In a modern townhouse, the most useful bunk bed with storage is usually one with deep drawers beneath the bottom bunk or a staircase with drawers built into the steps. Townhouse bedrooms tend to be narrow, spread across several floors and short on built in cupboards, so a bed that carries its own storage frees up floor space that would otherwise go to a chest or toy box. The right design depends on the width of the room, the height of the ceiling and how the stairs will handle delivery.<\/p>\n
Our range of bunk beds with storage UK<\/a> families can choose from includes drawer bases, staircase bunks and frames with shelving. This guide looks at how each type works in the specific conditions of a townhouse.<\/p>\n A modern townhouse is typically three or four storeys tall with a narrow footprint. Living space is often on the ground or first floor, with bedrooms stacked above. That layout brings a few common challenges.<\/p>\n Bedrooms tend to be long and narrow rather than square. The children’s room is often on the top floor, sometimes with a sloping ceiling where the roof line cuts in. Built in storage is limited, and landings are too narrow for extra cupboards. Staircases can be tight, with turns that make carrying large furniture difficult.<\/p>\n A bunk bed with integrated storage addresses several of these at once. It combines sleeping and storage in a single footprint, keeps the rest of the narrow floor clear and arrives in flat packed sections that can be carried up the stairs.<\/p>\n Two or three drawers sit beneath the bottom bunk, either on castors or runners. They are good for clothes, bedding and toys. In a narrow room, check that there is enough clearance in front of the bed for the drawers to open fully.<\/p>\n Instead of a ladder, a set of stairs leads to the top bunk, with a drawer or cupboard in each step. They are easier and safer for younger children to climb and add a good amount of storage. The trade off is a longer footprint, since the stairs extend beyond the end or side of the bed.<\/p>\n Some frames have open shelves at the end or built into the side of the staircase. These suit books, small toys and night time essentials.<\/p>\n A pull out third bed sits beneath the bottom bunk. This is a sleeping solution rather than a storage one, but some trundles double as a deep drawer when not in use.<\/p>\n Width is the key measurement in most townhouse bedrooms. A bunk bed built for a standard single mattress is around a metre wide once the frame is included. Add the depth of an open drawer and the space needed to stand in front of it, and you quickly use most of a narrow room.<\/p>\n If the room is narrow, look for drawers that open from the end of the bed rather than the side, or choose a staircase bunk where the storage sits within the steps. Placing the bed along the longest wall usually leaves the most usable floor space.<\/p>\n Consider where the door opens and where the window sits. In many townhouses the window is at the narrow end of the room. Keep the top bunk away from the window and any blind cords, and avoid blocking radiators with storage drawers.<\/p>\n Top floor bedrooms in townhouses sometimes have sloping ceilings or lower ceiling heights. Measure the ceiling at the exact spot where the bed will stand, not just at the centre of the room.<\/p>\n The top sleeper needs enough headroom to sit up comfortably. If the slope is steep, place the bed under the highest part of the ceiling, or choose a lower frame. A staircase bunk can sometimes be positioned so the stairs sit beneath the lower part of the slope, where headroom matters less.<\/p>\n Townhouse staircases are often narrow with tight turns. Most storage bunks arrive flat packed, but the long side rails and posts still need to make it around corners. Measure the stair width, the turns and the ceiling height above the stairs before you order.<\/p>\n Plan to assemble the bed in the room itself. Staircase bunks in particular are heavy once assembled, so building them in place is far easier than carrying them up.<\/p>\n Even with a storage bunk, most children’s rooms need some freestanding pieces. A slim wardrobe or a chest of drawers is still useful for hanging clothes and school uniform.<\/p>\n The aim in a townhouse is to keep the floor as clear as possible. Use the bed for bulky items such as spare bedding and toys, and keep freestanding storage tall and narrow. Our modern bedroom furniture UK<\/a> collection includes slim designs that suit narrow rooms.<\/p>\n For toys and games, a dedicated piece from our children’s storage furniture UK sale<\/a> range can sit at the foot of the bed or beneath a window. For clothes, a compact option from our modern children’s wardrobes UK<\/a> range keeps hanging space within reach of younger children.<\/p>\n Townhouses are tall buildings, and their rooms reward vertical thinking. Wall shelves above the bottom bunk, hooks by the door and a tall bookcase in a recess all help. Keep anything heavy or breakable away from the top bunk and ensure shelves are securely fixed to the wall.<\/p>\n Above the bed, avoid hanging pendants or decorative lights that the top sleeper could reach. A wall light by the lower bunk and a small clip light on the top bunk, positioned safely, give each child their own reading light.<\/p>\n Modern townhouses often have clean lines, white walls and engineered wood floors. White or pale grey storage bunks look calm in this setting and reflect light in rooms that may be overshadowed by neighbouring buildings. Natural timber bunks add warmth, which helps if the room feels cool.<\/p>\n Solid wood frames with drawers are heavier, which adds stability but makes the stair carry harder. Engineered wood drawer units are lighter and still practical, as long as the structural frame is solid.<\/p>\n Upper floors in a townhouse often behave differently from the rest of the house. Heat rises through the stairwell, so top floor bedrooms can be noticeably warmer, especially in summer. A child on the top bunk sleeps in the warmest part of an already warm room. Choose breathable bedding, consider a lighter tog duvet for the upper sleeper, and make sure the window can be opened safely for ventilation without the top bunk being close to it.<\/p>\n Natural light can be limited in narrow rooms with a single window at one end. Storage bunks with deep drawers and staircases are substantial pieces, so a pale finish helps the room avoid feeling heavy. Position the bed so it does not block the light path from the window across the room, and keep the tallest furniture on the same wall as the window rather than opposite it.<\/p>\n Radiators are often fitted beneath windows or along the longest wall. Avoid placing drawers directly against them, as heat can warp drawer fronts and dry out timber. Leave enough space for warm air to circulate.<\/p>\n Storage bunks have more parts than standard frames, so a little planning saves time. Clear the floor completely before the boxes arrive. Open one box at a time and group the fixings. Build the drawer carcasses or staircase first, since these are often the most time consuming parts, then assemble the bed frame around them. Check that drawers run smoothly before the top bunk goes on, as adjustments are easier with clear access. Finally, recheck every bolt once the bed has been used for a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n When two children share a townhouse bedroom, giving each their own storage reduces disagreements. Assign drawers in the bed or steps to each child, and label them if they are young. Our article on storage for UK children who share a room<\/a> has more ideas on dividing space fairly.<\/p>\nWhy Townhouses Need a Different Approach<\/h3>\n
Types of Storage Bunk Beds<\/h3>\n
Under bed drawers<\/h3>\n
Staircase bunks<\/h3>\n
Bunks with shelving<\/h3>\n
Trundle bunks<\/h3>\n
Fitting Storage Bunks Into Narrow Rooms<\/h3>\n
Working With Top Floor Ceilings<\/h3>\n
Getting the Bed Upstairs<\/h3>\n
Balancing Built In and Freestanding Storage<\/h3>\n
Using Vertical Space<\/h3>\n
Choosing Materials for a Townhouse Bedroom<\/h3>\n
Warmth, Light and Air on the Upper Floors<\/h3>\n
A Short Assembly Plan<\/h3>\n
Keeping a Shared Room Organised<\/h3>\n