Everyone needs a bed. It might be OK to sleep on the floor when you go camping in the Great Outdoors, but at home, it is nice to have a comfortable bed to sleep in. If you are lucky enough to have a vast home with umpteen bedrooms, you can buy pretty much any bed you like without worrying about whether it will fit. If, on the other hand, your bedroom is a bit more compact, it is important that you choose the right bed.
Small is Beautiful
Some people have no choice but to live in a smaller than average home. This is often the case if you live in a city. Space is at a premium and apartments are often tiny. In fact, you may not even have a separate bedroom, which can make interior design a bit of a challenge when the living room needs to double as a bedroom. Even if you do have a bedroom, remember that it may not be large enough to accommodate a full-size bed, and so a degree of innovative thinking will be required.
Despite this, small bedrooms don’t have to be cramped and uncomfortable. It is perfectly possible to find a beautiful bed to suit a small bedroom, so even though it might take you less than two steps to climb out of bed and pass through the door, at least you will have a good night’s sleep (subject to the neighbors, of course).
Measure the Bedroom
Before you go bed shopping, it will be helpful to measure the bedroom to see how much space you have to play with. Draw a scale plan of the room on a sheet of paper and mark where power outlets, the door, windows, and fitted cupboards are. This will help you to plan in advance where the new bed is best located and how large it can be. Remember, beds are best positioned next to electrical outlets, so you can have bedside lamps and other essential devices. It is also a bad idea to position a bed in front of fitted cupboards, unless you don’t use them.
Choosing a Bed
Children don’t need large beds, so a single bed frame will be fine. Adults need larger beds, but consider whether you really have space for a king bed if the room is particularly small. If it is, a double bed frame might be large enough for two people, especially if this is only going to be a guest room. Alternatively, if you live alone and you don’t feel the need to spread out in bed, a single bed could be the answer. It’s not exactly decadent sleeping in a single bed – in fact, it may feel like you never left home – but in a smaller property, single is a good fit.
Modern or Traditional
Think about the design theme in the rest of your home. Is it contemporary or traditional? In a smaller home, you could go either way, although contemporary décor often suits compact living spaces better.
There are many great beds to choose from if you are going with a contemporary style. Metal frame beds take up less room than heavy-duty timber framed beds, but if you like natural wood, look for simple designs with very few decorative elements.
Compact Bed Designs
Compact beds are ideal for smaller homes. Loft beds allow you to make use of the floor space for work and storage. They are available in all sizes, so they suit adults as well as kids.
Another option you may like to consider is a sofa bed. In the day, you have a comfortable sofa, but at night, it can be transformed into a full-size bed. This option is useful if you don’t have a guest room, but you expect to have family and friends staying over regularly.
Lastly, there are bespoke beds that fold into a wall space during the day, and then unfold for nighttime use. The disadvantage is that you lose some of your wall space, but if space is at a premium and you prefer not to have a bed dominating the room, this option could work well for you.
Color Schemes
Color is important in smaller spaces. Don’t be tempted to decorate with loud, bold colors when space is at a premium. Use pale, light colors with plenty of mirrors and reflective surfaces to maximize light and create the optical illusion of space.
Beds should be replaced every 7-10 years, so don’t wait until yours is sagging in the middle before you invest in a new one.
