The right bed for a bungalow is usually a lower, simpler frame that respects the shorter ceilings and wide windows found in most single storey homes, in a size that leaves at least 60cm of clear floor on the sides you walk around. Bungalow bedrooms tend to be squarer and more generous at floor level than upstairs rooms in a terraced house, but they are often shorter in height and closely linked to the garden. Choose a frame that sits comfortably below the window sill, keeps the room feeling open and makes getting in and out of bed easy for every age.
That is the short answer. The detail depends on how your bungalow was built, who sleeps in each room and how much storage the house offers. Below we walk through each of those decisions, drawing on the kinds of rooms we see most often in UK bungalows. If you would like to browse while you read, our range of modern beds UK sale covers fabric, wooden, leather and metal frames in every standard British size.
Many bungalows built in the middle of the last century have ceilings that feel lower than those in older houses. A very tall headboard can crowd the wall in these rooms and make the ceiling seem closer than it is. As a guide, a headboard that finishes well below the halfway point between mattress and ceiling tends to look settled rather than dominant.
Low profile frames work well here. A bed with a slim base and a headboard of moderate height keeps the sightline across the room clear, which matters in a home where you often see straight from the bedroom door to the garden. If you love the look of a statement headboard, choose one that is wide rather than tall. A horizontal emphasis suits the long, low proportions of a bungalow far better than a vertical one.
Bungalow bedrooms often have large windows, sometimes running across most of one wall. If the only sensible place for the bed is beneath a window, measure from the floor to the sill. A headboard that rises above the sill line will block light and can look awkward from outside. Where space allows, it is usually more restful to place the bed on a solid wall and keep the window clear.
Bungalows are a common choice for people planning ahead, and the bed height you choose has a real effect on daily comfort. A bed that is too low can make standing up harder, while one that is too high can feel unsteady to climb onto. The comfortable height for most adults is one where you can sit on the edge with your feet flat on the floor and your knees roughly level with your hips.
Remember that the finished height is the frame plus the mattress. A deep mattress on a raised base can add more height than expected, so check both figures together. If more than one person uses the bed, aim for the height that suits the person who finds standing most difficult. A firm, supportive edge on the mattress also makes sitting and rising more secure.
Because bungalows spread everything across one floor, the main bedroom is often a good size. That makes it tempting to go straight for the largest bed available. Before you do, map out how you actually move around the room. A comfortable walkway beside the bed, a clear route to the wardrobe and space to open drawers fully all matter more than a few extra centimetres of mattress.
A simple way to test this is to mark the outline of the bed on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day or two. Open the wardrobe doors, walk past with a laundry basket and see whether anything feels tight. Standard UK sizes are a useful starting point:
The frame itself will be larger than these mattress sizes, particularly if it has a padded headboard or a wide surround. Always check the external dimensions on the product page before deciding, and allow for the headboard depth when working out how far the bed will project into the room.
Some bungalows have a usable loft, but many do not, and the ones that do often have an awkward hatch that makes regular access tiresome. That means bedroom storage has to work harder. A bed with drawers or a lifting base can absorb spare bedding, suitcases and seasonal clothes that might otherwise fill a cupboard.
Think carefully about which type suits your routine. Drawers are easier to reach for everyday items, but they need clear floor space alongside the bed so they can open fully. A lifting base keeps everything hidden and needs no extra floor space, which is helpful when the bed sits close to a wall or other furniture. If lifting a mattress sounds tiring, look for a gas lift mechanism that does most of the work for you.
Storage beds sit well alongside the rest of your modern bedroom furniture UK, especially when the frame shares a finish with your wardrobes or drawers. A matched room reads as calm and organised, which suits the single level openness of a bungalow.
Bungalows come in many forms. A brick bungalow from the 1930s, a chalet bungalow with dormer windows and a recent build with large glazing each suggest a slightly different approach.
