Proper Bed Placement - Layout Tips

Bed placement matters for several reasons. The main reason has to do with helping the room make aesthetic sense. Beds can sometimes be so dominating that they disrupt the theme or appearance of the rest of the space (which is something you’ll want to avoid). 

However, there are also practical considerations. Bed location plays a critical role in accessibility and the smooth functioning of the room. Improper placement can lead to an uncomfortable sleeping environment. 

Usually, people place the head of the bed on the wall opposite the door (so that the foot of the bed is the first thing you see). However, doors can open onto a room rotated 90 degrees, as long as the end of the bed doesn’t extend in front of the door. Doors should never open onto the rear of the bed.

How To Understand Bed Dimensions And Bed Wall Size

The most technical aspect of proper bed placement is understanding bed dimensions and wall sizes. If you can get your head around these, you can figure out how much space your bed requires. 

King-Size Beds

King-size beds are the largest beds you see in most people’s homes. These measure 76” wide and 80” long, but can go a bit beyond this with the headboard and bedding added. 

Because of this size, experts recommend bed walls of 12’4” wide or more. This extra space is necessary to accommodate the bed plus two bedside tables (nightstands) and walking room. Less than this, and everything will start to look cramped. 

Queen-Size Beds

Queen-size beds are smaller at 60” wide and 80” long, which makes them more manageable. For this reason, you only need a bed wall that is 10’4”, which is most bedrooms. 

Queen-size beds are too large for box rooms, but if the original architects of your property designed the room to be a proper bedroom, they should fit. 

Double Full Beds

Double full beds are slightly smaller again. These have 54” mattresses and are 75” long, so bed walls of 9’ can be sufficient for these. 

Single Beds

Single beds are the most flexible and usually used in kids’ bedrooms. You can get away with walls less than 6’ with these, since you only need to put a nightstand on one side. The other side can be the opposite wall to the door. 

You could also skimp on nightstand width if you wanted to turn a tiny room into a viable bedroom. Kids don’t usually need the full 30” if they are young, so, you might be able to get away with 12” or less, especially if they have a small alarm clock and a fitted lamp. 

Overall, you could reduce the width of the bedroom to 5’, but the length will need to be at least 10’ to ensure that the door can still open (and won’t bump into the bed as you enter). 

Room Dimensions And Furniture Arrangement Considerations

Once you have the bed in place, the next step is to think about room dimensions and where all the furniture will go. With the bed in place, the rest of the items should fall into place naturally. 

The minimum size for a king-size bedroom is 12’ by 12’. This space allows for the bed, two nightstands and a dresser, with walkways in between. 

If your room is right on the boundary of what’s practical, you might want to downsize to a queen size to give yourself more walking space. This latter option can be a win-win if you and a partner are small people since you won’t need to compromise on comfort. 

For circulation space, you need around 36” between the bed and door. If you don’t have this, then moving around can be more challenging, especially if you are sharing with a partner. Squeezing past each other all the time might be fun initially, but it can get tiring after a while. There shouldn’t be any risk of you bumping into furniture and hurting yourself either, which can be a problem if the room is cramped. 

So, how do you place the furniture? Here’s some quick tips to get you started: 

• Start by placing the bed opposite the main entrance or adjacent if there is clear space immediately in front of the door upon opening
• Don’t add too many pieces of furniture. The less clutter you can get away with in the bedroom, the better
• Arrange other pieces of furniture after the bed is in place. You should be able to tell intuitively whether they make sense in the positions you allocate for them
• If you have a larger bedroom, consider adding a cozy seating area near to the vanity
• Prioritize placing the wardrobe first, then add the dresser if you have space
• Use beds and other furniture if you are low in space in your bedroom
• Window Placement And Natural Light

You should also consider window placement and natural light in relation to bed position. Again, getting this right can make your bedroom more aesthetic and conducive to proper sleep. 

1. Ideal Window Placement

Ideally, windows should be adjacent to the bed (off to the side). They shouldn’t be directly in front of it, or behind. 

Windows to the side generate more comforting natural light in the morning. There’s less risk of the rising sun shining directly into your eyes. Furthermore, the light tends to be more balanced, with side-facing windows reducing privacy issues. 

2. Don’t Place The Bed Under A Window

On a similar theme, avoid placing your bed under a window. Putting it in this area can lead to more disturbances from light, traffic, and drafts.

If you have no choice because of the room’s layout, then install blackout curtains. These should remove the worst of the issues caused by placing the bed next to the window. 

3. Maximize Views

Lastly, see if you can adjust the position of your bed or windows to maximize views. If you can sit up on your bed and look sideways out onto nature, that can be a fantastic, restorative experience. 

If you don’t have this option because the view is undesirable, compensate with window treatments. Adding attractive blinds allows ambient light in while enabling you to avoid eyesores. 

Most architects place bedroom windows in a natural position that supports your wellbeing, so think about what they intended when considering bed placement. If something feels “off” with your positioning, you may have gone against their original intentions.

Extra Bonus Tips For Optimal Bed Placement

So, what else can you do to get your bed placement absolutely right? 

Check The Door Swing Access

As mentioned above, you need to check whether your door opens freely onto the bedroom. Nothing should get in the way (before it opens, say 150 degrees). If the bed or another piece of furniture blocks it from swinging open, then you may need to try a different arrangement). 

Check The Bed Is Close To Electrical Outlets

You should also check that the bed placement is close to electrical outlines. Modern homes will usually have two sets of sockets either side of the bed wall for nightstands, showing you roughly where the architect intended the bed to go. 

Place Mirrors To The Side Of The Bed

Another pro tip is to place mirrors to the side of the bed. Don’t place them directly in front of it, as this can sometimes feel unsettling for some people. 

Use The Bed Wall Or Ceiling For Art Work

Finally, you could use the bed wall or ceiling for artwork. These locations are perfect for this purpose because they are so conspicuous. 

Generally, placing the bed right up against the wall is psychologically comforting for most people. Placing it in the middle of the room with space all around it can lead to a lack of safety and control. 

Now You Know Where To Place Your Bed

Reading this guide, you should have a much better idea for where to place your bed. The most challenging part is getting the bed’s sizing right. You need to pick a format that can slot into your room. The rest is far more straightforward.