5 Fun Facts and Trivia Tidbits About Bunk Beds

Bunk beds did not originate in ancient Egypt, that was where the concept of a bed was established and to qualify as a bunk bed the frame must have at least two beds with one built into the frame of the other.  The concept of the Egyptian bed eventually caught on and it is believed that the first bunk bed was actually designed in medieval times as space needed to be maximized.

By having one more than one bed in a single frame, and lifting the second bed vertically it allowed people to save money in their homes and for lodges to make more money by housing more guests.  Although similar to a murphy bed in that it saves space and is practical for smaller rooms, murphy beds fold into a wall or cabinet and only have one layer where bunk beds are stacked upwards and take up floor space.  If the cabinet contains two beds that are stacked vertically vs. side by side, the murphy bed will also qualify as a bunk bed.

Since medieval times, the bunk bed has taken on popularity and became a staple for housing where you need to maximize space from the military to hostels, dorms, summer camps, boarding schools, and kids bedrooms.  With hundreds of years of history behind them, here’s 5 fun facts about bunk beds that you can use as ice breaks and at trivia nights.

They’ve Been in Use in the USA Longer Than the USA Has Existed

According to the NY State Museum, see the section about use of interiors, the Iroqouis Indians have been using stacked benches and beds for roughly 300 to 500 years as a way for multiple-family dwellings known as longhouses to house more people.  This means that the bunk bed being used in the USA is actually older than the USA itself as the USA was founded on July 4, 1776.

Someone Slept On a Bunk Bed Raised 40ft in the Air

YouTuber Zealous did a stunt where he decided to raise a bunk bed on a boom lift 40ft in the air.  This stunt was meant to give him a record for sleeping on the “tallest” bunk bed, but that doesn’t mean it is the tallest, only the highest, and we don’t recommend you try this at home as it is dangerous.  Congrats to Zealous for taking bunk beds to “new heights.”

The Fastest Time to Make a Bunk Bed

The fastest time to make a bunk bed is 35.57 seconds and was accomplished in 2010.  Folding a fitted sheet is tough, and so is knowing which corner goes where on square shaped mattresses like a king size.  When you add two or more mattresses, making the bed can be a daunting task.  Can you beat this time?

The Name is Military in Origin

The name bunk bed has a military origin as they became popular in “bunkers” used by military and other types of dormitories and barracks.

TV Shows Keep Them Popular

Every decade a new popular TV show emerges and bunk beds are a staple in the furniture. These shows include:

• Leave it to Beaver – 1957 – 1963 – Up until the episode “New Doctor”, Beaver and Wally had a bunk bed, but it was changed out for side by side beds from this episode on.
• Hazel – 1961 – 1966 featured bunk beds in the children’s bedroom.
• Julia – 1968 – 1971 has a bunk bed in Corey’s bedroom.
• The Brady Bunch – 1960’s and 1970’s where Peter and Bobby Brady share a bunk bed.
• Full House – in the 1980’s and 1990’s where Michelle and Stephanie Tanner slept.
• Family Ties – 1982 – 1989 has a bunk bed in the younger kids bedroom.
• Boy Meets World – 1993 – 2000 has a bunk bed in the boys bedroom for Cory and Eric.
• The Amazing World of Gumball – 2011 to present features a bunk bed in Darwin, Anais, and Gumball’s room.

Most furniture has an origin story, but bunk beds have mystery behind the invention.  Some say it was in Egypt, but we know that was the traditional bed for Pharaohs and not a bunk that is stacked.  Others say the idea came from ships in the 1600’s where sailors slept on stacked hammocks, although they would be nets vs. mattresses and not in a bed frame.  No matter how the idea started, bunk beds are an iconic style of furniture, practical, and status symbols for kids.