The mistake is measuring the bed. Measure the room, subtract the space you need to move, and the bed size chooses itself.
The numbers
UK frame widths: single 90 cm, small double 120 cm, double 135 cm, king 150 cm, super king 180 cm. Add the frame's own depth; our headboards and surrounds are listed per design in the bed size guide and on every product page.
Leave 60 cm to walk
A comfortable walkway beside a bed is 60 cm; 45 cm is the practical minimum on one side if the other side is against a wall. A wardrobe door needs its full swing plus 30 cm to stand in front of it.
The four-minute tape test
Measure the wall the bed will sit against. Subtract 60 cm for each side you need to walk down. What is left is the widest frame you can take. A 3 m wall with walkways both sides takes a king (150 cm) with room to spare; a 2.4 m wall takes a double.
Tricks that buy space
- A storage base removes the need for a chest of drawers.
- A wall-mounted or wall-width headboard reads as architecture, not furniture, and a low base keeps sightlines open.
- A small double gives a couple 15 cm less than a double and often fits where a double will not.
- Made to order means an in-between size is possible: a 140 cm frame where 150 will not fit.
When the room is really small
Put the bed against the wall opposite the door, headboard on the longest wall, and choose a design without a footboard. Our room-fit cheat sheet covers the legal minimum bedroom sizes and where the tape goes. If you are unsure, send us the wall measurement and a photograph; we will tell you honestly what fits.