When choosing bunk beds with storage for an ex council flat, start with the room’s practical features: generally decent ceiling heights, solid walls, radiators under windows and bedrooms that are often square but compact. A bunk with drawers built into the base or a staircase with storage in each step will usually do the most for these rooms, because it removes the need for a separate chest of drawers. Check that the frame fits between the radiator and the door, that the top bunk clears the ceiling comfortably, and that all drawers can open fully without hitting anything.
Many families living in ex council flats find that a well chosen bunk from our bunk beds UK sale range makes a shared bedroom work far better than two single beds ever could. This guide looks at the particular features of these homes and how to choose a storage bunk that fits them.
Ex council flats were built across many decades, from interwar blocks to postwar towers and low rise estates, so there is no single layout. However, many share some common traits. Rooms are often practical, rectangular shapes with few awkward angles. Ceilings in many postwar blocks are reasonable in height, though some later builds are lower. Walls are frequently solid concrete or block, which affects how and where you can fix furniture. Radiators commonly sit under windows, and built in cupboards or airing cupboards may take up part of a bedroom wall.
Second bedrooms in these flats are often compact but usable, comfortably fitting a single bed with some furniture, but feeling tight with two singles. This is exactly where a bunk bed with storage proves its value.
The appeal of a storage bunk is that it consolidates several pieces of furniture into one. Two beds, a chest of drawers and some shelving can all be combined into a single frame that sits against one wall. In a compact bedroom, that frees the rest of the floor for play, homework or simply moving around.
Ex council flats also tend to have limited storage elsewhere. Hallways may be narrow, and there is often no loft or garage to absorb overflow. Every bedroom therefore has to store more of the household’s belongings, and a bunk that adds generous storage helps keep the whole flat organised. Our broader modern bedroom furniture UK range includes other storage friendly pieces if one bunk is not enough on its own.
The simplest option is a standard bunk with two or three deep drawers beneath the bottom bed. These hold bedding, clothes or toys and add no extra footprint. Check the depth of the drawers and whether the runners feel smooth and solid. On carpeted floors, drawers on runners usually work better than drawers on castors.
Instead of a ladder, a staircase bunk has a set of steps with a drawer or cupboard built into each one. The stairs are easier and safer to climb than a ladder, which suits younger children and anyone who finds ladders awkward. The staircase takes up more floor space than a ladder, so measure carefully, but it often replaces a chest of drawers entirely.
Some designs include open shelves at one end of the bunk or along the side of the lower bed. These are useful for books, a bedside light and personal items, and they mean the lower sleeper does not need a separate bedside table.
Before choosing a bunk, map the room carefully. Note the position of the radiator, window, door and any built in cupboard. In many ex council bedrooms, the radiator sits under the window, which often rules out that wall for the bunk. Placing a top bunk right beside an opening window is best avoided for children in any case.
Check where the door swings and make sure it can open fully once the bunk is in place. If the bunk has drawers or a staircase, measure the space needed for those to open as well. Built in cupboards need access too, so avoid blocking them with the bunk frame or staircase.
Ceilings in ex council flats vary by era and building type. Measure the actual ceiling height at the point where the bunk will stand. Subtract the height of the bunk frame and the depth of the top mattress to find out how much clearance the top sleeper will have. They should be able to sit up without hitting their head. Allow a little extra room above the mattress for changing the bedding, which is one of the more awkward jobs on any top bunk.
Watch for light fittings. A pendant light directly above the top bunk is easily knocked. A flush ceiling fitting or a clip on reading light for the top bunk is a safer arrangement.
A well made bunk should be stable on its own, but placing it against a wall adds steadiness. In flats with solid concrete walls, fixing anything to the wall requires the right drill and fixings. Some bunk designs include optional wall brackets. If yours does and you plan to use them, make sure you have suitable fixings for masonry. If you rent or would rather not drill, choose a frame that is rigid and well braced without needing wall support.
Ex council flats often have plain, practical interiors, which gives you a blank canvas. White bunks keep a compact room feeling bright and open. Natural wood finishes add warmth and work well with simple painted walls. Grey frames are practical and less likely to show marks, which helps in a busy family home.
Choose a durable finish that will stand up to daily use. Painted timber and powder coated metal both wipe clean easily. Avoid very soft woods with thin finishes in rooms where young children will be climbing and playing.
Even the most generous storage bunk may not hold everything. A narrow wardrobe or a set of hooks behind the door can take coats and school uniforms. Lidded boxes or a blanket box at the foot of the bed add extra space for toys and bedding. Our modern childrens storage UK range includes compact pieces that sit comfortably alongside a bunk, and a blanket box UK gives you a seat as well as hidden storage.
For more ideas on keeping a family bedroom organised, our guide to childrens bedroom storage for UK family homes covers wardrobes, drawers and shelving in depth. If you are still unsure how much headroom your block offers, our article on UK ceiling heights by property age explains how heights tend to differ between eras of building.
Any bunk bed sold in the UK should meet BS EN 747. Check that guard rails run along all open sides of the top bunk, that the ladder or staircase is fixed firmly, and that the maximum mattress depth for the top bunk is respected. The top bunk is not suitable for children under six. Drawers should close smoothly without trapping fingers, and staircases should have a handrail or a frame edge to hold.
On hard floors, which are common in many flats, place a rug at the foot of the ladder or staircase so feet do not slip, and to soften any knocks.
Once the bunk is in place, keep the rest of the room fairly simple. Light walls, a single rug and coordinated bedding create a calm backdrop. A mirror on the wall opposite the window bounces daylight around the room. Keep the floor as clear as possible by giving every toy and item a home in the bunk’s storage.
For bunk beds, storage and bedroom furniture suited to compact UK homes, explore our range at Furniture in Fashion.
In most cases, yes. A bunk bed takes roughly the footprint of one single bed, so it fits in rooms that would struggle with two singles. Measure carefully around the door, radiator and any built in cupboards first.
A staircase bunk usually offers more storage, as each step contains a drawer or cupboard. It takes more floor space than a ladder, so it suits rooms where it can replace a separate chest of drawers.
A well braced bunk should be stable without wall fixing, but placing it against a wall adds steadiness. If you do use wall brackets on concrete or block walls, use masonry fixings and the correct drill bit.
Ideally on a different wall, away from the window and radiator. This avoids blocking heat, keeps the top bunk away from an opening window and leaves the window area clear.
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