Bed and Mattress Size Guide

First things first, before you go ahead and set up your new bed, you need to ensure that the frame won’t prevent you accessing the bedroom.

For example, will you be able to open and close the door both in and outside the bedroom? Will your big bed prevent you from easily accessing the windows? Are all built-in cupboards, drawers and shelves still within reach, without moving furniture? Answer these questions now to save you a headache down the line.

Naturally, your bed needs to physically fit in the room, so you should measure your space and see if your potential new bed is the right size. Make sure you have enough room to comfortably walk around the bed without having to twist, bend, or crawl over the top! If you’re a visual thinker, it might help to place newspaper down in the shape of your new bed to mark out the space it’ll take.

To comfortably move around the bed, ensure you have a clearance space of at least 90cm (or 3ft) from either side of the bed to the closest wall.

You can, of course, push a bed against a wall if the room’s a little snug. However, we’d only recommend doing so if there’s only one person who’ll be sleeping in the bed, to avoid awkward shuffling and rolling for access.

The headboard’s height is also worth considering; measure from the base of the bed to the top of the headboard to see how far up your wall it will reach. You’ll want to ensure it doesn’t get in the way of anything on the wall, such as hanging pictures, light switches or windows.

Lastly, while this isn’t essential, it’s helpful to ensure you have easy access to plug sockets while in bed, to keep your phone charged and bedside lamp plugged in. 

Check that you can place the bed frame against a wall without covering any plug sockets. Ideally, you’d want to position the bed so there are easy-to-access plug sockets on either side.

Read our measuring guide

The number one reason for upgrading your bed set-up is to uncover even more comfort. A brand-new mattress, one that you’ve hand-picked for its firmness, filling, and even special features, is bound to be a much more comfortable option than an old, worn-out mattress.

An upgrade can also serve as the perfect solution to any insomnia issues, especially if you’re looking for the likes of a memory foam mattress to handle back pain.

Even the closest couples need their own sleeping space from time to time – and a bigger bed helps facilitate that comfortable night’s sleep for both parties.

This is especially true when considering the average person tosses and turns approximately 60 times on average every night! Couples may wish to reduce unwanted disturbances in the night with a pocket sprung mattress, which isolates movement from one side of the bed to the other.

As they get older, your little ones will inevitably get too big for their kids’ bed, so you’ll need to provide them with appropriate sleeping spaces. This includes graduating from a bunk bed or child’s bed to a full-sized single bed. Sooner or later, your kids will want their own, bigger bed to match their growing frames!

While a bigger bed takes up more square footage, it can also bring more to your bedroom than just a good night’s sleep.

Looking to save some space? Choose a bed with storage, such as lift-up ottoman style beds and divan beds with drawers built into the frame. These types of beds offer an opportunity to remove bulky wardrobes or drawers from your bedroom, or just provide handy extra storage for spare linens and bedding.

For even more bedroom magic, try a bed that’s designed with enticing special features, such as built-in shelves, USB charging, and even TV beds. Perfect for weekend boxset binges!

Now you have a better idea of the sizes that’ll work for you, browse through our extensive selection of beds and mattresses to find the perfect fit for your bedroom. Alternatively, if you’re still not entirely sure what you’re searching for, read our expert bed buying guide and mattress buying guide.