Beds

Bed Design Guidelines

1.  A lower bed makes a room look larger than a higher bed and creates a less formal appearance.

2. Most beds are designed so that the top of the mattress is 16″ to 24″ from the floor.

3. For maximum comfort, the bed should be 6″ to 8″ longer than the height of the person that will be using it.

4. To provide clearance for bed covers, allow 1″ extra length and 1/2″ to 1″ extra width for the bedframe.

5. Mattress and boxspring dimensions often differ from the “standards” so measure them before designing the bedframe.

6. The top of the headboard should be at least a foot above the top of the mattress. If a footboard is planned, aesthetics are enhanced by making it shorter than the headboard.

7. Most beds are designed with knock-down joinery to simplify moving and storage.

8. Make allowances for wood movement if using solid wood for the headboard. One approach is to oversize the mortises in the bed posts where the tenons on the headboard attach. Another approach is to cut a double mortise/tenon and allow one tenon to float by not gluing it in place.

9. Most headboards, footboards, and sideboards are made from 4/4 or 5/4 material. The use of thicker material is generally not necessary.

10. Give consideration to a platform bed rather than a conventional bed with a boxspring. This approach can save money, enable the use of narrower stock for the sideboards, and provide greater clearance under the bed (boxsprings are often set close to the floor to put the mattress at a suitable height).

Standard Dimensions of Adult Mattresses

Standard Dimensions of Bedroom Furniture