Bed Buying Guide

If you're having trouble sleeping lately, it may be time to take a good look at your bed. This bed buying guide includes much of our knowledge about bed styles and sizes to help you find the perfect bed. We'll help you select a stylish new bed and finally get a better night's sleep.

1. Bed sizes: Size may seem like an easy choice when bed shopping, but there are a few things to consider, like your height, personal space preferences and the size of your bedroom. You need to have enough space to walk around the bed, access your closet, change the sheets and use your bedroom and other furniture comfortably. If a king-size bed won't fit, a queen bed might be perfect. Your bed should comfortably hold both you and your partner in your preferred sleeping positions.

   Standard bed dimensions:

   • Twin bed/single: 39 inches wide x 75 inches long

   • Extra-long twin: 39 inches wide x 80 inches long

   • Full /double bed: 54 inches wide x 75 inches long

   • Queen bed: 60 inches wide x 80 inches long

   • King bed: 76 inches wide x 80 inches long

   • California king bed: 72 inches wide x 84 inches long

2. Shared beds: For shared beds, you should have at least a full or double bed. If you and your partner are both tall, a California king size bed can give you more space to stretch out.

3. Single beds: Twin and extra-long twin beds are suitable for teens and younger children, and they come in many styles, including bunk beds. For smaller children, a small twin or toddler bed will be ideal. You'll have a lot of fun exploring kids' bed designs.

4. Classic bed styles: Classic bed styles never lose their appeal. A tasteful, elegant bed is timeless. Wrought-iron beds provide both modern and traditional tones to your bedroom. Brass beds are also a classic. Wooden bed frames in mahogany, oak, cherry, pine, maple, walnut or rosewood are classic additions to your other bedroom furniture.

   Popular Classic Bed Styles

   • Metal beds: Traditional Victorian wrought-iron beds were made by hand. Today, these antique-style beds are mass-produced in all standard mattress sizes, making them more affordable.

   • Canopy beds: Canopy beds have four posts that are connected together at the top with rods, which can then be draped with sheer fabrics to create a romantic look. The posts and drapery of the bed draw the eye upward, making the bed seem bigger and the ceiling appear higher. Modern canopy beds are made from metal, usually featuring ornate designs, but they can also be found in wood. Wood canopy beds can also display ornate designs, but they often are more simplistic and classic in design and have rich finishes.

   • Sleigh beds: Sleigh beds are old-fashioned and luxurious. The headboard is typically taller than the footboard, both curving upward and outward. Sleigh beds are made from wood and can feature simple contours or include ornate inlays, flourishes and rich finishes. If you love the style of the sleigh bed, make sure you buy one that is long enough to keep your feet from hitting the footboard.

5. Modern bed styles: Modern materials translate into modern styles, even if the bed contains traditional elements. A classic sleigh bed seems more modern in rich leather, and a canopy bed more simplistic with straight lines, unembellished surfaces and dark-stained woods. Several bed styles stand out:

   Popular Modern Bed Styles

   • Platform beds: Platform beds are simple and ideal for modern and minimalist designs. Platform beds are low to the ground, typically lying directly on the floor. The mattress is supported by slats, eliminating the need for a box spring or other mattress foundation. A platform bed may have headboards, but the main element that makes themplatform beds is their low profile. The metal bed-frame platforms are made from tubular or sheet steel for strength. Larger beds, like the queen and king beds, have extra center support to prevent the mattress from sagging.

   • Bunk beds: Bunk beds are usually twin beds stacked one upon the other and are used as fun space-saving beds for children's rooms. Several configurations include a desk or futon on the bottom bunk.

   • Futons: Futons are a modern variation of the sofa bed. Futons fit well in small apartments, dorm rooms and spare bedrooms.

   • Leather beds: Leather beds blend well with homes that have a modern or contemporary style. Leather adds a very specific texture that can be used to create a sleek look or a soft suede touch.