Single bed size: what to consider when choosing

Start with ergonomics in the bedroom

The starting point in choosing a bed is the room where it will stand. First, think about why you decided to change the bed. Start from the problem and task that needs to be solved. For example, the bed is too large and you need to make room for an additional functional area - a desktop. In this case, the solution would be a sofa bed or a transforming bed. Sometimes you can get by with a rearrangement altogether. If it’s about design or novelty, this is a different motivation. However, whatever the motivation for changing your bed, there are rules that will keep your little toes from the ubiquitous corners.

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Double bed to the right of the window and desk

The convenient distance from the edge of the bed to the wall or any other furniture is 70 cm. This is enough to make the bed without bumping elbows. Ideally, such passages should be on both sides of the double bed. If the shape of the room does not allow this to happen, place a double bed with one of the sides against the wall. In this case, it is important that the passage is at the foot, so that the person at the wall does not have to climb over his partner every time.

Double bed against the wall with a passage at the foot

As for the question of how to place a bed in a room, the ideal place is near the window and away from the door. For example, to the right/left of the window and diagonally from the door. What you definitely can’t do is place the bed on the same line between the window and the door, because drafts stretch from the windows to the doors.

Double bed near the window and diagonally next to the door photo

Features of bed sizes from IKEA

The products of the Swedish company IKEA, beloved by many consumers, are of high quality and excellent design.

Wooden models from Ikea are especially popular.

She offers beds for every taste:

Measure the width, length and height of the double bed to suit you

Double bed width

To correctly determine the width of the bed for both spouses, lie down on the bed and spread your elbows wide so that your index fingers touch each other at chest level. If the elbows of both partners do not touch or touch only slightly, then the width is enough so as not to touch each other at all. However, when choosing the width, take into account personal preferences. For example, sleeping on your side requires less space than sleeping on your back. In this case, the standard 150 cm may be enough.

Wooden wide double bed

Double bed length

A clever method to choose the length of the bed is to add 10-20 cm to the height of the taller partner. When choosing the length of the bed, also proceed from habits. For example, for those who like to sleep on their stomach, it is better to immediately add 20 cm to their height, because during such sleep their legs often hang off the bed.

Suitable here

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Wooden long double bed in country style

Double bed height

First, let's define what is considered the height of the bed. This is the distance from the floor to the bed frame along with the mattress.

Today there are three world standards for bed height.

• The Asian standard is a bed height of 20-30 cm. Low beds are traditionally chosen in eastern countries. However, in our country, platform bed designs (mattresses on wooden flooring) are popular. Especially in minimalist interiors.

Low platform bed in a minimalist interior

IMPORTANT: You should not choose a low bed if there are drafts in the room. This often happens if the bed is on the same line between the windows and the door.

• European standard - 50 cm. This standard is considered the average temperature around the world and the most convenient option for people of any height and age. In addition, such a bed will fit into any interior.

Average bed height in a modern interior

INTERESTING: To come to a conclusion about the most comfortable bed height, scientists analyzed the average height of a person, measuring the distance from the sole of the foot to the knee.

• American standard - from 80 to 100 centimeters. American style in the interior is famous for its volume and scope; the height of the bed is appropriate, hence the name. Such a bed will protect against drafts in large houses that are difficult to heat. However, for older people you should not choose such a high bed.

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High bed in an American interior

How does a bed affect sleep?

The main role in quality sleep is played by the bed, since its characteristics allow a person to relax, feel comfort, and homeliness. A person quickly falls asleep and gets quality rest. At the same time, everything plays an important role - from finishing to the mattress.

Another thing that everyone forgets is the height of the bed. Furniture that does not correspond to a person’s height can cause discomfort during use, and in some cases even harm health.

For example, for older people, a low bed can cause joint problems and be too traumatic. A base that is too high increases the risk of injury to adults or children.

More recently, loft beds have begun to be produced; they are becoming popular among buyers, but if you install them in a room with low ceilings, the risk of oxygen deprivation and shortness of breath when climbing up increases. That is why it is worth paying special attention to this feature, and this is not all the nuances.

The height of the bed is determined by two factors:

• height of the mattress;
• bed level above the floor;

Mattresses usually have a height of 15 to 30 centimeters, and if it is made to order, the height can be up to 50-60 centimeters.

