Choosing the right single bed will change how well you sleep, and choosing the right single bed will change how efficient you use your space. Perhaps you live in an studio apartment. Perhaps you need a guest room.
Perhaps you have a child who will sleep in the single bed. Whatever your situation with a single bed may be, there are many different options for a single bed so that you can find the single bed that work best for your needs. The differences between single beds go beyond the size of the beds.
Beyond the size of single beds, there are differences in the type of support that each single bed can offer to the sleeper, the storage options available in some of those beds, the styles of the different beds, and the way that each individual may feel about each of the different types of single beds. Choosing the right single bed will save you money, and choosing the right single bed will prevent backaches or wasted floor space in your bedroom. Each type of single bed has certain feature that will work for some sleepers but may be of little concern for others.
By carefully considering what each type of single bed can offer to the sleeper versus what the same type of single bed offers within a showroom, you can make an informed decision about the purchase of the single bed that will best suit your sleeping needs.
Different Types of Single Beds to Consider
1. Twin Beds
Single beds that are known as twin beds are often chosen for childrens beds, guest beds, and individuals who live in spaces with limited dimensions for their bed. Twin beds are 38 inches in width and 75 inches in length, which offers an individual with sufficient space to stretch out on the bed without taking up the entirety of the bedroom.
Additionally, twin beds often fit between dressers or bookshelves in a bedroom, leaving space for the child to play in that area of the bedroom. Adults who live in studio apartments may opt for a twin bed to minimize the footprint of there bed in a small space. Such a small bed will leave room for minimal decor in the bedroom.
Additionally, because the twin bed often has less sleeping surface area than other single beds, individuals cannot expect to stretch out on the twin bed as on a larger single mattress. However, most adults will find that this lack of stretching out not to be a significant issue. Single beds that contain an extra three inches in length are known as twin XL beds.
2. Twin XL Beds
These twin beds will prevent individuals from dangling their feet off of the edge of their bed, which is an issue with standard twin beds. Many college dorms use twin XL beds for this reason. Additionally, individuals who are over six feet tall can sleep on a twin XL bed and not be an issue with the length of their sleep surface.
Available mattress options for twin XL beds include memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses, and innerspring mattresses. Each type of mattress can provide an individual with the type of sleeping experience that they require. However, twin XL beds may pose a challenge for those who may desire to upgrade to a full or queen size bed later.
Sheets for twin XL beds will cost more money than standard sheets, and twin XL bedding may be more difficult to find on sale. Murphy beds, also known as wall beds, are beds that can be flipped up into a cabinet to maximize the use of floor space within the bedroom during the day. Adults who live in studios often desire Murphy beds and would like to transform their spaces into guest areas or areas for other activities during the day.
3. Murphy Beds
Many Murphy beds include built-in shelves or desks on the back side of the bed. Murphy beds must be installed into the bedroom walls, and the storage space within the cabinet will not be accessible when the bed is in the down position. However, the gain of a Murphy bed versus the loss of storage space is often considered worthwhile by many adults.
Trundle beds are single beds that include another single bed that can be rolled out of the bed upon the arrival of guests. Because of this feature, people often purchase trundle beds for childrens rooms who often have sleepovers with friends. Modern trundle beds are often made to rise to the same height as the main bed, which allows those who own these beds to create a large king sized bed for movie nights.
4. Trundle Beds
Some trundle beds include drawers instead of a bed that can roll out of the bed. The trundle bed may require some lubrication to allow it to roll out of the bed, and space must be cleared for the bed to be moved into an extended position. However, both benefits of a trundle bed far outweigh the challenges of having to lubricate the bed or clear the sleeping space around the bed.
Daybeds often include the features of both a sofa and a single bed. A daybed can be positioned in the bedroom against a wall. During the day, the bed may be included with additional pillows to add comfort to individuals who sit on the bed during the day.
