Although furniture designers recommend equipping the bedroom with a large bed, even if a person lives alone, the single-bed option is still in demand. This is an excellent solution for a teenager’s small room, an appropriate model for a summer house, and a cozy sleeping place for guests. Of course, only high-quality furniture will be the key to a sound sleep, so before choosing it, you should understand what features a single bed has: standard sizes, types of models, possible materials of manufacture. The dimensions of the product are especially important, because even standard parameters from different manufacturers may have their own nuances.
Advantages and disadvantages
Despite the huge range of bedroom furniture, single-bed designs are still in demand, which is explained by their versatility - such a bed is appropriate for both children's and adult rooms. Thanks to its small width, it does not clutter up the space and fits perfectly into a studio apartment or small one-room home. And modest dimensions do not at all deprive such furniture of convenience and comfort.
It is also important that today single bed designs are available in much more diverse options than single or double beds. The developers offer simple models of the “standard” category, with a folding mechanism, a podium, drawers and other elements.
Summarizing all the advantages of single beds, we can highlight 4 main ones:
- compactness - can be placed in small rooms, while still leaving a little free space;
- low cost - especially when compared with double models;
- wide choice - you can choose furniture to suit any interior design, in a variety of price categories;
- optimal for recreation of children and teenagers.
There are few cons. For a relatively large adult, such a bed will be a bit cramped, so they will most likely need a one-and-a-half-bed bed.
Experts question attempts to save money by buying a mattress and frame separately. The combination provided by the manufacturer guarantees that the sleeping place will be as comfortable as possible, and each element will be perfectly sized.
Standard bed
With drawers
Bed on the podium
Lifting mechanism
Dimensions of single beds with a non-standard shape
For people who want to meet modern trends and decorate their interiors according to new trends, designers have developed furniture that is distinguished by its individuality. The most popular are round, oval, pendant and square options. The bed can be installed on legs or without them. The unusual design of the bed allows you to make the room attractive and interesting. Among these options are:
Round, oval and hanging bed options are very popular.
- A round bed, which is considered the most popular among non-standard shapes. Here you need to take into account that the size of a single bed corresponds to a diameter of 2 meters, and a one-and-a-half product can be replaced with a round bed, the diameter of which is 210 cm.
- Square bed. Such designs are often made double, since making a one-and-a-half or single bed of this shape is simply unprofitable.
- Hanging model. To create this option, a single bed with parameters of 80-100 cm or a small semi-bed with a width of up to 140 cm is more suitable; the length in this case is not very important. The main disadvantage is that the bed quickly becomes loose. Attached to the wall using cables, ropes or chains.
Standard dimensions
A European-made bed is usually long - 200-210 cm with a width of 90-100 cm. Accordingly, the average dimensions of such furniture are approximately 190 x 99 cm. In accordance with the rules for choosing a bed, the optimal length is considered to be at least 20 cm greater than a person’s height Therefore, for tall people it is better to purchase sleeping furniture with this parameter of at least 200 cm.
The width of the single bed is selected individually. It is considered optimal if a person lies on his side, with his knees bent, and at least 15 centimeters free on the edge.
Another common way to select the desired width for a single bed is to lie on your back and cross your fingers at chest level. If the elbows are approximately 10 cm from the edges, and the hands themselves are comfortable, then the width of the furniture is optimal.
By Russian standards, a standard size single bed provides the following length and width options (in cm):
- 70 x 190 (considered a teenage model);
- 80 x 190;
- 80 x 200;
- 90 x 190;
- 100 x 200.
The standard size of a single bed, which is the most comfortable for most people, is 100 x 190 cm.
What you need to know to determine the right bed size
When purchasing a bed to sleep on, it is not enough to simply consider the quality of the wooden or metal frame. It is important that the person who will sleep on the product feels comfortable and comfortable. If there is not enough space for him or his legs dangle, he will not be able to get a good night's sleep. When choosing a one-and-a-half or single bed, you need to pay attention to several aspects.
The bed should not only be suitable in size, but also match the overall style of the room
Room area. Before buying a bed, you need to carefully measure the room so that the product does not take up too much space. This is especially true for rooms that are small in size, where every meter needs to be used as efficiently as possible, and the bed needs to be placed comfortably.
