FIF Blog
FIF Blog
mobile logo How to Arrange Bunk Beds in Rooms with a Chimney Breast

period homes Tag

How to Arrange Bunk Beds in Rooms with a Chimney Breast
October 13, 2026

How to Arrange Bunk Beds in Rooms with a Chimney Breast

Chimney breasts are a defining feature of many Victorian and Edwardian homes, and they often appear in bedrooms that need to sleep two children. This guide explains how to arrange a bunk bed around one. We start by working out what the chimney breast is doing, whether it hides a working fireplace, a decorative surround or a blocked opening, as that affects where the bed can safely go. We then look at three layouts: tucking the bed into an alcove, placing it on the wall opposite, or running it along a side wall. You will find detailed advice on measuring uneven alcoves at several heights, and ideas for using the second alcove for shelving, drawers, hanging space or a small desk. We also cover styling the chimney breast as a focal point, ceiling heights in older properties, lighting shadowy recesses and the safety checks that matter most in older period homes across the UK....

Continue Reading
How to Choose Computer Desks for a 1930s Semi
October 13, 2026

How to Choose Computer Desks for a 1930s Semi

Choosing a computer desk for a 1930s semi means working with the house rather than against it. Interwar homes have generous ceilings, bay windows, chimney breast alcoves and a small box room above the hall, and each of these spots suits a different shape of desk. In this guide we explain why a slim freestanding desk between 100 and 120cm wide and no deeper than 60cm usually works best, and how to measure properly in an older property where walls bow, skirting is deep and floors can slope. We look at desk placement in the box room, across the bay and inside an alcove, along with finishes that sit comfortably beside original features such as picture rails and parquet. You will also find practical advice on storage without clutter, positioning around radiators, lighting for tall rooms, choosing a chair for compact spaces and getting flat packed furniture up a narrow staircase, followed by answers to common questions....

Continue Reading
Making Bunk Beds with Storage Work in Rooms with Alcoves
October 13, 2026

Making Bunk Beds with Storage Work in Rooms with Alcoves

Alcoves either side of a chimney breast are a familiar feature of Victorian and Edwardian bedrooms, and they shape every furniture decision in the room. This guide explains how to make a bunk bed with storage work alongside them. We show how to measure an alcove properly at several heights, why the external frame width matters more than the mattress size, and how to decide whether the bunk belongs inside the recess or on another wall. You will find a comparison of underbed drawer, staircase and shelving designs, with advice on the floor clearance each one needs. We also look at turning the alcoves themselves into storage zones with shelving, a desk or a narrow wardrobe, keeping toys and books within easy reach, planning around sockets and lighting, and preserving the natural symmetry of a chimney breast. Practical safety points cover fixing tall units to the wall and dealing with old fireplaces....

Continue Reading
How to Choose Bunk Beds for a Country Cottage
October 12, 2026

How to Choose Bunk Beds for a Country Cottage

Country cottages are full of character, but low beams, narrow staircases and uneven floors make choosing a bunk bed more involved than it is in a modern home. This guide walks you through the process, starting with the building rather than the catalogue. We explain how to measure headroom beneath the lowest beam, how to check that the longest parts of a flat packed frame will make it up a winding staircase, and how to level a bunk on an old sloping floor. You will find advice on styles that suit cottage interiors, from solid pine and warm oak tones to simple painted and Shaker inspired frames, as well as guidance on small deep set windows, sloping eaves rooms, damp and ventilation. We also look at storage in rooms with few built in cupboards, choosing robust frames for holiday cottages, textiles with cottage character and the safety points that matter most in an older home....

Continue Reading
How to Choose Bunk Beds for a Victorian Terrace
October 12, 2026

How to Choose Bunk Beds for a Victorian Terrace

Choosing a bunk bed for a Victorian terrace means starting with the house rather than the bed. Period homes have their own quirks: alcoves either side of the chimney breast, tall sash windows with deep sills, ceilings that change height between the front bedroom and the rear extension, and staircases that are often narrow with a turn at the top. In this guide we explain how Victorian bedrooms are typically laid out and which rooms usually take a bunk. We show you how to measure walls that are rarely straight, how to check headroom above the top bunk, and why the alcoves are better used for wardrobes and shelving than for the bed itself. We also cover safe placement near sash windows and radiators, checking that a flat packed frame will get up the stairs, choosing a style that suits cornicing and panelled doors, levelling a bunk on old floorboards and choosing the right wall fixings for older walls....

