To measure up for a grey high gloss bed, you need three sets of measurements: the room itself, the outer dimensions of the bed frame you are considering, and the route the bed will take to reach the bedroom. Measure the frame, not the mattress. Headboards, side rails and storage bases always make a bed larger than its mattress size, and that difference is where most sizing mistakes happen.
Once you have those numbers, comparing designs in our grey high gloss beds UK range becomes much simpler, because you can rule out anything that will not fit before you fall for it.
Write every measurement in centimetres. Most bed listings use centimetres, and mixing units is an easy way to make an error.
These are the standard UK mattress sizes. The frame for each will be larger, often by several centimetres in width and more in length once the headboard is included.
| Bed size | Mattress width | Mattress length |
|---|---|---|
| Single | 90cm | 190cm |
| Small double | 120cm | 190cm |
| Double | 135cm | 190cm |
| King size | 150cm | 200cm |
| Super king | 180cm | 200cm |
Before you go further, it can help to look at the broader modern bedroom furniture UK range so you know which other pieces you may want in the room. A bed that fits on its own but leaves no space for a wardrobe or bedside cabinets is not really the right size.
Measure the length and width of the floor at skirting board level. Then note the position and size of everything that affects where a bed can go:
Sketch these onto your floor plan. It does not need to be precise, but it should show where each feature sits along each wall.
Most bedrooms have one or two sensible walls for the bed. Ideally the headboard sits against a solid wall without a window, with enough space on either side for bedside cabinets. Avoid placing the bed directly against a radiator, which can dry out the mattress and warm the frame.
If your only option is beneath a window, check the sill height. A tall headboard may block part of the window or clash with the curtains. In that case, a lower profile design will look more comfortable.
Look for the outer width, length and height of the frame in each product listing. These are the numbers that matter. Pay particular attention to:
A bed needs space around it to be comfortable to use. Many interior designers work to roughly 60cm of clear walkway on each side and at the foot, though you can manage with a little less in a tight room. Make sure that wardrobe doors, drawers and the bedroom door can open fully without hitting the frame.
If you plan to have bedside cabinets, add their width to each side of the bed and check the walkway again. Our bedside cabinets UK sale range lists exact widths and heights, so you can include them in your plan from the start.
For a double bed in a smaller room, consider placing one side close to a wall to free up floor space, as long as both people can still get in and out comfortably.
Height affects comfort and how the bed looks in the room. Note the height of the headboard above the floor and the height of the frame where the mattress sits. Add your mattress depth to the frame height to see where the sleeping surface will be.
Ideally, bedside cabinet tops should sit close to mattress level, so you can reach a glass of water or a lamp without stretching. In rooms with sloping ceilings, check that you can sit up in bed without hitting your head on the slope.
This step is often forgotten. Measure the width and height of every doorway between your front door and the bedroom, along with the width of the staircase and any tight turns or landings. Low ceilings on stairs and narrow hallways in older terraced houses are common pinch points.
Most beds arrive flat packed, but headboards and ottoman bases can still be long and heavy. Check the size of the largest box or component, which is usually given in the product details.
Once you have a frame in mind, use masking tape to mark its outer dimensions on the bedroom floor. Live with it for a day or two. Walk around it, open the wardrobe and imagine getting in and out of bed. This simple step tells you more about fit than any drawing can.
Loft conversions, dormer bedrooms and cottages often have ceilings that slope down towards one wall. In these rooms, floor area alone does not tell you whether a bed will be comfortable. Measure the ceiling height at several points across the room, starting at the wall where you plan to put the headboard and moving outwards every 50cm. Note where the ceiling drops below standing height and below sitting height.
Sit on a chair at roughly the height of the finished mattress and check that you have clearance above your head at the pillow end. Many people place the headboard under the tallest part of the slope, so the foot of the bed runs towards the lower wall where nobody needs to stand.
Alcoves either side of a chimney breast need similar care. Measure the depth and width of each alcove, because bedside cabinets often fit neatly there, leaving the bed centred on the chimney breast. Check that a headboard will not overlap the alcove edges, which can look awkward.
Grey high gloss beds come in a range of shades, and the colour you choose changes how large the bed appears. Light grey and dove grey reflect more light and make a frame look lighter and smaller. Mid grey sits neutrally in most rooms. Charcoal and dark grey make a frame look more solid and defined, which can feel heavy in a compact bedroom.
The gloss finish itself helps. A lacquered surface reflects daylight and lamp light, which softens the edges of the frame. If you are torn between two sizes for a small room, a lighter grey can make the larger option feel more comfortable.
Our modern double high gloss beds UK include several grey shades, which makes it easier to compare how each one looks at a size that suits many second bedrooms.
If you are deciding between a double and a king size, our guide to UK king size bed dimensions explains how much room each needs. For the furniture either side of the bed, our article on bedside table measurements for UK bedrooms covers heights and widths in detail.
When your measurements are ready, you can shop modern furniture UK at Furniture in Fashion, where every bed listing includes full dimensions, with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
It varies by design. Slim frames may add only a few centimetres, while padded headboards, thick rails or storage bases can add considerably more. Always check the listed outer dimensions.
Around 60cm of walkway on each side and at the foot is a comfortable guide. In smaller rooms you can reduce this slightly, or place one side of a double bed against a wall.
Light grey gloss usually makes a bed look lighter, because it reflects light. Darker greys look more solid and suit larger rooms with good daylight.
The outer frame dimensions against the space available, followed closely by the access route to the bedroom.
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