Based on this, before buying a bed, you should definitely evaluate the height of the bed with a mattress, the height of the mattress, and the height of the product without a mattress.

It is worth paying attention to this aspect when ordering a bed individually, that is, when it will be made for you individually. When buying a ready-made bed, you are already guided by the existing dimensions, established in world standards. When making furniture to order, you need to calculate all the parameters yourself and submit the finished ones to the master.

Select the material for the bed frame

Any material has its advantages and disadvantages. Thus, chipboard is the cheapest, solid wood is the most environmentally friendly, and beds with a metal frame have no weight restrictions.

Wood frame double bed

A bed made of chipboard and laminated chipboard - cheap and cheerful

• Chipboard is a board pressed from wood chips. The main advantage of such beds is their low cost and relative strength. The downside is that in the production of chipboards, harmful resins (formaldehydes) are used, which are released under the influence of heat and humidity. But still, the amount of harmful substances is controlled by GOST and the higher the class of the slab, the less formaldehyde is released. So, furniture is made from E1 class chipboard, but not from E2 class slab. In fact, a chipboard bed has a smooth texture and fits particularly well into simple and minimalistic interiors.

Double bed made of light chipboard

• Laminated chipboard is the same material only coated with varnish (varnished chipboard). Unlike regular LSD, this material is coated with a special polymer film that is not afraid of water and scratches. It looks like wood texture. However, beds made of chipboard and laminated chipboard do not like frequent dismantling and rearrangement; the fastening points of parts are especially loose.

Double bed made of chipboard with wood texture

MDF bed - like wood, but cheaper

MDF is the same chipboard as chipboard, only it is completely safe and environmentally friendly. Also, compared to chipboard, MDF beds look more expensive, and the texture resembles real solid wood.

Double bed made of MDF like wood photo

Solid wood bed - environmentally friendly and expensive

Beds with natural wooden frames can rightly be called durable; over time, they creak and become looser less. And scratches, chips and other damage to the wooden texture are either not noticeable or add even more charm. The most important thing is to decide on the type of wood. For example, soft varieties, like pine, are moisture resistant, and due to the natural resins in the composition, they are not susceptible to insects. Oak is a hard type of wood, it is as durable as birch, but oak beds are massive and heavy. It is better to install this bed on a flat surface. But ash is the most affordable type of wood for a bed, although it is not inferior in strength to oak. Beds made of any solid wood will fit perfectly into rustic, country and loft styles.

INTERESTING: It is believed that the very first beds were made of birch, and beds made of ash protected the house from evil spirits.

Double bed made of solid wood in a loft interior

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Double bed made of solid wood in Provence interior

Solid wood double bed with carved footboard

Metal bed - durable

Beds with a metal frame are cheaper, but their properties are not inferior to wooden models. And they tolerate temperature changes and humidity even better. In addition, they have no weight restrictions. The downside is the rigidity. For this option, the ergonomics of the room is very important, otherwise bruises cannot be avoided. Metal beds fit into any interior: a simple metal frame will take root in modern interiors, and a bed with forged details is suitable for Provence and retro style. Forged parts look especially good when combined with a canopy.

Double bed with metal frame in Provence style

Double bed with metal wrought iron details and white canopy

Double bed with a metal frame in a modern interior

Bed made of metal with wood - durable and strong

Beds made from two materials at once mean durability multiplied by strength. The frame in such models is made of two materials at once. For example, forged parts are framed with carved wooden legs. Typically, such interpretations of beds are chosen for classic interiors with large areas.

double bed with wrought-iron headboard and carved legs photo

Consider a bed base for your mattress

The effect of the mattress itself depends on the base under the mattress. With a low-quality base, even the most comfortable mattress will not reveal its beneficial properties. The bases are divided into two types: flat from chipboards and slatted orthopedic.

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Double bed with high beige headboard

Flat base - no weight restrictions

The flat base is the most controversial of all. First of all, due to the fact that when supported on a flat base, the mattress sags, forming depressions. This mattress does not provide any orthopedic benefits. In addition, it shortens the life of the mattress due to poor ventilation under the flat bottom. However, there are also advantages - this design takes up little space, and is no larger in size than the mattress itself. The main advantage of a rigid base is that it is the most stable, therefore it can withstand 150 kg+. In the interior, a flat base is often used on low podium beds.

