Bed Size vs. Room Size: What Fits Best in Your Bedroom?

There’s nothing better than sprawling out in a big, comfortable bed at the end of a long day. It’s just you and your favorite pillow that always ensures you fall asleep quickly and awake feeling rested. But waking up on the “right side of the bed” doesn’t do you much good if actually getting out of it becomes a challenge. 

Choosing a mattress isn’t as simple a decision as it may seem. Of course, personal preferences come into play, but some factors leave little room for negotiation—like the size of your bedroom. The right bed in the wrong room could turn your sweet dreams into nightmares. 

In this guide, we’ll discuss the most important factors to consider when deciding what size mattress to purchase. You’ll learn the minimum room dimensions recommended for standard mattress sizes and receive tips for making the choice that best suits your needs (and your space). 

What Size Mattress Best Suits Your Room? 

Ranging from twin to California king, there’s a wide range of mattress sizes to choose from. To start narrowing down your options, take the time to determine the minimum size that will adequately suit your needs. With that information in mind, you can move on to determining what size mattress your bedroom can best accommodate. 

The primary factors that will help you determine the right mattress size include: 

• Number of sleepers: If you’re sleeping alone, you may be comfortable on a smaller mattress. Couples and people who share sleeping space with children or pets usually require a larger mattress than a solo sleeper. 

• Height and weight: As mattresses go up in size, they get longer as well as wider—some even come in extra-long varieties (like Twin XL). If you or your partner are above average height, you may need a bigger bed to sleep comfortably. 

• Sleeping style: Whether you sleep alone or share your bed, your sleeping style has a big impact on how much space you need. For example, if you like to sprawl or change positions throughout the night, you might appreciate the extra space a larger mattress has to offer. 

The smallest standard mattress size, the twin, is best for children and teens as well as solo sleepers who don’t require a lot of sleeping space. Full-size mattresses work well for single sleepers who need some extra room or for couples who don’t mind sleeping in close quarters. Queen and king mattresses are considered roomy for couples or extra-spacious for solo sleepers—they also work well if you need occasional extra space for kids or pets. For taller sleepers looking for a large bed with extra legroom, the California king is a great choice. 

Room Size Recommendations 

Now that you have an idea of what range of mattress sizes might be most comfortable for you, it’s time to narrow down the options to find which best suits your space. To keep your bedroom from feeling overcrowded—and to ensure easy access to your bed—you’ll want to leave at least 24 inches between the bed and the wall on both sides and at the foot. And don’t forget to factor other bedroom furniture into your plan. 

To help you get an idea of how big a bed your bedroom can accommodate, here’s a breakdown of minimum room size recommendations for each standard mattress size: 

When you’re taking measurements in your bedroom, don’t forget to factor in the position of doors, windows, and furniture. While larger rooms offer flexibility in terms of bed placement, your options might be limited in a smaller space or a room with multiple windows. 

For these reasons, the minimum room size recommendations above shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when deciding between mattress sizes. 

5 Steps for Picking the Right Mattress for Your Bedroom 

In the end, the best mattress is the one that works for you, not necessarily the one that follows all the rules. You might decide, for instance, that you can live with your bedroom feeling a little snug for the sake of a bigger mattress. We’re not here to tell you which mattress size to choose—we’re here to help you make that decision for yourself. 

If you need some help deciding, here’s a step-by-step guide to come to a decision: 

1. Measure Your Bedroom 

Before you do anything else, get out your measuring tape and determine the dimensions of your bedroom. Be sure to get the full length and width of the space. If your room is a nonstandard shape, you may need to take a few extra measurements. 

Once you have the dimensions of your bedroom mapped out, measure any other elements you’ll need to work around: doors, windows, vents, and furniture. These elements may not have much impact on your decision in a large bedroom, but they might if space is more limited. 

2. Sketch Out a Blueprint 

This step might not be necessary in all cases, but it can be helpful to draw out a blueprint of your bedroom to scale using the measurements you just took. Be sure to mark the location of permanent structures like doors, windows, and vents. If you already know where you want other bedroom furniture to go, you can draw that in too. 

3. Narrow Down Your Mattress Options 

Looking at your bedroom blueprint, determine how much space you have available for a mattress. Remember, leaving any less than 24 inches between the bed and the closest wall could make your bedroom feel cramped. It’s up to you to decide whether to choose the biggest mattress the room can accommodate or to leave yourself a little extra floor space. 

4. Determine Bed Placement 

If you’re still trying to decide between two mattress sizes, try playing around with different bed placements. You might discover that shifting the bed to another wall, or adjusting the placement of other furniture, opens up some additional space. 

5. Account for Other Furniture 

Before you finalize your decision, take another look at the furnishings that you’ll have in the bedroom aside from the bed. Consider leaving at least 24 inches of space between the bed and the nearest piece of furniture, just as you would an empty wall. If everything still works well together, you can consider your decision made. 

Final Thoughts

Shopping for a mattress and setting one up are completely different endeavors—things sometimes look very different in reality than they do in your head. To make sure you don’t get stuck with a mattress that doesn’t suit your space, shop smart. Prioritize products that offer an in-home trial period and a generous return policy, just in case. 

All Ergomotion mattresses include a 30-day in-home trial, so you can test the mattress in the comfort of your own home. If you’re not completely satisfied, you may submit a return request up to 100 days after the delivery date. 

Start the search for your new mattress at Ergomotion.