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In most bedrooms the bed belongs against the longest unbroken wall, with its head away from the door and its foot facing open floor. Wardrobes, bedside tables and everything else then fit around the walking space you need and the direction your storage opens.
Which wall should the bed go against?
Look for a wall with no window, radiator or door in the width of the headboard. That wall gives the headboard something solid to sit against and keeps you out of draughts. Where the bed has to go under a window, choose a headboard low enough to clear the sill; see what height headboard do I need?
Many people like to see the door from the bed without lying directly in line with it. A bed on the wall opposite or diagonal to the door usually manages both.
How much space do I need around a bed?
| Where | Space to allow | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sides you walk down | Around 60 to 70cm | Comfortable walking and making the bed |
| Foot of an end-lift ottoman | Around 60cm | Standing room while the platform is up |
| Opening side of a side-lift ottoman | Similar walking space | Room to stand beside the open lid |
| Side with divan drawers | Drawer depth plus room to stand | A drawer you can't open is wasted |
| In front of wardrobes | Door swing plus standing room | So doors don't hit the bed |
Should a bed be pushed into a corner?
In a small room, putting one long side against a wall frees a lot of floor. It suits a single or a small double used by one person. For two people, one of you climbs over the other, so a bed with both sides free is better if the room allows. A corner bed also rules out drawers on the wall side and makes a side-lift ottoman open away from the wall.
Where should the bed go in a long, narrow room?
Usually across the width at one end, so the length stays free to walk. If the foot of the bed ends up close to the opposite wall, a side-lift ottoman still opens. A horizontal-line headboard, such as the Horizontal Line Tall Headboard Bed, helps a narrow room read wider.
Horizontal lines help a narrow room read wider: the Horizontal Line Tall Headboard Bed.
Where should a bed go in a room with a sloping ceiling?
Put the head of the bed under the lower part of the slope, where you only lie down, and keep the higher part for standing. Check that any ottoman lid can rise without hitting the ceiling. How high should a bed be? covers loft rooms.
Planning the layout before you buy
- Draw the room on squared paper, with doors, windows, radiators and sockets.
- Mark the bed's full footprint, including headboard and any footboard.
- Add the walking and opening spaces from the table above.
- Tape the outline on the floor and live with it for a day.
If the plan only works with the next size down, the small double vs double and king vs super king guides help you decide. For compact rooms, the small bedroom storage guide has a room-size table.
Beds that suit tricky layouts
Layout is the starting point of the bed buying guide. For a foot-to-wall room, the Side Lift Ottoman Divan Bed. For a bed under a window, the Low Double-Panelled Bed. For everything else, browse all Legend Beds beds.
The Side Lift Ottoman Divan Bed suits a foot-to-wall room.
Frequently asked questions
Is it bad to put a bed under a window?
It's fine if the headboard clears the sill and you don't mind a little draught. Heavy curtains or a lined blind help, and a low headboard keeps the window usable.
Should the bed face the door?
Many people prefer to see the door without lying directly in line with it. A position diagonal to the door usually gives both.
Can a bed go against a radiator?
It's best to keep a gap. A headboard or base against a radiator blocks heat and can dry out upholstery.
How far should a bed be from the wall?
The headboard can sit against the wall. A floor-standing headboard adds a few centimetres, so allow for it when measuring the room's length.
What is the best layout for a small bedroom?
Bed against the longest wall, storage in the bed rather than beside it, and bedside shelves instead of tables if space is tight.
