "Star Wars" or lettering to spell each child's name over his bed.

Use a floor covering that will maintain the light, airy feel in the room. Wood flooring works for kids' games such as cars or building blocks and creates a classic, neutral feel in a guest room. If you prefer carpet in a bedroom, natural fiber carpets, such as seagrass, sisal, hemp and jute, are full of texture, very hard-wearing and ecologically friendly.

Add the bunk bed and other furniture to the room. Keep it light with either a light wood finish or white paint finish. The amount of other furniture the room requires will depend on the style of the bunk bed. If it has a built-in desk, shelving at the end and storage drawers underneath, a few simple storage boxes and a chest of drawers are all you need to add to the room. For a guest room, a traditional style of bunk bed combined with a small chest of drawers and bedside table will be sufficient.

Place a lamp on the bedside table. For the top bunk, use an adjustable bunk bed lamp. These simply clip onto the bunk bed for bedtime reading. To avoid adding extra furniture to the room, use bunk bed lights for both bunks, and don't use a bedside table.

Finish the decor with accessories. For a guest room, select a simple, neutral- or pastel-colored bedding, and add a splash of brighter color with an accent cushion. Hang a framed picture on the wall for visual interest and a mirror to reflect light. In a kids' room, choose bright and funky bedding, matching curtains and a bright floor rug. If your kids' room has a theme, such as a space scene mural, add to this look with some hanging 3-D planets and glow-in-the-dark space stickers on the ceiling.