Human dimensions. When calculating the optimal length and width of the product, you need to take into account the height and physique of the person who will sleep on it, and add 20-30 cm to each parameter. It is better for this not just to carry out calculations, but to go straight to the store and try to lie on it beds of various sizes.
Sleep habits. If a bed is selected simply based on the size of a person, without taking into account his habits, then you may not be able to guess with the choice of design. People who spin around in their sleep and spread their arms and legs are advised to give preference to wider options.
Criteria required for choosing a single or semi-double bed
Having determined the main indicators, you should pay attention to other points.
The metal frame of a single bed is considered the most durable and reliable option
Construction type. In a small bedroom it is not recommended to install a 1.5 bed, the size of which will interfere with comfortable movement due to the presence of a large number of drawers. It should be remembered that there should be enough free space in the room to allow you to move freely.
Bed design. All pieces of furniture should not only fit in size, but also correspond to the overall style of the room. Shopping centers offer a large selection of products in various shapes. Therefore, if you want to put a bed in the nursery, for example, in the shape of a spaceship, it is not difficult to do this.
The quality of materials used during assembly. A metal frame is considered the most durable option, but if solid wood is used for its manufacture, then such a frame is also quite reliable. The slats are usually made of high-quality glued MDF.
Number of people using the bed. A one-and-a-half product is considered a universal option, which will be enough to accommodate both one large person and two people of average build. For families with small children, it is better to choose at least double options as a family bed.
People who turn around in their sleep are advised to choose wider beds
Helpful advice! It is not recommended to save on this piece of furniture; you should choose models made from quality materials. After all, a bed is bought no more often than once every 10 years.
Varieties
Having determined what size a single bed should be, you can begin choosing a model. Despite the abundance of offers on the furniture market, the main criterion should not be fashionable functionality (the presence of drawers, mechanisms, etc.), but comfort for sleeping. One of the key parameters will be the height of the bed, which is determined depending on human height. It will be different for tall and short people. An older person prefers a taller design, while a low, stylish bed is perfect for young people.
When choosing furniture for sleeping by height, you need to sit on it - the legs of a person sitting on a properly selected bed will not stick out with their knees up, but will form a right angle in relation to the floor.
Important criteria in the modern world are also the appearance, furniture design, and interior features of housing. If a low bed, the classic height of which is 20-30 cm, will look great in a room decorated in a Moorish or Japanese style, then for interiors in the spirit of noble England, higher models are already chosen - from 70 cm. The average height of the base plus the parameters of the mattress is considered , equal to 40-60 cm. Such models are often equipped with drawers.
Low beds are usually made according to the classic model - they have 4 legs or two drawers (end panels). They are usually made of wood or materials imitating it. Manufacturers often assemble such beds for children and toddlers, equipping them with protective strips at the ends and on the back. No less common in children's options are such types of beds as a couch, sofa, and “loft” type model. In the latter option, the sleeping place itself is moved upstairs, and a chest of drawers, drawers, and a table are arranged under it. In order to climb “to the attic”, the package includes a ladder.
Beds with a lifting mechanism are also becoming more common. They are convenient because they allow you to organize additional storage spaces for bedding and other things. Moreover, such designs may have a standard size of a single bed; small teenage models are often equipped with such mechanisms. This type of bedroom furniture saves a lot of space – and this is precisely the main task when choosing a small-sized bed.
For the proper organization of limited living space, folding and sliding beds - functional, comfortable designs - can be absolutely indispensable. They are equally common in children's and adult collections. You can find different options, including models:
- with drawers for storing blankets, pillows, and other things;
- with a lifting mechanism for placing bedding inside the bed;
- with a podium that allows you not only to store things, but also to zone the space, changing its geometry by the height of the sleeping area.
