A great night’s sleep starts with a great bed, so choosing the right one for you can feel like an overwhelming decision to make. To help you find the right bed for your home and your sleep needs, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on all things bed sizing, frames, and mattresses.
Your Dream Bed: A Complete Guide To Finding The Bed That’s Right For You
What type of bed should I buy?
When purchasing a bed, you’ll want to consider two key elements: size and style. There are a range of bed sizes to suit the space you have available in your home – as well as your height – from a small double through to a luxurious king size. When it comes to the style of your bed frame however, there are a huge number of choices to consider, including the desired material and colour, as well as the overall look and design. You could opt for a regal four-poster bed, a versatile daybed, or even an ultra-modern LED-fitted bed.
You may want to opt for a trundle bed or sofa bed if you often host guests. If you’re purchasing a bed as a couple, then you can choose any double bed frame to suit the size of your mattress and the aesthetic of your room. Our Letchworth Victorian-style bed is our best seller, and is available as a small double, standard double or king size frame.
A small double is great for a single adult who may want to stretch out a little more than you’d be able to with a single bed, but they also save on space. These beds can also make a great fit for young adults, especially those in their late teen years, acting as a transitional bed before your teen is ready for a full-sized double. We also sell a range of beds for kids – including bunk beds, and regular single beds – and you can find more details on these further on in the guide.
How many bed sizes are there?
You’ll need to buy a bed frame that fits your mattress size, or vice versa. There are five standard sizes of mattress in the UK, these are: single, small double (sometimes called a queen bed), standard double, king size, and super king size. The standard dimensions for these bed sizes in the UK and Ireland are as follows:
Single: 3’0” x 6’3” (90 x 190 cm)
Small double/queen: 4’0” x 6’3” (120 x 190 cm)
Standard double: 4’6” x 6’3” (135 x 190 cm)
King: 5’0" x 6’6” (150 x 200 cm)
Super king: 6’0” x 6’6” (180 x 200 cm)
How do I choose the right size of bed?
Your mattress should be 10cm longer than the tallest person who will be using the bed, to ensure nobody ends up with their feet overhanging the edge. It is recommended that you also leave between 50-60 cm of space at minimum around the bed itself, so you can move around it with ease.
How much does a bed cost?
Single beds can cost anywhere between £150-£350, and standard double beds are usually within the price range of £250-500, excluding a mattress. At Furniture Online, we pride ourselves on offering great, competitive prices on bed frames and mattresses – our best budget-friendly single bed frames are the Hertford and Baldock, both costing less than £70. Our Tewin double bed is also a great choice if you’re looking to make a huge saving, and is currently priced at just £189.99.
If you’re looking to invest in something a little more high-end, we recommend our solid oak Pitlochry bed, available as a double or a king, or the rustic and regal Welwyn four poster bed. We also sell a range of mattresses, ranging from £99.99 to £349.99 depending on size and thickness. Elsewhere on the market, some mattresses retail for £400-600. It’s also worth noting that flexible payment options are available through Klarna at the checkout.
What materials are bed frames made from?
Bed frames are typically available in wood, metal, fabric, or leather. We’ve hand-picked the best frames that tick all of the boxes when it comes to style, versatility, and durability.
Our wooden double and king sized beds are made from solid oak, whereas our children’s wooden beds are made from pine wood. We also offer a generous line of metal frames, which are typically made from a sturdy steel, and come in black, white, and even a gorgeous hand-brushed brass finish for a vintage, classy look.
You can also find a range of faux leather beds on our website, supported by solid wooden slats, and a range of sofa beds upholstered in a breathable, moisture-wicking linen.
Bed frames and styles
You may want a simple and sleek bed frame to compliment the room you have, or you may want to go all-out on a boldly designed frame to make your bed the centrepoint of your room. Furniture Online stocks intricately-designed day-bed frames, as well as four-poster beds and even fun tree-house inspired frames which kids will love (and which can be customised with fairy lights, bunting, artificial foliage, or drapes).
Our full list of frame styles is as as follows:
Four-poster
Treehouse
Teepee
Hospital-style metal
Traditional metal
Low frame
Vintage-inspired metal
Industrial-inspired metal
Faux leather (fitted with LEDs)
Traditional solid oak (or pine for children’s beds)
Shabby chic
What is a daybed?
A daybed doubles up as both a sofa and a bed. They are perfect for those who love to lounge in the living room, and with their unique frames, they look incredibly elegant in the bedroom too. Our Essendon daybed is one of our best sellers, and has a metal frame with a charming brass finish and Victorian-inspired detailing.
What kind of mattress should I buy?
You’ll want to opt for a mattress that is both comfortable, but also offers the right amount of firmness to support your posture and musculoskeletal health. A mattress that is too soft can actually harm your health in the long run. We offer four eco-friendly mattresses, each in a different thickness. Each one’s firmness is rated by our in-house technical team, and all sit within the medium-firm range for the best combination of support and comfort. These are hypoallergenic mattresses and are made from foam, which are also great for sleepers who suffer from hayfever or struggle with other allergens present in the home such as dust or pet hair. These mattresses help to prevent the spread of allergens, as their dense foam prevents them from becoming embedded within the material.
Our mattresses are available in single, small double, double, and king size, with the following thickness measurements on offer:
10 cm
15 cm
20 cm
25 cm
Mattress prices start at just £99.99.
Beds that kids will love
It can be tricky getting your child to drift off, but having a bed they’ll be excited to sleep in can sure make it that little bit easier. We offer a range of bed styles that kids will absolutely love, setting the perfect environment for winding down and a cosy storytime.
We stock treehouse and teepee-inspired frames that can be customised with soothing lightning, comforting toys, or drapes that can help kids feel safe and snug. If there’s a gamer in your life, they might like the look of our futuristic LED-fitted beds that can set a relaxing environment with their coloured lighting – just take a glance at our Galaxy bed. Older kids might want to opt for a bunk bed, and these are available with or without a lower bunk.
Is a bunk bed suitable for my child?
Bunk beds are safe for children to sleep in from the age of six and above. Parental discretion is advised when deciding if younger children should sleep on the bottom bed or not, and babies should always have their own cot. Children should be discouraged from playing on bunk beds to avoid accidents.
Bunk beds can offer a great space-saving solution for children’s rooms, especially for those with smaller rooms or lots of toys and furniture. They can also help to boost a child’s confidence, and those without a bottom bunk can even fit desks or cosy hangout spots for your child as they grow. Our Poppy bunk bed comes with a desk already fitted.
What is a trundle bed?
Trundle beds essentially offer two beds in one. The trundle can typically be slid or wheeled out from underneath the main bed for guests, and then simply tucked back away under the bed when not in use. You can even buy a trundle separately if you wish.
Trundle beds make for a great investment over temporary sleep solutions like blow-up air mattresses, and also take a step up from a sofa bed, with extra comfort and the look of a traditional bed rather than a settee. We also offer a range of children’s beds with trundles – perfect for sleepovers with siblings or friends.
Are trundle beds suitable for children?
Absolutely. Trundle beds can offer a safer solution to bunk beds, especially for children under the age of six who cannot sleep in the top bunk.
Caring for your bed
It’s recommended that you replace your mattress every seven years, and it’s important to let it air from time to time. Most mattresses will also need to be flipped over each month, though with our range of mattresses, this is not required. Be sure to change your bedding regularly – once a week is recommended – and you can wipe down wooden, metal or leather frames with a clean damp cloth. Be sure to do this before you put any bedding on.
