|
Buying a too-small mattress is one of the biggest mistakes new
bed-buyers make. Couples who've been sleeping on a "double"
since they got married may think they have enough room, until
they learn that each person has only as much sleeping space as a
baby's crib!
Full beds.
Sometimes still called "double," full beds are 53 inches
wide, which is just 15 inches wider than a twin size
(single). That leaves each partner only 27 inches of
personal space, or about the width of a crib. Both twin
and full sizes are approximately 75 inches long, which
may be too short for some adults, especially men.
Full bed
Recommendations: A Full size bed is only
enough space for a single sleeper and only if the person is
under 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing
full size over twin for teenage bedrooms. Parents are even
making this choice for younger children in to give themselves a
more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in
time.
Queen beds. A
queen bed is 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long 6
inches wider and 5 inches longer than a full size mattress.
These added inches can make all the difference in comfort,
especially for couples, and have made the queen today's most
popular mattress size. However, with 30 inches of personal
space, each adult still has 9 inches less width than if they
slept alone in a twin bed.
Recommendations: Queen size is a good
choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples
who prefer close quarters. It's also a great choice for single
sleepers who are also "sprawlers."
King beds.
These are 76 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long about
18 inches wider than a queen. This is the closest a couple can
come to having as much personal space (38 inches) as each would
have on a twin bed. In fact, two twin extra-long beds pushed
together are about the same size, an option that can offer a
flexible arrangement for a guest room. For consumers on the west
coast, there is also the "California King," which is 72 inches
wide by 84 inches long 4 inches narrower and 4 inches longer
than a regular king.
Recommendations: King size is the best
choice for couples that want maximum personal sleeping space.
It's also the best bet to accommodate that time on Sunday
morning when children may pop into bed or if the pets in your
house have mattress privileges! However, size can be a problem.
Even with a "split boxspring" two twin-size foundations to
support it to make a king set more manageable, it may be too
big for some bedrooms or too bulky to navigate through some
corridors, doors and stairwells. It's a good idea to break out
the tape measure to check your room dimensions if there is any
doubt.
 |