How to Finish the Bottom of a Bunk Bed (The Detail Everyone Skips)
If you’ve ever looked up at the underside of a top bunk and thought there had to be a more considered solution than bare plywood, there is — and it’s simpler than you might expect.
When I built these bunk beds for the kids, I knew I didn’t want to leave the underside unfinished. I considered shiplap (still a beautiful option), but ultimately wanted something softer and a bit more inviting. Upholstery felt like the right direction.
I found an inexpensive ribbed curtain panel and got to work. Here’s how.
B E F O R E
A F T E R
What You'll Need
Any heavier fabric will work well. I used a velvet curtain panel.
Upholstery fabric or a similar weight fabric (heavier materials hold tension better and stay smooth longer)
Staple gun and 8 mm staples
Trim or ribbon to cover staple edges
Measuring tape and scissors
How to Do It
Measure the underside of the top bunk and cut your fabric with a few inches of overage on each side — you'll need the excess fabric to pull and staple.
Start at the center of one edge and work outward toward the corners, the same way you'd stretch a canvas. The key is tension: pull the fabric taut before each staple. If you staple without pulling, you'll end up with ripples you can't fix later.
Work opposite sides — top, then bottom, then the two ends. Keep consistent tension throughout. Corners take a little patience; fold them cleanly before stapling. Remember, you will be covering staples with trim so feel free to staple liberally.
Once the fabric is secured, finish the edges with trim to cover the staples. This is what takes it from a DIY project to something that looks intentional.
A Few Nores
A curtain panel works well here because the fabric weight is right and the dimensions are generous. Look for something with some body to it — lightweight fabrics will be too delicate to pull and staple.
Fabric with a texture or pattern can help act as a guide. (The fabric I used had a vertical ribbed texture that I was able to use to line up the edges.)
If your bunk has a lip or frame edge to staple into, even better. If not, you may want to add a thin furring strip to give the staples something solid to grip.
A detail that quietly disappears into the room over time, which is exactly what makes it worth doing.