Bunk Beds for Holiday Let Owners: What to Look For

For a holiday let, look for a bunk bed that is built to the British safety standard for bunk beds, has a solid timber or steel frame, takes a standard UK single mattress, and can be checked and tightened quickly between guests. Fixed guard rails on both long sides of the top bunk, a ladder that bolts firmly to the frame and plenty of clearance below the ceiling matter far more than decorative detail. A good bunk bed adds two sleeping spaces in the footprint of one, which can change how many guests a cottage or apartment comfortably welcomes.

Our range of modern bunk beds UK sale covers the practical styles most owners look for, from classic pine frames to slim metal designs. Below we explain what to check before you choose one, and how to keep it in good order across a busy season.

Why bunk beds work so well in holiday lets

Families make up a large share of guests at many UK holiday properties, and children generally prefer sharing a bunk to sleeping on a sofa bed. A bunk room also frees the main bedroom for parents and keeps a cottage feeling calm rather than crowded. In smaller properties, a bunk bed can turn a box room that would otherwise sit empty into a bedroom you can describe accurately in your listing.

There is a practical benefit for owners too. Two single beds placed side by side need a room roughly twice as wide as a bunk bed does. With a bunk, the remaining floor can hold storage, a small chair or simply space for suitcases, which guests notice more than you might expect.

A bunk bed works best when it is treated as part of a planned room rather than an extra squeezed in. Looking across our wider bedroom furniture UK sale collection can help you choose pieces that sit together well, so the bunk room feels as considered as the rest of the property.

Safety standards and what they mean for you

In the UK, bunk beds for domestic use should meet BS EN 747, the standard that sets requirements for guard rails, ladder design, gaps and the strength of the frame. When you compare models, check that the manufacturer confirms compliance and that the bed carries the usual warning labels. In a holiday let, those labels are useful rather than fussy: they tell guests who are unfamiliar with the bed how it should be used.

A few points are worth checking yourself:

• Guard rails on both sides of the top bunk. Even if one side sits against a wall, a rail on that side stops a child slipping into the gap between bed and wall.
• Maximum mattress depth. Most bunk beds are marked with the deepest mattress they can safely take. A mattress that is too deep reduces the effective height of the guard rail.
• Age guidance. Top bunks are generally not recommended for children under six. Mentioning this in your welcome information helps parents plan who sleeps where.
• Ladder fixing. The ladder should bolt or hook firmly onto the frame with no movement when you put your weight on it.

It is also sensible to make sure the top bunk is not placed directly beneath a ceiling light, a smoke alarm that guests might knock, or a window that opens at bunk height.

Frame materials that cope with heavy use

The frame material decides how well the bed copes with years of different guests. Each option has a slightly different character.

Solid pine and hardwood

Solid timber is forgiving. Small knocks can be sanded and touched up, joints can be retightened, and the bed tends to feel steady because of its weight. Pine is lighter and suits a rustic or coastal property, while hardwoods such as oak or rubberwood bring a more polished look and stand up well to scuffs from shoes and luggage.

Powder coated metal

Metal frames are slimmer, which helps in narrow rooms, and powder coating resists chips well. They wipe clean easily and do not mark when wet towels are draped over a rail. The trade off is that metal can transmit a little more noise when someone climbs the ladder, so look for designs with rubber or plastic caps where the frame meets the floor and where slats sit on the rails.

Engineered board

Frames made mainly from chipboard or MDF can look smart in photographs, but repeated assembly, disassembly and tightening tends to wear the fixing points. For a let that will see steady bookings, solid timber or metal is usually the more dependable choice.

Mattresses: size, depth and fire safety

Most UK bunk beds take a standard single mattress of 90cm by 190cm, which makes replacement simple. Choose mattresses that sit within the maximum depth marked on the bed, usually a little shallower than you would choose for a normal single bed. A medium firm open coil or pocket sprung mattress suits most guests and keeps its shape well on slatted bases.

Upholstered furniture and mattresses supplied in let accommodation generally need to meet UK furniture fire safety regulations, so keep the labels attached and file any paperwork with your property records. Waterproof, breathable mattress protectors are worth fitting on every bunk; they protect the mattress and make changeovers quicker. Our selection of modern mattresses UK includes single sizes that pair well with bunk frames.

