Choose an L shaped bunk bed if two people sleep in the room every night and you want each of them to have a distinct space, with room for storage or a desk tucked into the corner. Choose a futon bunk bed if the lower level needs to work as seating for most of the day and only becomes a bed for guests or occasional use. The decision really comes down to three questions: how many nights a week both beds are used, whether the room needs a sofa, and whether your floor plan has a usable corner.
Both designs sit within our wider range of modern bunk beds UK households use to make the most of a small bedroom, but they solve quite different problems. This guide sets out how each works and which homes suit which, and across our bedroom furniture UK sale collection you can coordinate whichever bunk you choose with matching wardrobes and drawers.
An L shaped bunk places the lower bed at a right angle to the upper bed, rather than directly beneath it. The top bunk usually runs along one wall, while the bottom bed extends along the adjoining wall, tucked partly under one end of the upper frame. The result is a corner arrangement that looks like a capital letter L from above.
Because the beds are not stacked directly, the person on the lower bed has open space above them, which feels less enclosed than a traditional bunk. The space under the top bunk that is not occupied by the lower bed can be used for shelves, a desk, drawers or a cosy reading corner. Many L shaped designs build some of this storage into the frame itself.
A futon bunk stacks a single bed on top of a futon base. During the day, the futon folds into a sofa, giving the room a place to sit. At night, it flattens into a bed, often a small double. The top bunk remains a permanent single bed.
The futon bunk is essentially a living room piece and a bedroom piece combined. It suits rooms that have to work hard in daytime, such as a teenager’s room that doubles as a social space, a spare room used as a study, or a studio flat where the bedroom and living area are the same.
The most practical difference is footprint. A futon bunk sits along a single wall, with a footprint roughly the size of a small double bed. An L shaped bunk needs two adjoining walls and covers more floor area overall, because the beds are spread across the corner.
That extra floor area is not wasted, as it usually includes storage or a desk. But in a narrow room, an L shaped bunk can be harder to fit, particularly if the corner is interrupted by a door, a window or a radiator. Measure both walls of the corner and check that the frame will not block anything you need access to.
A futon bunk is more flexible in terms of position, as it only needs one clear wall. It does need clearance in front for the futon to open flat, so allow for the extended depth when planning the room.
If two people sleep in the room every night, comfort and convenience for both sleepers become the priority. An L shaped bunk generally offers the better arrangement. Each sleeper has a bed that is always made, ready to get into, and the lower sleeper is not directly beneath the top bunk. Changing the bedding is easier too, as more of each bed is accessible.
A futon bunk used as a nightly bed asks one person to convert their sofa into a bed each evening and back again each morning. Some people are happy with this routine, but many find it tiresome after a while and leave the futon permanently flat. If that seems likely, a futon bunk loses much of its advantage.
This is where the futon bunk wins. If the room needs to host friends, serve as a quiet place to read or watch something, or work as an occasional living space, the futon gives you real seating without adding a separate sofa. In a small flat or a busy family home, that can make the room far more useful.
An L shaped bunk usually leaves the lower bed as a bed during the day, which can be used for sitting with a few cushions but does not feel like a sofa. However, many L shaped designs include a desk, which gives the room a different kind of daytime purpose. For a student or a child doing homework, a built in desk may be more useful than a sofa.
L shaped bunks tend to offer more integrated storage, because the corner arrangement leaves space under the top bunk that can be filled with shelves, cupboards or drawers. Some include a bookcase at the end of the lower bed or steps with drawers built in. For a shared children’s room where storage is always short, this is a strong argument in favour.
Futon bunks usually offer little built in storage, as the space under the top bunk is taken by the futon. You will need to rely on separate pieces such as a chest of drawers or wardrobe. Our childrens storage furniture UK range includes compact options that work well beside either style.
Both styles should meet BS EN 747, the UK safety standard for bunk beds. Guard rails should run along all open sides of the top bunk, the ladder should be fixed firmly, and the maximum mattress depth for the top bunk should be respected. The top bunk on either design is not suitable for children under six.
L shaped bunks often have a ladder or steps at the end of the top bunk, away from the lower bed. Futon bunks typically have a ladder at one side or end. Think about where the ladder will be in relation to the door and the rest of the room, and make sure there is a clear path to it at night.
Children’s needs change quickly. An L shaped bunk that suits two young siblings may become less useful when one of them moves to their own room. Some L shaped designs can be separated into two single beds, which gives them a longer life. A futon bunk tends to adapt well as children grow, because the futon sofa remains useful for teenagers and young adults.
If the room may eventually become a guest room or study, a futon bunk or a modern sofa beds UK option may give you more long term flexibility. If it will remain a shared children’s room for many years, an L shaped bunk with good storage is likely to serve you better.
An L shaped bunk forms a strong corner feature, so keep the opposite side of the room fairly light to balance it. A rug in front of the lower bed, a simple wall light above it and coordinated bedding on both levels pull the arrangement together. A futon bunk benefits from being styled more like a sofa during the day, with cushions and a throw, so the room reads as a living space rather than a bedroom.
For shared children’s rooms in particular, our article on storage for UK homes where children share rooms has practical ideas that apply to both designs.
You can compare both styles, alongside storage and bedroom furniture, at Furniture in Fashion.
Yes, they cover more floor area because the beds are spread across a corner rather than stacked. However, the extra area usually includes storage or a desk, which can replace other furniture in the room.
It can, but the lower sleeper will need to convert the futon each evening and morning, or leave it flat permanently. If both beds are used every night, a standard or L shaped bunk is usually more convenient.
An L shaped bunk often works better for two children who sleep in the room every night, as each has a permanent bed and there is usually built in storage. A futon bunk suits rooms where one bed is used only occasionally.
They can, provided there is a clear corner and enough length along both walls. Measure carefully around doors, windows and radiators before choosing one.
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