Solid base for a double podium bed

Wooden podium bed with a hard bottom in a modern interior

Slatted base for light weight people

Slatted or otherwise slatted bases look like a frame (metal or wood) around the entire perimeter, to which slats (lamellas) are attached to plastic holders with spaces between each other. There are two types of such a base: a rigid rack base (without shock absorbers) and a rack base with shock absorbers. Both bases are considered orthopedic, the only difference is the possible load on them.

TIP: A slatted base is more mobile than a solid one. It is easy to disassemble and assemble independently. Especially suitable for frequent moves.

Double bed with blue textiles and a painting above the headboard

• Rack base without shock absorbers

The rigid lamella base is affordable and, if desired, can be replaced and installed independently. The downside is that the base with rigid slats does not bend. Therefore, a mattress without springs on such a bottom will fall between the slats and its underside will deform over time. In this case, it is advised to turn the mattress over every 3 months (but this will not solve the problem completely) or choose a mattress with springs. Also, a rack base without shock absorbers has a weight limit of up to 150 kg.

Example of a rack base without shock absorbers

• Rack base with shock absorbers

Such a base still has weight restrictions, but due to shock absorbers, the load on the mattress is distributed evenly, and therefore does not deform. The bottom made of slats with shock absorbers lasts longer than without them. Often in beds with adjustable slatted bottoms, you can adjust the rigidity of the base by changing the position of the slats (all or just the top and bottom slats).

IMPORTANT: If the sleeping person weighs more than 90 kg, choose narrow slats, while wide slats are suitable for people with less weight.

Example of a rack base with shock absorbers

Decide on a mattress for a double bed

Having decided on the frame and base of the bed, you can choose a mattress.

Double bed with high headboard in gold frame

Spring or springless mattress

Orthopedic mattresses are divided into spring and springless. Mattresses with springs follow the contour of the body and feel like a trampoline. Mostly these mattresses are high. Mattresses without springs, on the contrary, are denser due to the absence of springs and more filler. Visually they are thinner and lower.

Springless thin mattress on a podium bed in a loft interior

Spring mattresses are also divided into dependent spring mechanisms - in which all the springs are fastened together, which is why when one of them is compressed, the neighboring ones are also compressed. This mattress creates the effect of a hammock. There are mattresses with independent spring blocks, where each spring has its own fabric cover, which is why they work independently of each other. On such a mattress, the weight is distributed evenly, it adapts to the shape of the body as much as possible without the hammock effect. A mattress with a dependent spring mechanism is cheaper, but the anatomical effect is better than a mattress with an independent spring mechanism, which is why it is more expensive.

High spring mattress for a double bed

Mattress height: thin or thick

The thinnest ones are springless models (from 2-3 cm). They are well suited for sofas or as an additional mattress for a podium bed. This mattress can be rolled up.

Springless thin mattress on a wooden podium bed

Thick models (up to 50 cm) are suitable for high American beds. Such models can accommodate as many as three spring blocks, thereby enhancing the orthopedic effect.

High spring mattress on a large bed

The standard mattress height is 18-22 cm with one spring block and 1-2 layers of filler on both sides.

Standard height spring mattress example

Mattress hardness: high, medium or soft

Regardless of spring and springless mattresses, their hardness can be high, medium and low.

Firm mattresses made from solid coconut fiber are considered the best for healthy sleep. The medium firmness of the mattress is a universal option that everyone likes. Soft mattresses are considered the least useful from an orthopedic point of view.

Double bed in a blue room

Standards

The dimensions of the furniture depend on the country of manufacture and the specific company. When determining the optimal length, the height of the users is taken into account. So, for example, the length of the bed is selected by adding 0.15–0.2 m to the height of people, the width is 0.3–0.4 m from the sides. The average height of an adult is 175 cm; accordingly, standard sleeping furniture is never less than 1.9 m, which is convenient for most users.

Bed sizes vary slightly from country to country. In this case, we are talking about the size of the mattress, not the base of the furniture. Bed dimensions are determined in the following calculation systems:

1. In feet, inches. They are used in the USA, Australia, and Great Britain. The length of the furniture, for example, is 1.90–2.13, the width is the same as that of its European counterparts. When installing such products, it is difficult for a Russian user to find linen and a mattress of this size. When converting inches, fractional values ​​are obtained. So, when the dimensions of the bed are 80 x 60, in the European system of measures it is 2.032 x 1.524 m. We do not sew such bedding.
2. In centimeters, meters, millimeters. Used by Russian, European, Asian manufacturers. The standard length of products is 2–2.1 m, only the width changes.

