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Icarus Bunk Bed Review: all the fun of high-sleeping without compromising on floor space

If you're looking for a child's bed with all the fun of high-sleeping without taking up so much floor space as a traditional bunk-bed, a high sleeper loft or cabin bed is an ideal option. MNHQ editor Jenny put two different sized Icarus high sleeper bunk beds through their paces.

By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Aug 19, 2025

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icarus high sleeper bunk bed

Price on writing: From £280 | Buy now from Amazon

Our rating:
What we like

  • Space-saving

  • Sturdy and high-quality craftmanship

  • Easy to paint

  • Made from environmentally-friendly Scandinavian natural pine which is recyclable

What we don't like

  • Can rock unless bolted to the wall

  • Doesn't include mattress

Key specs

Price on writing: £280 | Dimensions: 202 x 129x 185 cm for a small double, other sizes are available | Mattresses included?: No | Left- or right-hand ladder: Either

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icarus high sleeper bunk bed

How we tested the Icarus Bunk Bed

We bought our first Strictly Beds and Bunks Icarus Heavy Duty High Sleeper Bunk Bed for our eldest daughter last year. We were looking for a cabin bed which maximised floor-space, had room for a desk underneath and was big enough for her to share during sleepovers. The Icarus is available in several different size choices from the small single shorter length (85 cm x 173 cm) all the way up to a super king (189 cm x 212 cm). We went for a small double (129 cm x 173 cm) which fits a mattress measuring 120 cm x 190 cm (which we had to buy separately - fortunately it is widely available).

We were so impressed with the Icarus that we bought a second (in the shorter length) a few months ago when our second child decided she wanted her own bedroom. We assessed both beds rigorously for ease of construction, durability, practicality and value for money.

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How easy was the Icarus Bunk Bed to put together?

The instructions were a little bit tricky to follow first time around. We found a couple of times that some of the pieces were on backwards and had to retrace our steps. But it didn't put us off buying a second Icarus bed(which was an awful lot easier to put together, having done it once already!)

Mumsnet Editor Jenny

Icarus High Sleeper Loft Bunk bed

£280

Buy now from Amazon

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How sturdy is the Icarus Bunk Bed?

The bed itself is pretty sturdy once put together, however we found that it did rock against the wall when the children were climbing in or out, so we ended up bolting both beds to the wall for extra security.

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Does the Icarus Bunk Bed come in a range of colours and sizes?

Yes. We bought the small double and the small double shorter length in natural wood, but the Icarus is also available in white, black and grey. Or you can easily paint the frame yourself any colour you like. In terms of sizing, the following options are available from Strictly Beds & Bunks:

  • Small single short length: 85 cm x 173 cm

  • Single short length: 98 cm x 173 cm

  • Small single standard length: 85 cm x 202 cm

  • Small double: 129 cm x 202 cm

  • Small double short length: 129 cm x 173 cm

  • Double standard: 146 cm x 202 cm

  • King size: 160 cm x 212 cm

  • Super king size: 189 cm x 212 cm

  • EURO single non-standard length: 98 cm x 212 cm

icarus high sleeper bunk bed

Is the Icarus Bunk Bed good value for money?

Starting at £240 for the smallest size and going up to £280, the Icarus is cheaper than a lot of other high-sleeper beds available (as a comparison, the Stompa Uno will set you back £1,349, though it does come with added features such as a desk and chair).

Sure, you'll end up spending more on a mattress (particularly if you have to get a non-standard length like we did for the shorter small double), but if the first year of owning the Icarus is anything to go by, the beds are made to last really well so all in, I think it does represent good value for money.

Our verdict

We're very happy with both Icarus High Sleeper bunk beds we own. They arrived promptly, were relatively easy to construct and so far have lasted really well. We like the fact that the kids can enjoy the fun of sleeping up high but the beds are still large enough to easily fit a second child when they're having a sleepover.

I really like the amount of space underneath. With clearance of 143 cm, the kids can stand upright underneath (for the time being, anyway!) and when you lie down in the bed, it's not so close to the ceiling that you feel claustrophobic.

You can buy matching storage units or a bunk bed shelf (we went for the latter) and there are also similar beds with desks included available too, such as the Celeste.

The choice of bed sizes available is a huge bonus (we accidentally ordered the standard length second time around and it didn't fit the smaller room it was intended for) but you may end up paying slightly more for the non-standard mattress sizes. Also, we ended up bolting both beds to the walls for added peace of mind, which I've taken into consideration when rating for sturdiness below.

Safety:
Sturdiness:
Space-saving:
Look:
Value for money:

About the author

Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising parenting-related content. As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in reviews and buyers' guides.

She regularly tests out products for Mumsnet, assessing whether their quality withstands the wear and tear of everyday family life.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.