High-sleeper beds are great, because they add another 'floor' to a bedroom and they give it a studio-like feel, which is why they are particularly popular with teens and older children. 

Be sure to check the measurements before you buy. You want to ensure that the occupant can sit up with out banging his or her head on the ceiling. Sometimes these beds are larger than standard single beds and require made to measure mattresses too.

Bunk-type beds aren't recommended for kids under six and if you have an accident prone older child you might want to hold off on getting one until they have reached an acceptable level of proficiency on a climbing frame! 

Or opt for the slightly lower mid-sleeper or low loft bed. Although they won't have as long a life-span; a tall twelve-year-old could bump his head every time he rises from his desk.

Think about how many years of use you will get from a themed-bed before buying and whether you can remove the slides, towers and wendy houses when your child has outgrown them to make it look like a standard high or mid-sleeper. An expensive one, however, should fetch a reasonable resale price on ebay. Click here for how to discover ebay bargains. And if you want a standard two bed bunk, check out our bunk bed buying guide here