Constraint recap: 170cm HARD max external length. Budget ~£500 total (frame + mattress/es). Sam is 5–6. Bunk or high sleeper preferred, fort-friendly, UK only, quality over IKEA on mattresses.
| # | Retailer | Model | Price | Fits 170cm? | Quality ★ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ShortyBeds (Nova Bunk) | Nova Bunk Bed (166cm option) | £418.95 | Yes (166cm) | ★★★★½ | Made in Lancashire by a family mill, solid Atlantic Coast pine, splits into two singles. Length options at 3" increments (166, 174, 181cm…). Needs 2x 75x160 mattresses. |
| 2 | ShortyBeds (County) | County short single (160cm mattress) | ~£350–450 | Yes | ★★★★½ | Traditional turned-finial pine frame, hand-made. Single bed not bunk — pair with a floor mattress for sleepovers. |
| 3 | Linthorpe Beds (Shorty Bunk Beds) | Custom shorty bunk bed | From ~£500 frame-only (quote) | Yes (spec a 160cm mattress) | ★★★★½ | True made-to-measure. Frame runs ~4" longer than mattress — so a 160cm mattress = ~170cm frame. Phone 01642 613684 for a quote. Lead time a few weeks. |
| 4 | Boxroombeds (Modit Low Bunk) | Modit Low Bunkbed (white) | £434–£483 | Yes (customisable from 163cm) | ★★★★ | Fully modifiable — you pick length and width. Solid wood, non-toxic paint, reversible ladder. Lower bunk profile = easier to drape fabric over the top for fort vibes. |
| 5 | Boxroombeds (Shaker Bunk) | Shaker Bunk Bed (white) | £515–£615 | Yes (from 163cm) | ★★★★ | Same made-to-measure deal, slightly more traditional look with shaker panelling. A bit over budget as frame-only. |
| 6 | Noa & Nani (Mimi Shorty) | Mimi Shorty Bunk Bed | £189.97 | Yes (166cm) | ★★★½ | Best value bunk by miles — solid pine, splits into toddler + day bed. Takes 2x 75x160cm junior mattresses. Marketed at younger kids but perfectly fine for 5–6. Finish is less refined than ShortyBeds. |
| 7 | IKEA (MINNEN extendable) | MINNEN Extendable (single) | ~£189 + LURÖY slats | Yes when retracted (137cm min) | ★★★½ | Extends 137cm → 207cm. Won't work as a bunk, and once extended past 170cm you lose the fit. But as a short "buy once" frame it's hard to beat on price. Quirk: non-standard mattress size, so swapping for a premium mattress is fiddly (your concern is valid). |
| 8 | Strictly Beds and Bunks (Everest Shorty) | Everest Classic Bunk (Short) | £299.95 | No (175cm mattress → ~180cm frame) | ★★★★ | Listed here so you can cross it off — frame is 5cm too long. UK manufacturer, solid pine, BSEN747-1 safety-certified. Worth a call to ask if they'll do a shorter custom run. |
| 9 | Scallywag Kids (Box Room Beds) | Various cabin/shorty beds | £400–£900+ | Mostly no (check per model) | ★★★★½ | Premium British kids-bed specialist, proper heirloom build. Their range skews longer — probably out of 170cm, but worth a phone call to ask about bespoke. |
| 10 | Cuckooland (Kids Beds) | Mid/high sleepers + canopy accessories | £300–£1000+ | Not at 170cm off-the-shelf | ★★★★ | Curated retailer with lots of fort-style options (Vipack Pino, Marlowe den, Lifetime Hideout). Worth browsing for canopy/tent add-ons even if the frames are too long. |
You'll need 75x160cm ("extra short" / "junior") to match any of the 170cm-compatible frames. Note this is a less common size than standard shorty (75x175), so options narrow.
| # | Retailer | Model | Price | Size | Quality ★ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silentnight (Healthy Growth Kids Pocket) | Healthy Growth Kids 600 Pocket | ~£100–130 | Shorty 75x175 (check 160 availability) | ★★★★ | 600 pocket springs, no FR chemicals, EcoComfort fibres from recycled plastic, 5-yr guarantee. UK-made. Best mass-market kids option. Stock 75x160 is limited — call ahead. |
| 2 | Drift Away Beds (Sigma Pocket Sprung) | Sigma Pocket Sprung Memory Foam | ~£120–180 | 75x160 available | ★★★★ | Small UK maker that will cut to size. Pocket springs + memory foam layer. Good price for a proper pocket-sprung in an odd size. |
| 3 | Children's Bed Shop (Shorty Mattresses) | Kids Avenue Sleeptight Junior 70x160 / various | ~£80–150 | 70x160 & 75x160 options | ★★★½ | Big range of junior sizes, decent value. Quality is mid-range — fine, not special. |
| 4 | The Tiny Bed Company (Tiny Dreamer Plus) | Tiny Dreamer Plus 160x70 | ~£150–200 | 70x160 (IKEA-fit) | ★★★★ | Luxury pocket-sprung made for MINNEN/IKEA sizes — relevant if you go the IKEA route. Natural coir/wool, hand-tufted. Premium-feeling without premium pricing. |
| 5 | John Lewis (Pocket Sprung Mattresses) | Natural Collection kids' options | ~£150–300 | Mostly standard single — check shorty | ★★★★ | Reliable, easy returns, but range mostly standard sizes. Call/email to ask about 75x160 bespoke. |
| 6 | Naturalmat (Natural Teen) | Natural Teen Mattress | £780 | Custom sizing available | ★★★★★ | Gold standard — Devon-made, chemical-free, natural coir/wool/latex. Way over budget alone. Listed so you know the ceiling. |
Because most frames on this list won't come with a fort built in, here's how you build one:
| # | Option | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IKEA kids' bed canopies & tents | £15–40 | Simple fabric canopies you hook above the bed. Cheapest route. Not specifically for top bunks but easy to rig. |
| 2 | Custom Kids Furniture — Logan Bunk Bed Tent Kit | ~£60–100 (shipped to UK) | Proper fabric enclosure for the top bunk — turns it into a castle/fort. US-based so check shipping. |
| 3 | Max & Lily bunk curtains | ~£40–80 | Fabric side curtains for top OR bottom bunk. Best for creating a den vibe on the lower bunk. UK availability via Amazon/Wayfair. |
| 4 | DIY fabric + cup hooks | £10–30 | Honestly the most flexible. Cotton canopy fabric + a few hooks into the top rails of the bunk = any fort you want. Most parents end up here. |
| 5 | Julian Bowen Pluto mid-sleeper with tent | ~£300 (but too long) | Built-in tent canopy. Frame doesn't fit 170cm so it's out — flagged only so you know this style exists if the gap ever grows. |