An Exciting New Project

4/2 update: Yesterday was April 1st and I have to come clean and admit that this post was just a prank. We are not, in fact, actually digging a backyard bunker by hand. Or at all. 

I don’t actually even own a shovel (true story). I had to text my sister and ask her to snap the perfect shovel-in-grass photo for me to use for this post!

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoyed every minute of preparing for it! Apocalypse preparation? Not so much my thing. Elaborate internet prank prepping? I’m all over that!

You guys, I’ve been keeping this project under wraps for quite a while now and I’m just so excited to share it with you! We are finally breaking ground on our newest (and largest) DIY endeavor yet…

By now I’m sure you’ve seen the trend of making over vintage campers into dreamy, artsy, glamorous little hideaways. Who wouldn’t want an adorable, retro-inspired mini home away from home, right?

Well, move over Glamping, because the new DIY project we’re about to embark on over here is small space design for the future!

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen – we’re DIYing (hehe, that stands for “dig it yourself”) our very own backyard bunker!

The idea of “Apocalypse preparedness” might sound odd, funny or downright hilarious to some, but honestly, it just makes sense to us. Having a safe place to retreat to in the event of a huge catastrophe was common sense in the 1950’s and 60’s, with designated community fallout shelters and plans for DIY at-home bunkers.

The word “apocalypse” might bring to mind visions of the stereotypical zombie outbreak, but with everything going on in our world today, the idea of a life-altering, world-changing event doesn’t seem quite so far-fetched. Not to sound overdramatic, but I believe it’s a question of “when,” not “if.”

Whether you think we’re absolutely nuts or not, I do think you’ll enjoy this new series detailing every step of our #bunkersweetbunker build and perhaps be inspired to tackle one of your own as well!

If you search for readymade bunkers online, you will find that they sell for tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. We are doing this ourselves on a dime, so while we will save tons of money, we will have LOTS of digging ahead of us!

I don’t want to bog you down in the details just yet, so I’m going to save the actual nitty-gritty plan specifics of the building supplies, step-by-step process, etc., for the next post in the series. Today, let’s get to the fun stuff!

To keep myself inspired and motivated, I decided to make up a moodboard full of bunker inspiration. If a tiny vintage camper can become a little box of cozy adoreableness, I have high hopes for our little underground retreat. Especially if we end up needing to spend a significant amount of time down there, I want it to be a home away from home.

I’ve dubbed the style, “Apocalypse Chic,” because I truly believe that Doomsday doesn’t have to be gloomy!

I wanted to keep a color palette of muted earth tones – greige, khaki green, caramel browns, and wine red – to establish a cozy yet luxurious feel. Think industrial meets rustic hunting lodge. The square footage of our bunker will be quite small, so each element of this mood board was specifically chosen with that in mind.

*Today’s post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive a small commission. You can read my full disclosure here. I hope you all know by now that I do only share things I really truly love!

Sources:

Ingert Curtains, Ikea – While our bunker will not have external windows, I wanted to bring in curtains anyway. They can help divide the space as well as provide echo reduction.

Caged pendant, Urban Outfitters – Lighting is an important part of any space and an underground bunker is no exception. These caged pendants are utilitarian and stylish.

United States Executive Wall Map, Amazon – Think this is a purely decorative object? Think again. This map of the US, featuring major highways, is the perfect apocalyptic reference. I plan to display more detailed maps of our city area and state as well.

Cold War Era Fallout Shelter Sign, Sportsman’s Guide – I can’t resist bringing in a touch of vintage. This Cold War-era sign brings the perfect amount of color and whimsy to the space.

Faux Leather Chesterfield Convertible Sofa, Urban Outfitters – It’s a tufted sofa that folds out into a bed. Need I say more? It’s like Urban Outfitters read my mind on the whole “Apocalypse Chic” movement!

Light Brown Cowhide Rug, Overstock.com – Provides some texture and warmth to the space. Even more importantly, planning for the worst, you never know when you might actually need to have some leather handy, so this decorative object actually doubles as a functional DIY supply.

Tradtag Cushion Cover, Ikea – You know me – I can’t leave stylish throw pillows out of any design! I’m really digging the combination of these three pillows right now!

Frayed Stripe Pillow Cover, West Elm

Textured Diamond Pillow, Urban Outfitters

Angled Wall Lamp, Urban Outfitters – Remember, in a bunker, floor space is at a premium, but accent lighting is still important. Enter these sconces with the perfect amount of industrial edge and killer style. Just perfect!

4040 Locust Zumi Quilt, Urban Outfitters – I love the colors and textures of this bedding. It ties the design together perfectly! This will be used on the convertible couch and can be stored in a basket beside the sofa when it’s not in use.

Great Books of the Western World, Amazon – I believe that a varied selection of reading material is essential for any bunker. This collection of beautiful hardcover books contains influential literature, history, philosophy and science themed selections. If you’re confined to close quarters for an extended period of time, why not soak up the classics?

Upton Home Duncan Travel Trunk Console, Overstock.com – Number one: hello, fabulous brass trim! Number two: this multi-purpose console has a small footprint and packs a big punch. I see it functioning as a tv stand and bookshelf (more on our planned power source in a later post).

Stained Concrete – While stained concrete is an incredibly practical choice for an underground bunker, I also love it as a design element.

Reclaimed Wood Flooring – You just can’t beat the history of reclaimed wood flooring! I hope to find a source for this on Craigslist, since we don’t need very much.

Corrugated Metal – This brings in more of the industrial vibe while also be a totally functional building material.

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I haven’t even touched on the adorable mini kitchen area I’m planning, so again, we’ll just have to save that for another installment of #bunkersweetbunker!

Also coming up soon…

So what do you think? Who’s ready to join me in making chic DIY bunkers the next big thing? Let’s rock the Apocalypse in style!