When Ursula outgrew her crib, and then the conversion crib with only three sides, I decided to stretch the life of her very nice mattress further by turning it into a toddler bed (amazingly, she slept on this until recently, and she's six and a half). Even though I saw some nice ones, rather than buying a frame, I decided to save money and build my own for her. 

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The only time I've ever slept in a bunk bed was at summer camp, and I loved it. While most of us aren't sleeping away in cabins, everyone can use space-saving furniture. For kids, lofted and bunk beds are a great option.

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I could grow up here. It's low key and comfortable, without a lot of pomp and circumstance. The color palette is cool and collected, with enough texture to keep it interesting. The design above costs just over $2000.

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This little Ikea bed frame is cute and very economical, but it lacked a certain joie de vivre. With some MDF, batting, stylish fabric, and lots of clever planning, this little frame went from dull to delightful! More

I'm about the introduce a new design term to the world. Are you ready? Meta Decor. Or, in one word, Metadeco. For a visual definition, check out all these houses in rooms in houses. Because kids nowadays are so much smarter than we were at their age. More

Junk in the Trunk Bed
• $412
• SOBU

Hey, look what's 50% off right now! Just in time for your organizational spree to ban all the kid clutter that's always kicking around.

Michele's son had outgrown his room's decor, and everyone was sick of the orange, purple and red color scheme. It took a couple of weeks to re-do it completely, using a lot of what they already owned, plus adding a few new things to the mix. The goal was to keep it affordable and simple.
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Sometimes a bed is just a bed and sometimes it's practically a piece of art. Looking back over the year, we saw many unique and unusual beds. Sometimes it was their aesthetic that made them special, other times their function. Take a look:

• A Unique Tree Trunk Bunkbed Ladder
• A Floating Cloud Bed
• Tractor Bunk Beds
• Double Murphy Bunk Bed by Casa Kids
• Customized Kura Loft Bed
• A Lofty and Simple Shared Room
• A Custom Bunk Solution for Four Sisters
• DIY Toddler-Proofed Day Bed
• Coolest Bed Ever: AT-AT Loft Bed
• An Easy Up, Easy Down DIY Bed Tent More

Caravan Divan
• $595 (or $395 for conversion kit)
• Kalon Studios

A 'divan' sounds so fancy, but really this is a beautiful, toddler-sized daybed or a spot for reading and relaxing. Like Kalon's cribs, this comes in raw (shown) or five colors.

Whether you have a small space or just want to get more bang for your buck, you may want to consider children's furniture and toys that serve multiple functions. There are so many convertible options on the market - from bassinets that transform into desks to toys that both rock and roll. Here are fifteen of my favorites: More