A king-size bed allows each of two people the most inches of sleeping space of any commercial bed. It suggests luxury and opulence and takes centre stage in any bedroom, serving as the focal point for colour and decor. It is helpful to make a scale drawing of the room, including all the additional furniture required, to make sure the bed will fit. Consideration should also be given to how the bed will be brought into the room.
King Bed Size
Measure the width and length of the bed frame. A king-size mattress can be as wide as 80 inches and as long as 98 inches. The most common king-size mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, and the bed frame may add several inches to both the width and length. Consider how the frame is dismantled. In a small room, there may not be space to move the frame around, so careful planning will be necessary.
- Measure the width and length of the bed frame.
- The most common king-size mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, and the bed frame may add several inches to both the width and length.
Space Around the Bed
Add 30 inches on each side and the foot as the minimum space needed to move around the bed. King-size linens are large, as well, and making the bed takes place in this 30 inches. With the most common king-size mattress, the "footprint" of the bed, including an additional 8 inches for the frame on all sides, has become 84 inches wide and 88 inches long. Add the 30 inches on the sides and the end, and the bed footprint is now 144 inches wide and 118 inches long.
- Add 30 inches on each side and the foot as the minimum space needed to move around the bed.
- With the most common king-size mattress, the "footprint" of the bed, including an additional 8 inches for the frame on all sides, has become 84 inches wide and 88 inches long.
Additional Furniture Considerations
Additional furniture may be required in the bedroom. Bedside tables will fit into the 30 inches added to the sides of the bed, but if a dresser is required, the depth of the piece (usually 18 inches, plus 24 inches for drawer function) must be added. Doors to the room should open out, and floor space for radiators, floor-standing air conditioners, or heaters, must be added. Closet doors should be sliders and drapery should be short and as close to the wall as possible.
- Additional furniture may be required in the bedroom.
- Bedside tables will fit into the 30 inches added to the sides of the bed, but if a dresser is required, the depth of the piece (usually 18 inches, plus 24 inches for drawer function) must be added.
Minimum Space Requirement
With the most common king-size mattress, the minimum room size required for the king-size bed with an 8-inch frame is 144 inches by 118 inches, or 12 feet by 9 feet 10 inches. Adding 3 feet 6 inches to the length for the dresser will change the minimum to 12 feet by 13 feet 4 inches. Adding the dresser space to the width of the room changes the minimum to 16 feet 3 inches by 9 feet 10 inches.