Choosing a Single Bed: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Single beds have to cover more ground than any other size, serving small children, teenagers, guests and study rooms, often in the smallest room of a British house. This article sets out seven questions that narrow the choice quickly and sensibly. We start with the sleeper and how long the bed realistically needs to last, then move to measuring floor space properly, including the circulation room and wardrobe clearance that plans on paper tend to forget. There is detailed advice on the three ways of using the space beneath a single bed, on matching the frame to the mattress type and depth, and on checking packaged dimensions against staircases and loft hatches before ordering. We also weigh up small single against standard single widths, look at day beds, bunks and high sleepers as dual purpose options, and explain how frame height changes the feel of a small room. A short FAQ follows....