For most small UK bedrooms, a standard single bunk bed that takes two 90 by 190cm mattresses is the right size. The frame itself usually measures around 95 to 100cm wide and 195 to 205cm long, so you need a wall at least that long plus space to walk alongside and make the beds. If the room is very compact or the ceiling is low, a mid height or low bunk, or a small single bunk taking 75 by 190cm mattresses, can be the better fit. Measuring floor area, wall length and ceiling height before you choose is the surest way to get it right.
Small bedrooms are where bunks earn their place. Stacking two beds frees up floor space for play, study or storage. Our modern bunk beds UK sale range includes several compact designs, and this guide explains how to work out which size suits your room.
These take two UK single mattresses at 90 by 190cm. They are the most widely available size and suit children through to teenagers. The external frame adds a few centimetres on each side, so check the overall dimensions on the product page rather than the mattress size alone.
Some compact bunks take 75 by 190cm mattresses, sometimes described as small single or 2ft 6in. They save around 15cm of width, which can make the difference in a narrow box room. Bedding choice is slightly more limited, so check availability before you commit.
A few designs aimed at younger children take shorter mattresses. These save length but will be outgrown sooner, so they suit families with young children who expect to change beds in a few years.
These have a double or small double on the bottom and a single on top. They need noticeably more width and are rarely the right choice for a genuinely small room.
Start with the floor. Measure the length and width of the room, and note where the door, window, radiator and any built in cupboards are. Then pick the wall where the bunk is most likely to go. A long, unbroken wall away from the window is usually best.
Mark out the footprint of the bunk on the floor with masking tape. Use the frame dimensions, not just the mattress size. Then add the ladder or staircase if it projects from the side or end. Walk around the taped area, open the door fully and check that drawers and wardrobes can still open.
Making a top bunk is awkward at the best of times. Leaving at least 60cm of clear floor along the open side helps a great deal. If one long side is against the wall, you only need this clearance on the other side.
This is the measurement people most often forget. A full height bunk is typically around 150 to 170cm tall. The child on the top needs enough space to sit up without hitting their head, and enough room to climb in and out comfortably.
Measure from the floor to the ceiling, then subtract the height of the top mattress surface. What remains is the headroom. In older homes with high ceilings, this is rarely a problem. In many new builds, flats and loft rooms, it can be tight. Watch for pendant lights, smoke alarms and sloping ceilings directly above the bed.
If headroom is limited, a mid sleeper or low bunk is worth considering. These are shorter overall, which also makes them easier for younger children to climb and less imposing in a small space.
Few small bedrooms are neat rectangles, and the quirks of UK housing often decide where a bunk can go. In Victorian and Edwardian terraces, chimney breasts create alcoves on either side. A standard bunk rarely fits inside an alcove, but it can often run along the opposite wall, leaving the alcoves free for shelving or a narrow wardrobe.
Box rooms above the stairs in many 1930s and postwar houses have a bulkhead, a raised section of floor that covers the top of the staircase. Placing a bunk on or beside the bulkhead is rarely sensible, as it raises the bed and reduces headroom. Use the bulkhead for storage instead and position the bunk on the level floor.
Rooms with a window on the long wall can be tricky, as the bunk may partly cover the glass. Check that the top bunk does not sit directly beside an opening window a child could reach, and that curtains or blinds can still be drawn.
Radiators deserve a quick check as well. A bunk pushed tight against a radiator blocks heat from reaching the room and can make the lower bunk uncomfortably warm. Leaving a small gap, or choosing a different wall, keeps the room evenly heated and protects bedding and the frame finish from prolonged direct heat.
A bunk bed chosen for a five year old should still work when that child is ten or twelve. Children grow taller faster than many parents expect, so a full length 190cm mattress is usually wiser than a shorter cabin size unless you plan to replace the bed fairly soon. Think too about how the room will be used as children get older. Homework needs a desk, and teenagers need more clothes storage. Leaving a little flexible floor space now makes those changes easier later. A split bunk adds another option, since the two beds can be separated if one child moves into another room.
Whatever the size, the bed should meet BS EN 747. It is widely recommended that children under six sleep on the lower bunk only. Guard rails should run along any open side of the top bunk, and the manufacturer’s maximum mattress depth must be followed so the rails stay effective.
In small rooms, think about where the ladder lands. It should not end beside a door that could swing into a climbing child, and the floor at the bottom should be clear of toys.
Underbed drawers can replace a chest of drawers in a small room. Check that there is enough floor space in front of the bed to open them fully. Staircase bunks with storage in the steps offer another option, though they add length or width to the overall footprint.
Wall shelves above the lower bunk, hooks on the back of the door and tall, narrow storage units all keep floors clear. Avoid fixing shelves where the top bunk sleeper could knock their head.
White, pale grey and light wood frames feel less bulky than dark ones. Light walls and simple bedding reinforce the sense of space.
If you are planning the whole room, our modern bedroom furniture UK range includes compact pieces that sit comfortably alongside a bunk.
A bunk bed is not always the answer. If only one child sleeps in the room, a high sleeper with a desk or storage beneath can be more useful. If two children share but the ceiling is low, two singles in an L shape or a single with a trundle may suit the space better. Our children’s beds UK sale collection covers these alternatives if you want to compare options before deciding.
Once the bunk is placed, think about clothes storage. A narrow wardrobe or a compact chest of drawers is often all a small room can hold. Our children’s wardrobes UK range includes slimmer designs suited to box rooms. For further ideas, our articles on chests of drawers in small UK bedrooms and bedside cabinets for small UK rooms look at how to fit extra storage without crowding the floor.
Before ordering, confirm the following. The wall is long enough for the full frame length. There is clear floor along the open side. The ceiling allows the top sleeper to sit up. The ladder lands in a safe, clear spot. Doors, windows and radiators are not obstructed. The flat packed boxes will fit through your front door and up the stairs.
Getting these details right means the bed will feel like it belongs in the room rather than squeezed into it. You can browse compact bunk beds and space saving bedroom furniture at Furniture in Fashion.
Small single bunks taking 75 by 190cm mattresses are among the most compact. Some cabin length designs for young children are shorter still.
Allow roughly 100cm by 205cm for the frame, plus clear space along the open side for climbing and making the beds.
There is no single figure, but the top sleeper should be able to sit up comfortably. Measure from the top mattress surface to the ceiling before buying.
Often yes. Low bunks are less imposing, suit lower ceilings and are easier for younger children to climb.
The box room is one of the most familiar features of British homes, and one…
Scandinavian interiors are built around light, comfort and practicality, which makes the style well suited…
Children sharing a bedroom still need a place to do homework, draw and read, and…
A bunk bed or high bed with a desk underneath can give a small bedroom…
The white bunk beds that work best in holiday lets are sturdy, simple and easy…
A high sleeper raises a single bed far enough off the floor for the space…
This website uses cookies.