Are you shopping for a new bed for your bedroom? Are you confused with just what size of bed you should get? Worry not because you are not alone in this. Not everyone knows the difference between a single bed and a double bed, as well as the difference between a queen-sized bed and a king-sized bed. Not even furniture store attendants are well aware of the differences.



The size of your bed, however, is crucial to the quality of sleep that you will be getting. So, it is important for you to get the bed size that is just perfect for you as well as for your partner if you are not sleeping alone.

Here is a rough guide to bed sizes.

* Singles. Single beds are also known as twin beds or bunk beds. They are often placed for use in children's rooms, in multiple use guestrooms and in dorm rooms. A typical single bed is 39 inches wide and 75 inches long; it is ideal for small bedrooms.

The great thing about single beds is that you will not find it difficult to find sheets for them, because sheets for single beds are the ones most available in furniture and department stores. Single beds are also usually fitted with trundle beds that you can pull out if you have a guest sleeping over.

The problem with single beds, however, is that they are mostly too short to accommodate adults. If you really want a single bed but you feel that it would be too short for you, you can opt to buy an extra long single bed, which is five more inches on the standard-sized single bed. Buying the appropriate-sized sheets for this length of bed, on the other hand, can pose a different challenge.

* Doubles. If you are sharing your bed with someone and he or she does not mind snuggling close to you every night, or if you are sleeping alone and you just want a big space to sleep in, then a double bed is a good option for you. A double bed, also known as a full bed, is a perfect fit for guestrooms and smaller master bedrooms. The size of a double bed is 54 inches by 75 inches.

But while size may make the double bed perfect for smaller master bedrooms, it can be a problem for people whose height requires them to sleep in a longer bed. It may also be uncomfortable to be shared by two people who are not used to sleeping closely side-by-side with someone else.

* Queens. With a size of 60 inches by 80 inches, a queen-sized bed is six inches wider and five inches longer than your standard double bed. It is definitely big enough for a couple to sleep comfortably next to each other, and yet small enough to allow for some snuggling and cozy companionship. Just like double beds, the queen-sized bed is a very nice fit in guestrooms and smaller master bedrooms.

Some people may still find the queen-sized bed too narrow or too short for their needs. For people who do find the standard queen-sized bed still too small for them, there is the Olympic Queen size – a few inches wider and longer than your regular queen, but still smaller than the king-sized bed.

* Kings. There are actually two kinds of king-sized beds. One is called the eastern king or the standard king, while the other is referred to as the western king or the Californian king. What is the difference between these two?

The eastern king is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long – 16 inches wider than a standard queen-sized bed but just as long. It is actually the biggest and widest bed size available in department stores. With a bed that big, you can definitely sleep in comfort even if you are sleeping beside another person.

A standard king-sized bed may be prized for its size, but it is also its size that can make it quite impractical to buy. It is suited only to big bedrooms, naturally because of its size, and it would be quite hard to move a bed of this size around. Also, the standard king-sized bed may be too short for tall adults.

If you want a king-sized bed but the length of the bed is your concern, go ahead and choose the California king-sized bed. The western king may be a little narrower than the eastern king, but what it lacks for width it definitely makes up for length. The western king comes in a size of 72 inches by 84 inches. Again, just like its eastern counterpart, the California king can be a hassle to move around.

The size of the sleeping space matters a lot when it comes to having a good night’s sleep. So, whenever you are in the lookout for a new bed, always pick the one that is the right size that you need.