A three quarter size bed is a mattress measuring 120cm wide by 190cm long, or 4ft by 6ft 3in. In the UK it is more commonly sold as a small double, and both names describe the same size. It sits between a single at 90cm wide and a standard double at 135cm wide, which is exactly where the name comes from: roughly three quarters of the way to a full double.<\/p>\n
The length is identical to a UK single and a UK double at 190cm, so the only variable is width. That single fact makes it a useful size for British homes, because it fits alcoves and box rooms that cannot take a full double while giving considerably more sleeping space than a single. It is also known as a four foot bed, and occasionally as a queen in older British usage, though that term now causes more confusion than it resolves.<\/p>\n
The gap between a single and a double is larger than most people realise. A single gives one sleeper 90cm of width. A standard double gives two sleepers 67.5cm each. A three quarter bed at 120cm gives one sleeper generous room to spread out, or two sleepers 60cm each, which is workable for occasional use but tight for every night.<\/p>\n
That is the honest way to think about it. As a single bed for an adult who wants more space, it is excellent. As a guest bed for two people staying a night or two, it works well. As a permanent bed for a couple, it will feel cramped unless both are slim sleepers who do not move much.<\/p>\n
Its real strength is spatial. The 15cm saved compared with a double is often exactly what is needed to fit a bed into a chimney breast alcove, to leave a walkable gap beside a wardrobe, or to get a bed into a loft conversion where the sloping ceiling limits usable floor width. In terraced houses and Victorian conversions, that margin is frequently the difference between a room that works and one that does not.<\/p>\n
Teenagers moving on from a single are the most obvious group. A three quarter bed gives them proper sleeping space without swallowing the desk and wardrobe space a small bedroom needs to function as a study as well as a bedroom.<\/p>\n
Guest rooms are the second natural home for the size. A spare room that has to double as an office or a hobby space cannot always spare the floor area a double demands. A small double leaves enough room for a desk or a chair while still being a comfortable bed for visiting adults.<\/p>\n
Single adults who simply dislike narrow beds are the third group, and often the most satisfied. Anyone who has slept on a single and felt hemmed in will notice the extra 30cm immediately. It suits restless sleepers, anyone who reads or works in bed, and households where a pet shares the bed.<\/p>\n
Finally, it suits studio flats and small rental rooms where a double bed would leave no usable floor. A three quarter bed with a lift up base can be the entire storage strategy for a small room.<\/p>\n
A three quarter bed needs a room of roughly 2.2m by 2.8m to feel comfortable with walking space on one side. Add clearance on both sides and you are looking closer to 2.7m by 2.9m. Because it is a genuinely compact footprint, it opens up options a double would rule out.<\/p>\n
The classic layout is to place the bed with its long side against a wall, which frees a proper walkway on the other side and space at the foot. This works far better with a three quarter than a double, because a 120cm reach across the bed to make it is manageable, whereas 135cm becomes a stretch.<\/p>\n
In loft rooms, position the bed where the ceiling is lowest, since you only need headroom for sitting up rather than standing. A low profile frame is essential here. Under a window, a low headboard keeps the light and the window catch accessible. In an alcove, measure at skirting height as well as above it, because skirting boards can steal several centimetres from the usable width.<\/p>\n
Our range of modern small double fabric beds UK sale<\/a> includes low headboard styles that suit sloping ceilings and windows set low in the wall.<\/p>\n Because the size is used most often in small rooms, frame profile matters more than usual. A slim wooden frame with visible legs keeps the floor visible and the room feeling open, and our modern small double wooden beds UK<\/a> selection covers painted and natural finishes that suit compact bedrooms.<\/p>\n Metal frames are the lightest looking option of all, with thin uprights that barely interrupt a sightline, which is useful when a bed sits in front of a window. Fabric frames bring softness and warmth, and are worth considering in a guest room where comfort takes priority over floor area.<\/p>\n Storage is the other major consideration. Ottoman lift up frames in this size are particularly effective because the room around them is usually too small for a separate blanket box. A small double with a full lift up base can hold spare bedding, seasonal clothing and luggage in space that would otherwise be dead.<\/p>\n Check slat spacing before choosing a mattress. Gaps of around 7cm or less give proper support to foam and hybrid mattresses. Also confirm there is a central support rail, as a 120cm span without one will flex over time.<\/p>\n Bedding for a three quarter bed is sold as small double or 4ft, and it is less widely stocked than single or double linen. Buy the mattress first, then source bedding to match, rather than the other way round. Fitted sheets need to state 120cm by 190cm, and depth matters if you use a topper.<\/p>\n Duvets are the practical compromise. Many people use a double duvet on a small double bed, since a small double duvet at around 200cm by 200cm can be harder to find. A double duvet gives a slightly more generous overhang, which most sleepers prefer anyway.<\/p>\n Mattress choice is straightforward, with pocket sprung, memory foam and hybrid options all made in the size. Rolled mattresses are especially useful here, because a three quarter bed often ends up in a room reached by a narrow staircase where a full size sprung mattress would be difficult to carry.<\/p>\n The point of choosing a three quarter bed is the space it leaves, so use it well. A narrow bedside table rather than a wide cabinet keeps the walkway clear, and wall mounted lighting removes the need for a lamp taking up surface area. Our modern wooden bedside cabinets UK sale<\/a> range includes slim units suited to tight gaps.<\/p>\n For clothing, a tall narrow wardrobe or a two door sliding design uses less floor and needs no swing clearance. Where the room doubles as a study, a compact desk under the window rather than against a wall keeps the room feeling less crowded. A mirror placed to catch daylight completes the effect.<\/p>\nFrame Options and What to Look For<\/h3>\n
Bedding and Mattresses for 4ft Beds<\/h3>\n
Furnishing the Rest of a Small Bedroom<\/h3>\n