When figuring out what the standard sizes of mattresses for a single bed should be, it is worth considering that its dimensions should be sufficient to neatly and accurately fit the furniture frame and not fidget around on it. Bed linen should also match these values. The standard is usually taken to be the length of the sheet at which it covers the mattress on all sides - this way it is easier to use, because it will not get confused or move at random. How the size of the sheets and bed linen corresponds to the dimensions of the mattress is shown in the table:
| Mattress dimensions, cm | Sheet size, cm |
| 70 x 185, 190, 200 | 205 x 120 |
| 80 x 185, 190, 200 90 x 185, 190, 200 | 215 x 120 215 x 120 |
Single daybed
Sides
Bed with low leg height
Loft bed
High bed with drawers
With extra bed
Teenage bed with lifting mechanism
Single sofa
Additional storage spaces
Features of choosing a bed for a children's room
Furniture in the nursery should correspond to the height and age of the child. Usually a bed for a child’s room is purchased 2 or even 3 times - this cannot be avoided, even using sliding mechanisms and height adjustment. Important parameters for choosing such products are not only the length and width, but also the height of the bottom. Also, cribs are often equipped with additional fastenings that protect the baby from falling during sleep.
A safe option for a baby or a slightly older child is a design equipped with a deep bottom and guards. Most often, such products are used for up to 3 years, and sometimes longer. Additional parameters that characterize the crib:
For small children, it is better to purchase a bed equipped with railings.
- Sides. They can be wooden or plastic and should rise about 1/3 of the bed. There are stationary or removable sides, and it is better when they have soft protection.
- Sustainability. The product should be wide, because narrow and high cribs are considered less stable and can tip over during active play by the baby on it.
- No sharp corners or large distances between the rods. Children are distinguished by their ability to stick their heads where they shouldn’t, which is why you need to evaluate the distance between the barrier bars in advance and make sure that the child’s head will not fit there. It is necessary to exclude any sharp corners.
Single and one-and-a-half beds: sizes that are suitable for a children's room
The standard sizes of a baby crib are characterized by certain indicators, which vary depending on the age, as well as the growth of the child.
Cribs are selected not according to age, but according to the height of the child
0-3 years. The optimal size of a single bed for children in this case is considered to be 60 x 120 cm. In Europe, the standard is slightly different and is 65 x 120 cm. Babies who are not tall can easily sleep in such a crib for up to 3-4, and sometimes up to 5 years. You just need to monitor the height of the bottom.
3-5 years. The width of a single bed for a child of this age is already close to standard. It can be 70, 80 or 90 cm, the length varies from 140 to 195 cm. The height of the bottom should usually not be more than 1 meter.
Schoolchildren from 6 to 17 years old. In this case, standard bed sizes are used - 80x190 or 90x200 cm.
To save space, bunk beds are often installed in the nursery, the dimensions of which allow you to use the space under the bed to install an additional bed, a wardrobe or a table for doing homework. This design is quite suitable for a student and is considered safe.
The height of the structure reaches 1.5 meters, and the size of the sleeping place is usually 80 by 190 cm. If you are setting up a small room for a teenager, the best option for a sleeping place is considered to be a folding chair-bed, the size of which when unfolded corresponds to the standard 90 by 200 cm.
Helpful advice! If there are concerns that the child may fall at night, you can separately purchase a removable restraint that is attached to the side of the bed and prevents injury.
Folding sofa beds, the sizes of which are universal, are very popular in teenagers' rooms. When not unfolded, the width of the sofa, equal to 80 cm, will be enough for one person to sleep. If desired, using a sliding mechanism, this parameter can be doubled or even more, resulting in a one-and-a-half bed with a width of 160 cm and a standard length of 200 cm.
Materials
Most modern furniture is made from four standard types of raw materials. Each of them is not without its shortcomings, although they all have their own advantages. Basic materials for the production of a single bed:
- Tree. The most valuable and noble raw material, as it is an environmentally friendly option, which, as is commonly believed, has its own energy. In fact, for centuries people have made furniture, including beds, from solid trees. Such furniture is considered optimal for creating comfort, coziness, and beauty in your home. Depending on the type of wood, the bed can last a very long time (furniture made of oak and beech), or it can fail quite quickly (if we are talking, for example, about pine).
