Buying a new bed is one of the most important purchases you can make for yourself. Your bed is the most important feature in your bedroom. It’s where we relax and recharge our batteries, so it should be as comfortable as possible.
Firstly, work out how much you can afford to spend. Can you afford a headboard and frame, or will you have to go for a mattress and base? While sleep is important, it isn’t worth going into debt over.
How much space do you have? This means not only the dimensions of the bedroom but the width of the front door and bedroom door. Imagine buying the perfect bed, only to find you can’t get it through the door!
You need room to walk around comfortably, as well as fit in other pieces of furniture like a wardrobe or a chest of drawers. When measuring space for a bed, remember to measure with the bedroom door, wardrobe doors and drawers open.
The size of the room will affect the style of bed you choose. A sleigh bed won’t fit or suit a small room. Similarly, single beds in large rooms can make the room look unbalanced and awkward. If you don’t have much space, consider a deluxe sofabed which can be folded up, or a bed frame that has storage space built in.
King size single beds (“single and a bit”) can be wonderful for those sleeping on their own, who want a bit of room to move. If there are two people occupying the bed, the rule of thumb is to have a mattress that is at least 3 inches (8 centimeters) longer than the tallest person. If you have different needs – one of you likes a softer mattress or needs extra back support – investigate beds which can accommodate two separate mattresses or are designed for specific sleep needs.
