Bedroom Furniture: Beds, Headboards, Benches and Bedside Tables

A bedroom works when four things fit together: the bed, the headboard behind it, something at its foot and something at each side. Get the sizes of these four right and the room feels calm before you add a single cushion. This guide goes through each piece with the measurements we are asked about most often, using beds from the Sitdesign bedroom collection as examples.

Every bed we make is handmade in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul. Standard models are shown in the catalogue, and custom dimensions are available on request, which helps when a mattress size, a ceiling height or a window position does not match the standard.

Start with the mattress, not the frame

A bed is sized around its mattress, so decide that first. Mattress sizes differ from country to country, which matters if you are furnishing a home abroad or ordering for a project in another market. Typical sizes are:

• 140 × 200 cm: a standard double in much of Europe, comfortable for one person or a guest room.
• 160 × 200 cm: the most common choice for a main bedroom in Turkey and continental Europe.
• 180 × 200 cm: gives each sleeper 90 cm, the width of a single bed.
• US queen and king: roughly 152 × 203 cm and 193 × 203 cm; UK sizes differ again, so always confirm in centimetres.

An upholstered bed frame typically adds 10–20 cm to the mattress width and length, and a deep headboard adds more. When you plan the room, work with the outer dimensions of the bed, not the mattress. A common rule is to leave at least 60–70 cm of free floor along each side you walk on, and around 90 cm at the foot if a wardrobe door or the room door opens there.

Headboards: height, padding and covering

The headboard is the largest upholstered surface in the room, so it sets the character of the space. Three choices shape it:

• Height. Headboards typically stand 100–130 cm above the floor. A taller one suits a high ceiling or a long empty wall; a lower one keeps a window above the bed clear.
• Padding. If you read or work in bed, choose a padded headboard you can lean against. A slight backward angle is more comfortable than a vertical panel.
• Covering. Genuine leather wipes clean and develops a patina with use; fabric feels softer and absorbs sound in a room with hard floors.

The Ranger bed, shown at the top of this article, has an upholstered headboard that runs the full width of the bed, so the bed reads as one piece. Our upholstered frames are built on kiln-dried beech. You can choose from 76 leather colours in 12 colour families, with Italian leathers forming our top leather group, or upholster in fabric; we also accept customer's own material (COM). Our leather page explains the options, and we send leather samples on request.

A bench at the foot of the bed

A bench at the foot gives you a place to sit while dressing, to lay out clothes for the next day or to leave a throw at night. It also closes off the end of the bed visually, which helps in a large room where the bed would otherwise float. Some proportions to follow:

• Length: about two-thirds to the full width of the mattress. For a 160 cm bed, a bench of 110–150 cm sits well.
• Height: typically 42–48 cm, a little below the top of the mattress so it does not compete with the bed.
• Depth: 35–45 cm is enough to sit on without cutting into the walkway.

The simplest match is by name: the Bravo bed and the Bravo bench share one, so they are a natural place to start if you want a pair. If you prefer contrast, a bench of a different shape covered in the same leather colour as the headboard ties the two together just as well. You can compare shapes in our bench and pouf collection.

Bedside tables: match the mattress height

The most useful rule for bedside tables is height: the top should sit roughly level with the top of the mattress, or up to 5 cm below it. With a typical mattress top at 55–65 cm from the floor, that means a table of about 50–65 cm. Too high and the lamp shines into your eyes; too low and you reach down for your glass in the dark.

Width depends on the space beside the bed. A top of 40–50 cm holds a lamp, a book and a phone; 55–60 cm suits a larger room or a bed of 180 cm or more. Leave a gap of about 10 cm between the table and the bed frame so bedding can be tucked in. If you want storage, a drawer is more practical than an open shelf, which tends to collect clutter. In a smaller room, a compact side table can take the place of a bedside table.

Putting the room together

Once the four pieces are chosen, check the room as a whole before you order:

• Measure the wall behind the bed and keep at least 20–30 cm free between each bedside table and the nearest corner or wardrobe.
• Repeat one material at least twice, for example the headboard leather on the bench, rather than giving every piece its own finish.
• Plan lighting together with the headboard height, so wall lights or lamps fall on a book rather than into your eyes.
• Keep the path from the door to the bed free of sharp corners; a round side table helps in tight spaces.

For layout and colour, see our guides to planning a master bedroom and creating a calm bedroom.

If you are planning a bedroom, send us the room dimensions and your mattress size through our contact page. We will reply with suitable models and a quote, and send leather samples on request.