- Metal. Received demand due to its strength and new type of processing. In addition, it is also an environmentally friendly material and durable. It is extremely relevant due to the spread of such interior styles as Provence, country, shabby chic, which dictate the fashion for forged elements in the interior.
- Chipboard. Material based on chipboard impregnated with resins. A fairly durable raw material that costs less than wood, but thanks to the coating, it imitates it in appearance. Disadvantages - the ability to emit harmful formaldehydes at the beginning of operation and when heated.
- MDF. It is not treated with resins, and therefore safer than laminated chipboard. The downside of MDF is its flammability and lack of wear resistance.
In addition to the listed materials, plywood is used in production - slats are made from it, they are used for the base under the mattress, and often the frame is made from it, covered with artificial leather or fabric.
MDF bed
Plywood slats
Metal bed
Wooden bed
From laminated chipboard
Model options and features
A wide range of beds does not cause any particular difficulties in choosing products for people of different ages and body types.
For children
A single bed is a common type of furniture for relaxation in a children's room. Such models have a lot of advantages: they create a full-fledged place to sleep, they are easy to care for, do not need to be folded/unfolded, they come in different styles and designs, take up little space, and are multifunctional. Basic requirements for products: safe shape (no sharp corners), environmentally friendly materials, comfortable height. When choosing furniture, several parameters are taken into account:
- Interior style;
- Age and anatomical features of the child (height, weight);
- Materials (preferably environmentally friendly);
- Mattress.
The main model options: classic single beds with side backrests (one or two), models with lifting mechanisms and built-in storage systems, a daybed (one of the two or three backrests is soft - covered with textiles).
Low models (with sides) with images of toys or fairy tale characters are placed in the nursery for children. Some parents make such products with their own hands. Before assembling a project from wood, it is advisable to correctly calculate all its parameters. To give the decor a bright look, choose furniture in rich colors (green, blue, yellow, pink). An excellent purchase would be a single bed sofa (a kind of sofa with a back and armrests of the same height). Thanks to the side backrest, you don’t have to worry about your child touching a cold wall while sleeping.
For older children, more adult-looking models are selected. Teenagers are already critical of the design of the room and the choice of furniture. Therefore, it is important to take into account the wishes of children, their interests and preferences. For a teenage boy, a simple bed with a strict, laconic style is suitable. Suitable colors are shades of gray, blue, dark brown. For a girl, it is advisable to choose more intricate stylish models - with carved backs, decorated with beautiful elements (forging, overlaid wooden elements, colored plastic inserts). Furniture in light shades (white, sand, silver, pink, light green) will emphasize the delicacy of the decor.
For adults
As a rule, in adulthood, preference is given to multifunctional models. It is very convenient when the furniture is converted into a full-fledged sleeping place at night, and during the day is used for daytime relaxation or receiving guests. Also popular are models that, when unfolded, create a simple double bed. The most common options:
- Standard single bed with headboard only;
- Ottoman sofa is low furniture. Products can only have armrests or a backrest separately;
- Transformable bed (multifunctional models that combine a sleeping place with a sofa, table);
- Soft folding beds serve as a spare bed. Modern models are equipped with mattresses, so a single folding bed will allow you to quickly organize rest for your dear guest. Such products are equipped with wheels and, when assembled, are easy to move and take up little space;
- Retractable stock (placed in special podiums). Suitable for rooms with high ceilings;
- Folding bed (fixed against the wall and in vertical form is almost invisible).
Any furniture is selected taking into account the style of the room. Therefore, for modern high-tech and minimalist styles, stylish built-in beds or folding beds are suitable. In this setting, the room will look spacious and free. Wrought iron beds are suitable for rustic-style interiors. For a luxurious classic or baroque style, it is advisable to choose a bed with a soft headboard.
Special
Specialized furniture (medical beds, massage beds) are used for specific purposes. As a rule, such structures are equipped with special mechanisms. Special mattresses are made for such furniture. A single medical bed with a mattress is intended for patients who require special care. Such furniture is characterized by increased functionality:
- The head and leg sections are adjustable (you can change the angle of these zones). Individual sections of the structure can be controlled using electronic devices;
- The beds are equipped with side rails that are easy to lower and easy to lock in the raised position;
- Almost all models are mobile (equipped with special casters or wheels).