These often have picture rails, deeper skirting and a cosier feel. Upholstered frames in textured fabrics or warm wood tones sit comfortably here. A gently curved headboard can soften square rooms without fighting the original details.
Where bedrooms sit under sloping ceilings, headboard height becomes a practical question. Measure the height of the wall where the slope begins, and choose a frame whose headboard sits below that line. A low wooden or fabric bed often looks most at home in these rooms.
Recent builds often have clean lines, light floors and plenty of glass. Simple frames in pale wood, soft grey fabric or slim metal suit these spaces. Because the garden is so visible, picking up a colour from outside, such as a soft green or a natural stone tone, can link the bedroom to the view in a quiet way.
One of the advantages of a bungalow is that there are no stairs to negotiate. Even so, it is worth checking hall widths and tight corners, particularly in older homes with narrow passages. Most of our beds arrive flat packed or in sections, which makes getting them into the house much simpler, but larger headboards and ottoman bases can still be bulky. Measure the narrowest point on the route into the bedroom before you order.
Our beds come with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days, which gives you time to see how a new frame works in the room.
In a bungalow the bedside table often does more than hold a lamp. It may need to store medicines, reading glasses, a phone charger and a glass of water within easy reach. Choose bedside units at a similar height to the top of the mattress so you can reach them without twisting or stretching.
Closed drawers keep the surface clear and the room tidy, while an open shelf gives quick access to books. Our bedside cabinets UK sale include compact designs for rooms where floor space beside the bed is limited, as well as wider pieces for larger bedrooms. If you need more drawer space without filling another wall, a low modern chest of drawers UK beneath a window can hold folded clothes without blocking light.
Bungalow bedrooms often benefit from generous natural light, but rooms facing north or overlooked by hedges can feel dim. Lighter frames help here. Pale oak, soft linen fabrics and light grey upholstery reflect what light there is. In bright south facing rooms you can use deeper colours such as navy, forest green or rich walnut without the room feeling heavy.
Think about practicality too. If grandchildren visit or a dog occasionally finds its way onto the bed, a tightly woven fabric or a wipeable faux leather finish will be easier to keep looking fresh. Velvet looks soft and inviting but shows marks and pressure lines more readily.
Many bungalows have a second or third bedroom that serves as a guest room, hobby space or study. Here flexibility often matters most. A small double gives a guest room a generous feel without filling it, while a single with storage beneath can double as daytime seating with a few cushions. If the room is used regularly by one person, a well built single or small double frees up space for a desk or a reading chair.
For rooms used only occasionally, keep the bed simple and focus on comfort. A good mattress and fresh bedding make more difference to a guest than an elaborate frame. If you are weighing up a larger bed for the main room instead, our guide to UK king size bed dimensions and room sizes explains how to work out the real footprint of a bigger frame.
Choosing a bed for a bungalow comes down to proportion, comfort and practicality. Keep headboards in scale with the ceiling, choose a height that makes getting up easy, leave space to move and use the bed to absorb storage the house may not otherwise offer. When those points are settled, the style can follow your own taste and the character of your home.
At Furniture in Fashion we offer a wide range of modern bed frames, from low profile fabric designs to solid wooden storage beds, so you can find a frame that fits both your room and the way you live.
For most adults, a bed where you can sit on the edge with feet flat on the floor and knees roughly level with your hips is the easiest to get in and out of. Measure the frame and mattress together, as the mattress depth makes a noticeable difference.
They can be very useful, as many bungalows lack loft or upstairs storage. An ottoman base stores bulky items without needing extra floor space. Choose a gas lift model if you would prefer the base to do most of the lifting work.
It can, but check the sill height first. If the headboard would rise above the sill, the bed will block light and look awkward. Where possible, place the bed against a solid wall and keep large windows clear.
Many main bedrooms comfortably fit a double or king size, but the right choice depends on leaving clear walkways and room for wardrobe doors to open. Mark out the frame size on the floor before you buy to check how it feels.
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