How to Select a Bed

You'll be spending 1/3 of your life in bed, which means getting a good night's rest is key to your overall quality of life. Follow these steps toward a new bed and rejuvenation.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• California King Beds
• Daybeds
• Extra-long Twin Beds
• Full (double) Beds
• King Bed
• Measuring Tapes
• Queen Beds
• Sofa Beds
• Twin Beds

1. Measure your bedroom and doorway before you decide on the size of bed to purchase. You will need at least 15 to 18 inches of space on either side of the bed to move around comfortably.

2. Think about whether you will be sharing the bed and how much you or your partner moves around at night before you come up with the size. Beds come in six different sizes: king (sometimes called eastern king), California king, queen, full (or double), twin and twin extra-long.

3. Purchase a king, California king or queen for one or two people. A king works well for those who frequently change positions during the night.

4. Try a full if the bed is for one person. A full is probably too small for two adults, especially if one or both frequently move about.

5. Buy a twin-sized bed for one child or one adult. Two twins are great for children who have sleepovers. Allow for 24 to 30 inches of space between beds.

6. Add four inches to the length of your bed for the headboard and four for the footboard. Once you've added these to the measurements of the bed frame, you have the total width and length of your bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Daybeds and sofa beds, which operate as couches during the day, are great alternatives for guest rooms or smaller living spaces such as studio apartments.
• A standard or eastern king-sized bed is 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, and a California king is 72 inches wide by 84 inches long.
• A queen is 60 inches wide by 80 inches long.
• A full is 54 inches wide by 75 inches long.
• A twin is 39 inches wide by 75 inches long, or 39 inches wide by 80 inches for extra-long.

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on 3/8/2009 I searched all over the Internet for a suitable mattress and box springs for my son, who is 6'3" and about 500 pounds. Standard mattresses do not accommodate the big and tall person, people over 250 pounds. Even if you get an extra-long mattress, the standard mattresses don't furnish the comfort, and will break down very soon. Standard foam mattresses and standard air beds can't accommodate the larger person. By chance, I found a small mattress manufacturer in Southern California, who builds heavy-duty mattresses to accommodate both big and tall needs. They will custom-fit and custom make for you an extra-long, extra sturdy full-size, queen-size, or king-size mattress. The mattresses are about an extra 12" long. The mattresses come in three comfort levels, and my son did need the highest level. When he tried the extra plush mattress, his spine was supported in a straight li

on 11/22/2005 Measure your staircases, overhangs and doorways carefully! Hard bending of a mattress generally causes irreparable damage to the interior frame. Most manufacturers make a split queen box spring. Kings all come with a split box spring.

on 11/22/2005 Generally, the higher the coil count, the better the support. Look for the highgest coil count in your price range.