An L shaped bunk bed is one particular kind of space saving design: it uses a corner, sets the two beds at right angles and creates an open area beneath the top bunk. A standard space saving bunk bed stacks one bed directly above the other and builds storage into the frame, which keeps the footprint as small as possible. If your room has a free corner and you want a more open feel, the L shape is usually the better fit. If floor area is the tightest constraint, a stacked design with integrated storage tends to win.
Both styles are in our space saving bunk beds UK collection, and both are popular in shared children’s rooms. The differences come down to footprint, how the room is used during the day and how storage is handled.
The phrase space saving covers a wide range of bunk beds. In general, it refers to designs that reduce the floor area a bed needs, or that make use of space a normal bed would waste. Common features include drawers beneath the lower bunk, storage steps instead of a ladder, shelving built into the end panels and vertical ladders that sit flush against the frame.
Some space saving bunk beds also include a trundle, a pull out third bed that slides under the lower bunk. Others split into two separate beds, which saves space later by letting the furniture adapt as children move into their own rooms. When planning the whole room, consider the bed alongside other pieces from our bedroom furniture UK range, since storage built into the bed reduces how much freestanding furniture you need.
An L shaped bunk bed places the upper bed along one wall and the lower bed along the adjoining wall. The result is an open space beneath part of the top bunk, roughly the size of a single bed, that can be used for something other than sleeping.
That space is the main reason families choose an L shape. It can hold shelves, a small desk, floor cushions or a toy area. Each child gets a bed on a different wall, which can make sharing feel less crowded than sleeping directly above or below a sibling.
The trade off is total floor area. Because the beds spread along two walls, an L shaped bunk covers more of the room than a stacked design. In a square bedroom, this often feels natural. In a narrow room, it may block a doorway or window.
A stacked bunk bed keeps both beds within a single footprint, close to that of one single bed. Add drawers or storage steps, and the bed also replaces a chest of drawers or toy box. That can free up a whole wall for a wardrobe or play area.
The stacked design suits narrow rooms and box rooms particularly well. It also works when the room’s corners are taken by a door, radiator or window, since it only needs one straight length of wall.
Stacked bunk beds use less floor. L shaped bunk beds use more but make better use of a corner.
L shaped designs give you a defined zone under the top bunk. Stacked designs leave more open floor elsewhere in the room.
Stacked space saving beds often include drawers or storage steps. L shaped beds can include shelves or drawers in the lower bed and sometimes in the steps, though designs vary.
L shaped beds need a corner with two clear walls. Stacked beds need one wall and suit long, thin rooms.
L shaped beds separate the sleepers slightly. Stacked beds place children directly above and below each other.
Many space saving bunk beds, including some L shaped designs, use storage steps rather than a ladder. Steps are easier and more comfortable to climb, particularly for younger children who are old enough for a top bunk. They also hold clothes, books or toys in drawers or cubbies built into each step.
Steps do take up more floor than a vertical ladder. In a very small room, a ladder fixed to the end of the frame may be the better compromise. If you prefer separate storage, a children’s toy box UK tucked beneath the top bunk of an L shaped bed keeps toys close to hand.
The open area is versatile. For school age children, a small desk turns it into a homework spot. A low children’s tables UK option with a couple of stools creates a place for drawing and games. For younger children, cushions and a soft rug make a reading den.
Keep anything placed under the top bunk below the height of the frame, and avoid tall shelving that a child could use to climb. Leave enough headroom for children to sit and stand comfortably without hitting the frame.
Lighting makes this area far more usable. Because it sits beneath the upper bed, it receives less daylight than the rest of the room. A battery powered or low heat light fixed under the frame, or a small desk lamp on the table, turns it into a space children will actually choose to use. Keep any fabric, such as a curtain hung from the frame, well away from light sources.
Whichever design you choose, check that it meets BS EN 747, the British and European safety standard for bunk beds. General safety guidance advises that children under six should not sleep on the top bunk.
Use a mattress of the recommended depth on the upper bed so the guard rail stays effective. Keep the top bunk away from windows and light fittings, and make sure the ladder or steps are clear of the door swing.
L shaped bunk beds are usually supplied as two connected sections: the raised bed and the lower bed. Assembly is straightforward but takes up floor while you work, so clear the corner and the area around it before you begin. Build the upper section first, position it, then attach or slide the lower bed into place.
Stacked space saving bunk beds with storage steps can involve a fair number of drawers and runners. Allow time for these, and fit the drawer fronts carefully so they run smoothly. Two adults make either job safer, especially when lifting the upper frame.
Once built, both designs are heavy and difficult to move. Decide on the final position before assembly, checking door swing, radiator position, window location and access to sockets.
A practical difference that families notice quickly is how easy the beds are to make. On an L shaped design, the lower bed is often more accessible because it is not directly beneath the upper bunk. On a stacked bunk, the lower bed is partly enclosed, which can make tucking in sheets a little awkward.
For either design, fitted sheets and lightweight duvets save effort on the top bunk. A simple routine where each child straightens their own bed in the morning keeps the room calm without much work from adults.
L shaped beds are visually larger, so lighter finishes help them sit comfortably in a room. White frames with natural wood details are common and feel fresh. Stacked space saving beds are more compact, so they can carry a stronger colour or a darker finish without overwhelming the space.
Painted wood is easy to wipe clean and touch up. Natural finishes show wear less obviously and age gracefully. If storage steps or drawers are included, consider handles that are easy for small hands to grip and that will not catch on clothing.
Think about the room first, then the children. If you have a square room with a free corner and two children who would benefit from a little separation, an L shaped bunk bed creates a balanced, usable layout. If the room is narrow, the corners are occupied or you need maximum floor for play, a stacked space saving bunk bed with built in storage will make the room work harder.
It is also worth asking how the room might change. Children who share now may want separate rooms later. Designs that split into two single beds give you more options when that time comes. Our guide to children’s bedroom storage furniture for UK family homes has further ideas for organising a shared room around either style of bed.
When you are ready to compare frames, finishes and storage options, you can browse the full range at Furniture in Fashion.
Yes, in the sense that it uses a corner efficiently and creates usable space beneath the top bunk. It does cover more floor overall than a stacked design.
Designs with storage steps are generally easier to climb than ladders. Both L shaped and stacked beds can come with steps.
Many can. Check the product details, as not every design converts.
A small desk, low table, toy storage or cushions all work well. Keep items low and avoid anything a child could use to climb.
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