Specialized furniture includes beds for hotels, kindergartens, and hospitals. In appearance, such products do not differ from household models. However, the requirements for specialized furniture are special: high strength, easy maintenance, reliability, durability. For government institutions, beds with an economy class mattress are suitable. For inexpensive hotels and boarding houses, budget furniture options are also selected. But for premium hotels, single designer beds are already being selected. Such furniture is made of expensive wood and can be decorated with decorative elements.
Tips for choosing
There are three main criteria - size, material, design. The second point is most important when choosing furniture for a child. And a few more recommendations that will not be superfluous when choosing a single model:
- the largest possible bed in the bedroom should not interfere with movement, free access is a prerequisite for comfortable use;
- unusual shapes in the form of an arc, oval and other things are best left for demonstration purposes by designers, sleeping on them is uncomfortable, special bedding will be required;
- you shouldn’t buy too original models - swings, various “unusual” things like a nest and other delights are good in a gazebo or on a veranda, and not in a bedroom;
- if the mattress is not included, you need to choose it based on the hardness parameters - medium and high values are optimal, and it is important to ensure that there are no large gaps between the mattress and the body.
By following these simple tips, you can easily decide on the purchase of a modern and comfortable single bed, even for a small apartment. Compactness and convenience are paramount, but combination with the design of the room is also important.
Single bed size
The standard bed size is calculated according to the height and weight of the vacationer. For a comfortable sleep, the length of the sleeping place should be 15-20 centimeters greater than the height of the sleeper. The formula for calculating the length looks like this: the height of the sleeping person + 15-20 cm.
As for the width of the product, it all depends on personal wishes and the characteristics of the bedroom. For one person of average height and weight, a sleeping place with a width of 60 to 90 cm will be sufficient. Moreover, when sleeping on the side, bent knees should not hang over the edge of the bed. It is best if in this position there is 15 centimeters left in width. This rule also works for arms outstretched to the side. Therefore, the bed should not be too narrow.
Experts recommend not to save free space in the bedroom and not to purchase an uncomfortable and small bed, since sleeping on it will only bring discomfort and unpleasant sensations.
Photo: Single bed
PHOTO
Additional features
Few rooms can boast of spacious areas. Most often, small rooms have several zones for different purposes, so multifunctional furnishings are chosen. Manufacturers offer several furniture options:
- A transforming bed can combine different elements of furniture. The most common model is vertical. When assembled, you get a sofa with hanging shelves - a cozy place to relax, and when unfolded - a comfortable place to sleep. A very popular horizontal bed-table model, which when raised allows you to organize a comfortable place for study or work. Advantages of transformers: corner models allow you to use “dead” zones, saving room space, saving money (one model of furniture includes several items), excellent beds for teenagers. Disadvantages of the models: furniture requires additional costs, low-quality transformation mechanisms quickly break down;
- Products with high bases are equipped with special drawers. This type of furniture is very popular. These beds are comfortable for both babies and adults. Children's models can be used to store toys and bedding. Drawers in adult products are used to store clothes and bedding. As a rule, special furniture casters are mounted on the bottom and the drawers are not difficult to pull out. The main advantage of furniture is the presence of hidden storage areas;
- In some models the bed can be raised. The bed frame also serves as a built-in storage system. Thanks to special devices, lifting the mattress is not difficult;
- A bed with a pull-out sleeper will be the optimal solution for a small room where two children live. Depending on the height of the product, the bed may also have built-in drawers for storing things. When assembled, the bed with a side back upholstered in soft material is used as a sofa, on which it is convenient to read books or watch TV during the day.
Advantages of the furniture: full-fledged sleeping places are created for two children; when assembled, narrow beds take up little space. Disadvantages: a child sleeping on a pull-out section may feel uncomfortable due to the low position of the mattress; getting up from the upper bed is inconvenient (you have to disturb the sleeper who is lying on the lower bed).
Happy owners of large apartments must have a bedroom with a bed of their favorite size. However, thanks to the variety of transformable furniture, today it is not difficult to create a completely cozy relaxation area in a room of any size.
