To figure out which bed suits your decorating needs, think about the bed you currently have: its size, its style (which may be the starting point for your room’s style), and the comfort of the mattress. Are you satisfied with what you have? Or are you looking to purchase something new? If a new bed is within your budget, keep reading for tips on selecting the best option for your space.
Before you go shopping for a bed, figure out the maximum amount of space your bed can take up. A too-big bed makes it nearly impossible to move around. You need adequate space to walk through the room, open closet doors and drawers, and place other furnishings. Turning the bed sideways along a wall is one option because it gives you plenty of floor space a perfect solution for small rooms or rooms with beautiful flooring. To dress it up, install a corona (a crown-shaped piece) and drape fabric from it over the sides of the bed. Or, use a king-size headboard it will work for any size bed. Add stacks of pillows to complete the look.
You have to be able to get the bed through the bedroom door. Measure all the door openings and hallways. You may have to take the doors off the frames in order to squeeze the bed through.
The mattress you choose should be at least 3 inches longer than the height of the tallest person sleeping on it. The standard mattress sizes are as follows:
Twin: 39 inches wide by 75 inches long
If you plan to use two twin beds, allow a minimum of 24 inches between them or place a nightstand between them.
Extra-long twin: 38 inches wide by 80 inches long
Double: 54 inches wide by 75 inches long
Queen: 60 inches wide by 80 inches long
King: 76 to 78 inches wide by 80 inches long
California king: 72 inches wide by 84 inches long
Add personal style instantly with a dramatic bed. Because your bed is the dominant furnishing in your bedroom, choose a style that suits your taste:
Captain’s bed: Inspired by the beds made for ships, captain’s beds feature a drawer beneath the mattress for storage. They’re often used in children’s and teenagers’ rooms because they hold tons of stuff.
Daybed: These beds are intended for napping or even sitting during the day. They’re usually more compactly sized than standard beds and typically are placed sideways along a wall to save space. (Some double as sofas.)
Credit: Photograph courtesy Garcia Imports’ Sun Country Style by Patricia Hart McMillanFour-poster bed: Four-posters are good choices for rooms with high ceilings or large rooms where anything else would seem proportionately too small.
Hollywood bed: A Hollywood bed is a very low bed, with or without a headboard. Sleek and contemporary, this style doesn’t take up much space visually. A Hollywood bed’s headboard is very tailored, with straight lines.
Platform bed: A platform bed is a mattress “floating” on a stage-like box that raises the bed one to two (or more) feet off the floor. The platform bed adds a streamlined sense of drama and is especially good for large, open spaces.
Sleigh bed: Sleigh beds are usually very high, with slightly curved headboards and somewhat lower, curved footboards, drawing on the design of 19th-century sleighs. Sleigh beds may feature heavy carving or simple, plain wood surfaces. Sleigh beds generally aren’t for very small spaces because they’re heavy in appearance.
Tester bed: A tester (or canopy) bed is a draped four-poster bed. Originally designed for warmth and comfort, a canopy bed has draped fabric covering the top and sides. Most people choose canopy beds today for a romantic sense of luxury and privacy, especially in spacious rooms. Testers come in Traditional and Contemporary designs.