Can a King Size Bed Fit in a Small Bedroom? The Answer Might Surprise You…

People always ask me, can a king size bed fit in a small bedroom?, and so today I wanted to delve into the whole (but not totally complex) story.

We’re talking the yes part, the no part, and all of the things you need to think about before you commit to purchasing a new (and much bigger) bed for your somewhat cosier bedroom.

These tips are coming straight from small bedrooms I’ve designed for clients, and the small bedroom I myself have at home that I’ve put a king size bed in. Here are the truth bombs…

Can a King Size Bed Fit in a Small Bedroom? Yes!

Like I said above, I have a king bed in the main bedroom of my apartment, and it doesn’t engulf the room at all. So yes, a large bed in a small room is an absolute possibility.

But, it only works if you take the time to find the right bed frame, at the right height and width, and pair it with the right mattress.

You also gotta get the headboard correct, and ensure it’s married up with the right bedside tables too, so the entire room feels as spacious as it possibly can. Scroll on for more on how to get it right in your own bedroom.

Avoid King Storage Beds at All Costs Though

I read an advertorial in a magazine recently where the editor said how fantastic storage beds were for small rooms. It’s fair to say my blood started to boil immediately. Getting paid by a brand to spread misinformation = one ticked off interior designer here.

Most storage beds like these ones are notoriously high. They have to be to allow for the gas-lift mechanism or the storage drawers to sit underneath them. And when you then put a thick mattress on top it’s code red, game over.

High beds in small rooms (especially high king size bed frames) will dominate the room so much. Please, I beg of you, do not get lured into purchasing a high storage bed for your small bedroom.

Steer Clear of Ensemble King Bed Bases Too

Another common (but misguided) theory when it comes to large beds in small bedrooms is the thinking that it’s wise to get an ensemble bed base and put a mattress on top.

Sorry gang, but computer says no to that incorrect assumption as well.

Ensemble king beds in small bedrooms look like they’re growing out of the ground. They look blocky and restrict air flow underneath. Add a quilt cover on top draping down the sides and it cuts into the room even more. Avoid at all costs.

Choose a Low Bed that’s Slightly Elevated off the Floor

The best king size bed for a small bedroom is a bed that is low to the ground, and yet slightly elevated off the floor. If it’s on thin legs, even better.

You want that feeling of seeing the carpet or hard flooring underneath it. It tricks the eye and makes the room feel bigger.

Beds that step in and look like they’re floating (like the Joseph Bed above from Castlery, which I own) are amazing options too.

The ability to tuck your doona under the mattress also creates a cleaner look, which equals less visual bulk and actually makes your small bedroom feel larger.

Keep the Frame that Runs Around the Bed Barely-There

When trying to figure out if you can fit a king size bed into a small bedroom, people often Google the width of the mattress, but not the bed frame itself. This is a rookie mistake!

Some bed frames have thick edging that runs along both sides and at the end. You know, like a ledge you can put your feet up on when you sit to get out of bed in the morning.

King beds with these ledges are not great in a small bedroom. It can add up to 20cm width to the bed which ends up restricting the space you have to walk around the bed either side.

You Want the Headboard to Sit Low as Well

It’s preferred to have a king bed frame with a low headboard in a small bedroom. It’s all about reducing what we in the design biz call ‘visual bulk’.

In a small room, a high headboard (especially with details like tufting buttons or ornate shapes) can overwhelm the room. You want your eye to glide over the bed and take in the bedding on top, not feel like the bedhead is coming for you.

If you’re in love with a king bed with a higher headboard, just make sure the details are minimal (a few vertical lines in the fabric are OK, for example).

The Thickness of Your Mattress Can Mess Everything Up

Another rookie mistake people always make when they’re thinking about a king bed for a small bedroom is the height of the mattress. If you fail to consider this important factor… you in danger girl!

Up above I said king size storage beds were a no-no in a small bedroom because of how high the frame sits off the floor. It’s the same for a bed with a thick mattress on it; you end up with way too much height in the room.

Ideally, you don’t want the bed frame and mattress to sit higher than about 60cm off the floor. Any higher and it’s going to swallow your small bedroom whole. Trust and believe!

You Want a Walkable Gap Around the Bed Frame

Fitting a large king bed into a small bedroom does come down to some basic math at the end of the day. If you don’t carry out some basic calculations you’re headed for trouble.

The width of the room, minus the width of the bed frame, divided by two; that’s how much width remains either side of the bed for you to walk through.

Anything less than 50cm in width either side of the bed is not going to be cute. It can mean you’re knocking toes, scraping shins and cursing an array of four letter words in the middle of the night as you stumble to the bathroom.

Round Bedside Tables Can Help in a Small Bedroom

As a last point, in terms of making your small bedroom feel larger once your king bed is in the room, consider round bedside tables.

Not only does the reduction of sharp edges help immensely when it comes to avoiding injury, but if you choose a table with a round top and thin legs, it gives the feeling of air moving through furniture.

The feel of air moving through furniture is one of the best ways to make any small room feel larger. You want less bulk, less items running all the way to the floor, but more pieces raised on thin legs.

Here are Some Other Tips for Small Bedrooms

Now you know which style of king bed will fit into your small bedroom, there are a few other blog posts you need to visit next. The one around not matching bedside tables to your bed is a must-read:

• 8 Ways to Make Your Small Bedroom Feel Larger
• 20 Best Small Bedside Tables for Small Bedrooms
• How to Pair Your Bed with the Right Bedside Tables

Have these tips helped you fit a king size bed into a small bedroom at your place? I hope it’s given you the ability to purchase a bed with some more confidence, knowing it’s going to work! Drop me a comment below if you need more help.