Choose a triple bunk bed if you need three children sleeping in one room and you have a generous ceiling height. Choose an L shaped bunk bed if you need two beds, want more open floor space around them, and have a usable corner. That is the short answer. The longer answer depends on the ages of the children, the shape of the room and how the space is used during the day.
Both designs appear in our modern bunk beds UK sale range, and both solve the problem of fitting more sleepers into less floor area. They simply do it in different directions: one builds upwards, the other spreads along two walls.
A triple bunk bed provides three sleeping spaces in a single frame. Some stack three beds directly on top of one another. Others use a lower level with two beds side by side or a wider base, with a single bunk above. The common thread is that the footprint stays close to that of a standard bunk bed while the number of sleepers rises to three.
An L shaped bunk bed places the lower bed at a right angle to the upper bed, so the frame forms an L when viewed from above. The top bunk usually runs along one wall while the bottom bed runs along the adjoining wall. This creates an open area beneath part of the upper bed, which is often used for shelves, a desk or simply a play area. Because the two designs shape a room so differently, it is worth considering them alongside the other pieces you plan to include from our modern bedroom furniture UK collection.
Triple bunk beds that stack three levels are tall. In a typical UK bedroom with a ceiling of around 2.4 metres, the space between the top mattress and the ceiling can become tight. Before considering a triple, measure the ceiling height where the bed will stand and compare it with the overall height listed for the frame. Allow room for the child on the top level to sit up comfortably.
Lofts, dormer rooms and properties with sloping ceilings are rarely suitable for a three tier frame. Designs with a wider bottom bed and a single above are lower overall, so they can suit rooms where a full three level stack would not.
L shaped bunk beds are generally similar in height to a standard bunk, so ceiling height is less of a concern. That makes them easier to place in a wider range of homes, including newer properties where ceilings tend to follow standard heights.
A triple bunk bed keeps its footprint compact. In a narrow room, such as a box room or a long, thin bedroom in a terraced house, this matters a great deal. The rest of the floor stays clear for wardrobes, drawers and play.
An L shaped bunk bed takes up more floor in total because the beds sit along two walls. However, it uses the corner efficiently, and corners are often wasted in bedrooms. In a square room, an L shape can feel more balanced and less dominant than a tall stack. In a room with a door, window or radiator on one of the two walls, it may simply not fit.
General safety guidance advises that children under six should not sleep on an upper bunk. With a triple bunk bed, this creates a planning question: who sleeps at the top and the middle? Families with a mix of ages often find a triple works when the older children take the higher levels and the youngest sleeps on the bottom.
For families with two younger children, an L shaped bed can be gentler. The lower bed is a normal single at floor level, and the top bunk is no higher than a standard bunk. As children grow, many L shaped designs can be separated into two individual beds.
Whatever you choose, look for confirmation that the frame meets BS EN 747, the British and European safety standard for bunk beds. This covers guard rails, gaps and ladders, and applies to both designs.
Bedrooms shared by several children are rarely used only for sleeping. They often double as a play area, a homework space or a place to get dressed in the morning rush. Consider how each design affects that.
A triple bunk bed leaves more floor clear, which suits rooms where play space is the priority. An L shaped bed creates a natural zone beneath the top bunk, which can become a reading nook with cushions or a spot for a small desk. That zone gives each child a slightly more defined area, which can help with sharing.
Three children in one room means three sets of clothes, books and toys. Plan storage at the same time as the bed. Tall, narrow children’s wardrobes UK make the most of wall height, which balances well alongside a compact triple bunk. With an L shaped bed, low storage often sits neatly in the open space beneath the top bunk.
A small table at each bed gives children somewhere for a book, water or night light. Compact children’s bedside tables UK are easier to fit next to a lower bunk than a full size cabinet. On the upper levels, a clip on shelf or a frame with a built in ledge does the same job.
For more ideas on organising a shared bedroom, our guide to storage furniture for UK homes where children share rooms covers wardrobes, drawers and toy storage in detail.
Triple bunk beds have more parts and are heavier overall, so assembly takes longer and usually needs two adults. Once built, they are not easy to move around the room, so place them carefully first time. L shaped beds also need two people to build, but the separate sections are often lighter to handle.
If you expect to move house in the next few years, think about how the bed will work in a different room. An L shaped bed can sometimes be reconfigured as two singles. A triple bunk is more specific in what it needs, particularly in ceiling height.
Changing sheets is one of the least discussed parts of owning a bunk bed, yet it shapes how the bed feels to live with. On a triple bunk, the highest level is the hardest to make. You will usually be standing on the ladder, reaching across a mattress enclosed by guard rails. Fitted sheets with deep elastic corners and lightweight duvets make this easier, and some families keep a simple sleeping bag style cover on the top level for weeknights.
An L shaped bed is gentler on this front. The lower bed sits at floor level and can be made like any single bed, and the top bunk is no higher than a standard bunk. If the person doing the laundry has back or shoulder trouble, that difference is worth weighing.
Mattress depth matters with both designs. Each upper level should use a mattress no deeper than the maximum marked on the frame, so the guard rail stays effective. On a triple, that may mean two upper mattresses of the same slim depth, so check the details before ordering.
Three children in one frame means more movement passing through the same structure. A child turning over on the top level can be felt below. Solid joints and regular tightening of the fixings help. L shaped beds separate sleepers onto different sections of the frame, so one restless child tends to disturb the others a little less.
When we help customers decide, it usually comes down to three questions. How many children need a bed in this room? How high is the ceiling? Is there a usable corner? If the answers are three children, a high ceiling and limited floor, a triple bunk bed makes good sense. If the answers are two children, a standard ceiling and a free corner, an L shaped design will usually give a more comfortable, open room.
It also helps to think a few years ahead. Children grow quickly, and a room that suits a six year old and an eight year old may feel very different when they reach their teens. Many families choose the design that can adapt, then add or swap storage as needs change. You can compare both styles and find matching pieces for a shared room at Furniture in Fashion, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
Some can, usually by adding a pull out trundle bed beneath the lower bunk. Check the product details for trundle compatibility.
Triple bunk beds that meet BS EN 747 are designed to be used safely. Follow the age guidance for upper bunks, keep guard rails fitted and use mattresses of the recommended depth.
L shaped beds are generally simpler because the sections are smaller and lighter. Triple bunk beds have more components and need extra care.
Most do, because the design relies on two adjoining walls. Some can be arranged against one wall with the lower bed extending into the room, though this uses more floor.
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