Choose the Right-sized Bed – You can quickly determine the best bed size for your bedroom by measuring the length and width of the room. Then, take your measurements and compare them against standard UK mattress sizes, giving you a maximum size that’ll work in your space.
However, bear in mind that some bed frames are wider and longer than the mattress, so you need these dimensions when buying your bed.
Choose the Right-sized Bed
Sizing up your bed frame
Most bedrooms are sized for a single or double bed, but you can sometimes upgrade to a small double or king without taking up too much floor space.
You want your bed to occupy at most 60% of the floor space. For example, a single mattress is 90 x 190 cm, while a small double is 120 x 190 cm, taking up only 30cm more width.
The size jump from a double to a king is even smaller—135 x 190 cm versus 150 x 200 cm for a king-size mattress.
The fantastic thing about divan beds is they have a mattress platform that’s the same proportions as the mattress, so those dimensions are what you get. But if you get a standard bed frame, then a few extra centimetres in width and length are to be expected.
Downsizing your bed frame
If you have a king size bed but are short on floor space, consider downsizing to a double. You’ll lose 15cm in width and 10cm in length, but you’ll gain valuable floor space that can make a significant difference in a smaller room.
Similarly, moving from a double to a small double saves you 15cm in width while maintaining the same length – a subtle change that can open up your room without drastically affecting your sleeping comfort.
Shared rooms, box rooms, and children’s bedrooms are good candidates to switch from a single to a small single bed.
Small single mattresses measure 75 x 190 cm, compared to 90 x 190 cm for a standard single. That 15cm extra space can create enough room for a desk or play area.
Children’s rooms also do well with bunk beds, especially bunk bed models that can be split to create two single beds when they age.
Pictured: Julian Bowen Domino Wooden Bunk Bed – White. Available from Bedstar.
Changing your bedroom layout
Rearranging your bedroom can allow for a larger bed without sacrificing too much space.
Square bedrooms usually have the bed in the middle of the room with the headboard against a wall, which works well in larger square rooms and allows for easy access from both sides (best for couples).
An alternative is pushing the bed up against the wall, provided it doesn’t overlap the radiator. This configuration creates more floor space directly in front of the bed and lets you size up without any problems.
If your bedroom is rectangular, position the bed along the longest wall to leave more usable floor space for other furniture at the foot of the bed.
Use vertical space with tall wardrobes, built-in drawers, and shelving units to compensate for any floor space lost to a larger bed.
You want to maintain a good flow of movement around the room and ensure that other furniture does not interfere with clearance.
Pictured: Fusion 4FT Small Double Ottoman Bed, priced £324 (Save £134 on RRP) Available from Bedstar.
An ottoman bed can assist with this by replacing bulky storage furniture like chests of drawers. An ottoman uses the whole mattress underside as storage space, with an easy-lift mechanism thanks to hydraulic struts.
Summing up
Couples wanting more space than a double can choose a king size bed with a divan base so that the mattress length and width match the bed frame size—this is the key to comfortably fitting a king into a double bedroom.
Sizing down is another option with a small double, although couples usually need a double bed at least, especially with young children.