Typical dimensions of domestic furniture are regulated by GOST 13025-2-85. According to it, the bed sizes are smaller than those of foreign analogues. Thus, their width is 0.7–0.9 m, length – 1.9–2.1 m.

The height of the sleeping place among manufacturers from different countries also differs. In this case, the design can be:

• low - 0.2–0.3 m;
• medium - 0.4–0.6 m;
• high - 0.7–0.9 m.

In Japan, they only make sleeping furniture with small legs. This bed height is inconvenient for the elderly, users with diseases of the joints and limbs.

Russian standards

European

American

Consider an extra feature for a double bed

In addition to its main function, a double bed can be used as additional storage space or serve as a bright accent due to a designer headboard. It all depends on the problem that needs to be solved, for example, a transformable bed and built-in storage systems will save space.

Bed with storage system if space is limited

A bed with an additional storage system is an excellent option for those who do not have a full-fledged closet in their room.

Double bed with drawers for linen and books

Bed with a lifting mechanism to hide excess

A double bed with a lifting mechanism frees up precious space in the closet and hides things that are not needed in the household very often. For example, an additional set of blankets and pillows.

Family bed with lifting mechanism for storing linen

Transformable bed for a studio apartment

The transformable bed serves as both a sleeping place and a relaxation area in the living room. In a matter of seconds, the bed can be turned into a sofa.

Family transformable bed with lifting mechanism

Double bed headboard as a bright accent

The headboard is called the first headboard (at the head), and the footboard is the second (at the feet). Both the first and second backrests can be of any height and size, wooden, covered in leather, openwork, forged, etc. The backs can be separate from each other or continuous. The design depends on the interior.

• Upholstered headboard for cozy interiors

The textile headboard of the bed can be easily matched to the tone of curtains, bedspreads, upholstery in the room, etc. It is more convenient to lean on it than on wood or metal. A budget soft headboard can be made of velor and microfiber, and a premium headboard can be made of suede. This headboard is suitable for cozy and soft interiors (rustic, country, French Provence, etc.).

King size bed with soft textile headboard

• Leather headboard for brutal interiors

A discreet leather headboard is suitable for loft-style apartments, as well as in interiors where there are a lot of natural textures: glass, wood, concrete, brick, etc. The budget option for such a headboard is eco-leather, and the premium material is genuine leather.

Black leather headboard in a loft interior

• Hard headboard made of tiles, carpets and screens

Such a headboard is not functional; leaning on it will not be comfortable, but it will look great as a bright element in the room. Such creativity will fit into eclecticism and oriental styles.

TIP: Before choosing a soft or hard headboard, think about your sleeping habits. If not a day goes by without reading a book before bed, it’s better to choose a soft headboard.

Hard headboard made of oriental rug photo

Double bed headboard made of wrought iron floor screen

• Wooden bed headboard for a summer cottage

Wooden headboards look especially cozy in country houses and dachas. It could be as simple as planks, barn doors, or even an oak countertop. And softness can be added with the help of pillows and textiles.

Wooden headboard for a double bed for a summer residence

Hard decorative headboard made from antique doors

American bed sizes

Beds made in the USA differ in dimensions from European and Russian ones, albeit slightly. It must be taken into account that in this country markings are made in inches.

When organizing a sleeping area, the size of the bed plays a major role.

The dimensions in the table have already been converted to centimeters:

Summary: A Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing a Double Bed

1. Start by asking yourself why you are replacing your old bed and what you want from the new model.
2. Consider ergonomics in the bedroom (what else is in the room besides the bed and what kind of bed will be comfortable for a particular room: size, shape, etc.)
3. Choose the material for the bed frame and the base for it
4. After you decide on the base, choose a mattress
5. Consider whether the bed needs an additional function and what specific function it is (lifting mechanism, drawers, etc.)
6. Decide on the design of the bed based on the interior of the room and personal preferences
7. Buy a bed based on the characteristics of the questions above.

Soft headboard of a double bed in the color of textiles

Standard sizes of Euro beds

In Europe, standard refers to mattress sizes. As a rule, the furniture frames themselves are almost 10 cm larger.