Measure the room before you choose

Ceiling height is the measurement owners most often overlook. A guest on the top bunk should be able to sit up without hitting their head, and an adult making the top bed needs room to reach across it. Measure from floor to ceiling, then subtract the height of the top bunk base and the mattress depth. If the space left is tight, a lower profile bunk or a mid sleeper may be the better option.

Check sloping ceilings in converted lofts and older cottages carefully, measuring at the point where the top bunk will actually sit rather than at the highest point of the room. Also allow clear floor space in front of the ladder so nobody steps down onto a suitcase in the dark.

Details guests never notice, but you will

The design features that matter most to owners are usually invisible in a listing photograph. Before choosing a bed, it is worth looking for:

• Exposed, accessible bolts that can be checked and tightened with a standard Allen key, without dismantling the bed.
• Slats that are fixed or held in place so they do not shift when a child bounces, and a sensible gap between slats to support the mattress.
• Rounded corners and smooth edges, especially at head height on the lower bunk.
• A durable finish such as lacquered timber or powder coated steel that wipes clean without leaving marks.
• Replacement parts that can be ordered if a slat or bolt goes missing.

Making changeover day easier

Making the top bunk is the job cleaners like least, so design choices that make it easier are worth paying attention to. Open ends, or a guard rail that stops short of the head end, allow the duvet to be tucked in without climbing all the way up. Fitted sheets are far quicker than flat sheets on a top bunk, and a lightweight duvet is easier to shake out than a heavy one.

A bunk bed that can be pulled a short distance away from the wall also makes cleaning simpler. Felt pads or glides under the feet help, particularly on wooden floors. If the bed is fixed to the wall for stability, make sure the fixing still allows you to reach underneath the lower bunk with a vacuum.

Furnishing the rest of the bunk room

Guests sharing a room need somewhere to put their things, even for a short stay. A compact wardrobe or a row of hooks keeps clothes off the floor, and a low chest of drawers can double as a surface for chargers and books. Our modern wardrobes UK include slim designs that sit comfortably beside a bunk bed in smaller rooms.

Give each bunk its own small light and, if possible, a shelf or ledge within reach. A reading light on the top bunk is safer than a guest climbing down to switch off the main light. For more thoughts on storage in shared sleeping spaces, our guide to wardrobe ideas for UK guest bedrooms covers layouts that suit occasional and frequent visitors alike.

A simple check routine between bookings

Adding a short bunk bed check to your cleaning list helps catch problems early. It only takes a few minutes:

• Push firmly against the top bunk to check for any wobble or movement at the joints.
• Run a hand along the guard rails and ladder to make sure nothing has loosened.
• Lift the mattress on each bunk and look for slats that have moved or cracked.
• Check that warning labels are still attached and legible.
• Look for damage to the finish that could leave a sharp edge or splinter.

Keep a spare set of fixings and the correct Allen key in the property, stored somewhere guests will not find them. A short log of when the bed was checked and tightened is also useful if you ever need to show that furniture has been maintained.

Choosing a style that suits the property

The bunk bed should feel at home in the building. Natural pine sits easily in a countryside cottage, white painted frames brighten a seaside apartment, and black or grey metal suits a city flat or converted barn with a more industrial character. Keeping the bedding simple, with plain white or soft neutral covers, makes the room look fresh in photographs and makes it easier to swap linen between rooms.

When you are ready to furnish, you can browse bunk beds, mattresses and bedroom storage together at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

Can adults sleep on bunk beds in a holiday let?

Many bunk beds are designed with children in mind, but some sturdier models are suitable for adults. Check the maximum user weight for each bunk in the product details, and state in your listing whether the beds suit adults so guests can plan accordingly.

Do I need to fix a bunk bed to the wall?

It is not always required, but fixing the bed to a solid wall can add stability, particularly on uneven floors in older properties. Follow the manufacturer guidance on any fixing kit supplied.

What size mattress fits most bunk beds?

Most UK bunk beds take a standard single mattress measuring 90cm by 190cm. Always check the maximum mattress depth marked on the bed so the guard rails remain effective.

How often should I check a bunk bed in a busy let?

A quick check at each changeover is sensible, with a fuller inspection and tightening of all bolts every few months or whenever the bed feels less steady than usual.