Continue Reading
Choosing Space-Saving Bunk Beds for a Period Property
October 12, 2026

Choosing Space-Saving Bunk Beds for a Period Property

Period properties bring generous ceilings, chimney alcoves, sash windows and original floorboards, all of which affect how a bunk bed fits. In this guide we explain how to choose space saving bunk beds that work with the architecture of an older UK home rather than against it. We look at why ceiling heights vary between floors and property types, how to measure a chimney recess accurately when walls are rarely square, and where to place the bed so fireplaces, cornicing and windows remain visible. You will find advice on levelling a frame on uneven boards, matching painted, wooden or metal finishes to the style of the house and choosing integrated drawers, trundles and designs that split into singles. We also cover storage for rooms without fitted wardrobes, safety near sash windows, lighting in tall rooms and measuring narrow hallways and staircases before delivery, so the finished room feels as if the bed has always belonged there....

Continue Reading
Choosing Double Bunk Beds for a Victorian Terrace
October 12, 2026

Choosing Double Bunk Beds for a Victorian Terrace

Victorian terraces are full of character, but their bedrooms come with quirks that shape every furniture decision: tall ceilings in some rooms and surprisingly low ones in others, narrow staircases with tight turns, chimney breasts, sash windows and floorboards that are rarely level. A double bunk bed, with a double or small double below and a single above, can make excellent use of these rooms, giving a shared bedroom or guest room real flexibility without taking more floor space than an ordinary double. Choosing well means measuring more than the floor. In this guide we look at which bedroom you are furnishing, how to use ceiling height safely, how to get a frame up the stairs, where to position it around chimney breasts and windows, how to cope with uneven floors and which styles sit comfortably alongside original period features. We finish with practical storage ideas and answers to common questions....

Continue Reading
Choosing Adult Bunk Beds for an Edwardian Semi
October 12, 2026

Choosing Adult Bunk Beds for an Edwardian Semi

Edwardian semis often have generous ceiling heights, wide bay windows and handsome original features, which makes them better suited to adult bunk beds than many people expect. The key is to choose a frame that is rated for adult weight, check the clearance between the top mattress and the ceiling, and position the bed so it works with cornicing, picture rails, fireplaces and sash windows rather than against them. In this guide we explain how to measure a period room properly, including uneven floors and sloping ceilings in loft conversions. We look at which frame materials suit Edwardian proportions, how to think about mattress depth and guard rail height for grown up sleepers, and where to place the bed in back bedrooms and box rooms. We also share styling ideas that respect the character of the house, from colour choices to bedding, so a practical sleeping solution still feels at home in a period property....

Continue Reading
Choosing Super King Beds for a 1930s Semi
October 11, 2026

Choosing Super King Beds for a 1930s Semi

A super king bed brings real comfort, but fitting one into a 1930s semi takes careful planning. This guide explains how to decide whether your home can take one and how to make it work. We set out the dimensions of a UK super king, how much wider it is than a king size or double, and how to calculate the space left for bedside tables and walkways. We explain why the front bedroom is usually the only realistic option, how to position the bed so the bay window stays clear, and how chimney breasts and alcoves affect the layout. You will find advice on keeping the headboard below the picture rail, choosing frames that suit interwar proportions, and getting a large frame and mattress up a typical staircase. We also cover mattress choice, bedside furniture, when a king size may be the better option, and how to style the finished room....

Continue Reading
How to Choose Beds for a 1930s Semi
October 6, 2026

How to Choose Beds for a 1930s Semi

Interwar semi detached houses have a recognisable layout, and understanding it is the key to choosing the right beds. This guide works room by room, starting with the bay fronted main bedroom and explaining why the bed usually belongs on the wall facing the window rather than in the bay itself. We look at how chimney breasts and their alcoves shape the layout, which bed sizes typically suit the rear bedroom, and how to make the most of the compact box room above the hallway, including the bulkhead over the stairs. You will find advice on keeping headboards below the picture rail, choosing materials that sit comfortably with Art Deco details and original floorboards, and planning wardrobes alongside the bed. We also cover bedside furniture for tight corners, lighting in older rooms and how to get a frame up a typical 1930s staircase. A short FAQ answers common questions about period bedrooms....

Continue Reading