In a city flat, a bunk bed works best when it uses a single bed footprint of roughly 95 by 200 cm, stands no taller than the ceiling comfortably allows, and sits along the longest unbroken wall, away from the window and clear of the door swing. Get the size right first, then choose a style that suits the light in the flat, and finally test the placement with tape on the floor before you commit.
Below we break that down into size, style and placement, with practical layouts for the kinds of rooms found in UK flats. If you would like to see frames as you read, our modern bunk beds UK sale range gives full dimensions for every design.
Most bunk beds in the UK take two standard single mattresses of 90 by 190 cm. The frame adds a few centimetres on each side, so an overall footprint of around 95 to 100 cm wide and 195 to 205 cm long is typical. Small single bunks, built around a 75 cm wide mattress, are available and can help in very narrow rooms, though they suit younger children better than teenagers.
Overall bunk bed heights usually range from about 140 cm for low designs to over 170 cm for standard frames. In a purpose built flat with a lower ceiling, a frame at the lower end of that range leaves more headroom above the top mattress. In a period conversion with tall ceilings, you have more freedom.
To check, subtract the height of the top bunk platform and the mattress depth from your ceiling height. The person on the top bunk should be able to sit up without touching the ceiling.
A bed is only useful if you can get around it. Leave a clear strip of at least 60 cm along the open side for walking and for making the beds. Allow space at the foot of the ladder for a safe landing, and check that the bedroom door, wardrobe doors and any drawers can open fully without hitting the frame.
Do not forget the route in. Flats often involve a communal entrance, a lift or a narrow stairwell, and a tight turn into the hallway. Most bunk beds arrive flat packed, but measure the longest box against the narrowest point on the way to the bedroom before you order.
City flats often have one window per room, and that window may face a street or a neighbouring building. Pale finishes such as white, light grey and natural oak help a room feel lighter. A matte finish usually looks calmer than gloss in a small room, as it reflects less glare.
Open frames with slim posts and rails let you see through to the wall behind, which makes the bed feel less dominant. Metal frames and timber designs with slatted ends both achieve this. Solid end panels give more enclosure but feel heavier, so they suit rooms with a little more space.
Let the architecture guide you. In a new build with clean lines and white walls, a simple frame in white or black looks considered. In a Victorian or Edwardian conversion with cornicing and sash windows, a painted timber frame in a soft colour respects the character of the room. In a warehouse conversion, metal or warm wood sits well against exposed brick.
The rest of the room matters too. Pieces from our modern bedroom furniture UK collections can be chosen to repeat the finish of the bunk bed, which helps a small room feel coordinated rather than crowded.
Many second bedrooms in flats are long and narrow. Place the bunk bed along one long wall, ideally at the end furthest from the door, so the walkway runs the length of the room. Keep the opposite wall for slim storage, and avoid putting anything deep there that would pinch the walkway.
In a square room, a corner position works well. Two walls give the frame stability and leave the centre of the room open for play or a rug. The ladder can sit on the end facing into the room, so it is easy to reach from the door.
Period conversions often have a chimney breast with alcoves either side. If one alcove is deep and long enough for the frame, it can hold the bunk bed neatly, leaving the other alcove for shelving or a wardrobe. Measure the alcove depth carefully, as the frame must sit fully within it to look intentional.
Where a door sits in the middle of a long wall, the bunk bed usually belongs on the wall opposite the window, positioned so the door opens freely into the room. If the door opens inwards against the bed, consider rehanging it to open the other way, which is often a simple job.
Avoid placing the top bunk directly in front of a window. If the window is on the long wall, place the bed on a short wall instead, or along the long wall but beyond the edge of the window frame. Fit window restrictors in any child's room with a raised bed.
The person on the lower bunk often feels the least considered. A small bedside cabinet beside the bed gives them a surface for a glass of water, a book and a lamp. Our modern bedside cabinets UK sale range includes slim designs that fit beside a bunk bed without blocking the ladder.
Lighting matters for both sleepers. Ceiling lights in small rooms can be harsh for someone lying close to them on the top bunk, so a wall light beside each bunk is more comfortable. Our modern wall lights UK range includes compact fittings that suit a bedroom.
Under bed drawers and boxes make use of the space beneath the lower bunk. If you are planning a bedside piece as well, our guide to bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms explains the heights and depths that work beside a lower bunk. A chest of drawers at the foot of the bed can give each child their own drawers while acting as a low surface. If you are weighing up whether a chest will fit, our guide to standard chest of drawers dimensions in the UK lists typical widths and depths.
Wall hooks for dressing gowns and bags, and a shelf above the lower bunk at a height that will not catch anyone getting up, help keep the floor clear. In a small room, a clear floor is the single biggest factor in making the space feel calm.
When siblings of different ages share a bunk bed, one usually goes to sleep before the other. The layout can help. Give the older child the top bunk, where a small clip on reading light can be used without lighting up the whole room, and keep the younger child on the lower bunk, closer to the door for night time trips to the bathroom.
A curtain hung along the lower bunk, fixed to the underside of the top bunk frame, creates a cosy, darker space for the earlier sleeper. Blackout blinds are worth considering in city flats too, where streetlights and neighbouring windows can keep a room bright late into the evening.
Modern flats are often well insulated, which keeps them warm in winter but can make small bedrooms stuffy, particularly at the height of the top bunk. Keep the frame away from radiators and avoid blocking any trickle vents above the window. Breathable cotton or linen bedding helps the upper sleeper stay comfortable, and a mattress protector with a breathable surface prevents the mattress from feeling warm against the body.
In older conversions, the opposite can be true: high ceilings and original windows can make rooms cooler. A thicker duvet for the lower bunk and a lighter one for the top bunk is a simple way to keep both sleepers comfortable.
Once you have a frame in mind, mark its footprint on the floor with low tack tape, including the ladder. Live with it for a day or two. Open every door and drawer, walk through the room at night, and imagine making the top bunk. If something feels awkward, it will feel more so once the bed is in place.
This simple test often reveals a better position that you had not considered, and it gives you confidence when you place your order with Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Most UK bunk beds take two single mattresses of 90 by 190 cm, with an overall frame footprint of roughly 95 to 100 cm wide and 195 to 205 cm long. Heights vary by design.
Usually along the longest unbroken wall, away from the window and clear of the door swing. A corner position works well in square rooms.
Yes, if the alcove is deep and long enough for the full frame. Measure carefully, including any skirting boards, and allow space for the ladder.
Pale finishes such as white, light grey and natural oak tend to make a small room feel lighter. Darker frames can work against light walls and bedding.
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