Beds buying guide

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Contents

1 Bed Sizes
2 Bed Designs
3 Classic Designs
4 Space-Saving Beds
5 Alternatives
6 External Links

Buying a Bed

A good bed is a comfortable bed. A comfortable bed means a good night's sleep. A good night's sleep leads to a good day. Get it? If you don't already have a bed you love sinking into nightly, it's time to start looking. Start thinking about what type of mattress you may like, soft mattress, medium mattress, or a firm mattress. many say that firm mattress give them better support and reduce back pain, but many aren't able to get a good night sleep on those and say it's like sleeping on a washboard.

Get started here. Let us help.

Bed Sizes

What you need to consider:

Do you sleep alone?
Is this for every day use, or occasionally for guests?
Is there a style that you fancy?
What size bed are you most comfortable in?
If you sleep with a partner, do you have trouble sleeping without your own space?
Do you want a slat system for lower profile, or do you like your sleeping high off the ground with a box spring?
What is the available space in your bedroom?

Once you determine what will work best to meet these needs, you can start looking into styles and sizes.

One Person

Twin : 39"x75"
Twin XL (college dorms, for the most part): 39" x 80"
Full : 54" x 75"

Two People

Queen : 60" x 80"
King : 76" x 80"
California King : 72" x 84"

These are standard U.S. sizes. Standard sizes in other countries may vary.

Bed Designs

Like the rest of your furniture, your bed's style can expand infinitely in any direction. Once you've covered your sleeping needs, have fun choosing the style! They can be anything from simple to extravagant and flirty to functional. Metal headboards and footboards usually convey a more modern look, while wood, ever the versatile medium, can convey anything from country casual to royal European.

Classic Designs

Wooden Beds are classic, earthy, sturdy and heavy.

Metal Beds can look trendy, stark, elegant or rustic.

Futons are a wooden or metal frame and mattress combo so that your bed can double as a couch. They're versatile and inexpensive, but less supportive.

Four-Poster Beds (and their canopied brethren, Canopy Beds are for the royalty in all of us.

Kid Beds are smaller, more durable and typically more fun.

Space-Saving Beds

Bunk beds save space but can scare some kids.

Trundle beds hide a spare bed underneath the primary bed. Perfect for guests.

Murphy beds fold up into the wall or a cabinet when not in use. Great in Studio apartments, but often need to be bolted to the floor.

Day beds are twin beds with sides and backs for a double duty as a sofa. Another plus for small apartments and can be used as a guest bed.

Lofted beds give you more floor or drawer space. Great for apartments.

Alternatives

Round beds are unusual and certainly attention-getting.

Hammocks are great for relaxing summer naps. Don't forget to get a pad so the ropes don't hurt you.

Sofabeds offer the same space-saving convenience as a futon, but their mattresses usually aren't very good.

External Links

eHow.com -- how to buy a good bed and mattress.
Countryliving.com -- view a variety of bedroom styles and get inspired to decorate your own.
Bettersleep.org-- a guide on what size mattress to buy.

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Wooden Beds are classic, earthy, sturdy and heavy.	Metal Beds can look trendy, stark, elegant or rustic.	Futons are a wooden or metal frame and mattress combo so that your bed can double as a couch. They're versatile and inexpensive, but less supportive.	Four-Poster Beds (and their canopied brethren, Canopy Beds are for the royalty in all of us.	Kid Beds are smaller, more durable and typically more fun.


Bunk beds save space but can scare some kids.	Trundle beds hide a spare bed underneath the primary bed. Perfect for guests.	Murphy beds fold up into the wall or a cabinet when not in use. Great in Studio apartments, but often need to be bolted to the floor.	Day beds are twin beds with sides and backs for a double duty as a sofa. Another plus for small apartments and can be used as a guest bed.	Lofted beds give you more floor or drawer space. Great for apartments.


Round beds are unusual and certainly attention-getting.	Hammocks are great for relaxing summer naps. Don't forget to get a pad so the ropes don't hurt you.	Sofabeds offer the same space-saving convenience as a futon, but their mattresses usually aren't very good.