5. Daybeds
However, you can transform the daybed into a sleeping area for the bed with minimal effort. Daybeds may be desired in bedrooms that also function as home offices that may have visitors who sleep in the area overnight, or bedrooms that may be used as reading areas for children. Some daybeds may include a trundle bed underneath the daybed for additional sleeping space.
Additionally, the back and sides of the bed may include decorative rails to prevent individuals from sleeping on the side and having their pillows fall off the bed. However, the desire to sleep against the edge of the daybed may be an issue for those individuals. Additionally, the type of fabric used to upholster a daybed may impact the sleeping comfort on the bed, as well as the difficulty in maintaining that daybed.
Loft beds are beds whose sleeping platform is raised high enough to allow desks, dressers, or seating areas to be placed underneath the bed. Loft beds are often purchased for childrens rooms or for adults in small apartments. Loft beds often include safety rails to prevent children from falling off of the bed, and sometimes the bed models include built-in bookshelves to allow the child to store their books and not have to use separate ladder to access books on higher shelves.
6. Loft Beds
However, loft beds require that individuals think about the height of the loft bed relative to the height of the ceiling in the bedroom. For younger children or adults who desire a sense of a treehouse in their bedroom, loft beds may be desired. Platform beds are types of beds that have a solid base and slats to support the mattress for the sleeper.
7. Platform Beds
Platform beds do not require the purchase and use of a box spring. People often purchase platform beds for their design for moddern homes. Additionally, platform beds may allow the ceilings in a small bedroom to appear higher.
Some designs of platform beds include drawers underneath the bed to allow for storage of items like clothing. Platform beds are easy to clean underneath the mattress. However, platform beds require an individual to bend at a lower position to sleep on the bed.
Platform beds may have a solid construction that minimizes the movement of the sleeper relative to the mattress, which is not a major issue for those who sleep in the bed alone. Canopy beds are beds that include tall posts with drapery on the canopy to add a romantic aspect to the bed. While canopy beds can be large and include four posts, single canopy beds can include tall posts.
8. Canopy Beds
These posts may allow individuals to envision themselves in a bed within a castle or a sailing ship. Canopy beds may use lightweight frames for the bed instead of large and overwhelming posts. Additionally, light fabrics may drape from the bed, allowing for an individual to easily move on the bed.
Heavy velvet drapery on a canopy bed may trap dust, making it difficult to keep the bed clean. Storage beds include large drawers that allow for the placement of items that would otherwise take up space within the bedroom. Storage beds come in a variety of designs, including those that utilize hydraulic mechanisms that allow one person to raise the mattress to access the area beneath the sleep surface of the bed.
9. Storage Beds
Storage beds are ideal for individuals who do not have room for a bed closet, or who wish to maximize the use of space in their homes. However, the mechanism that opens the bed may add to the difficulty of moving the bed in the bedroom. However, these storage beds can store alot of items beneath the bed.
Bunk beds are beds that include two single beds stacked upon one another. Bunk beds are ideal for young childrens rooms. However, adults may use bunk beds in tiny homes, hostels, or vacation cabins.
10. Bunk Beds
Some bunk beds can be designed to open into two separate beds, which may allow for those who own the bed to upgrade the type of bed for each individual in the future. Some bunk beds may include reinforced ladders to the top bunk bed and guard rails to prevent individuals from falling off of the bunk bed. The individual who sleeps on the top bunk bed may lose some sleep and privacy.
Additionally, the individual who sleeps on the top bunk bed must climb in and out of the bunk bed. However, the feeling of sleep on a bunk bed that is high within the bedroom may be the desired feeling for some adults. Each of the types of single beds discussed above can help to solve a particular problem that individuals may have within their bedroom.
Each single bed type can help to solve a problem with function, structure, or appearance. Additionally, each individual may have particular needs when it comes to their sleep and their bedroom. Each type of single bed has features that will be beneficial for certain individuals but not others.
By paying close attention to how individuals actualy spend their days and sleep, as opposed to the sleepiness that may be represented in a picture of the bed, each individual can find the type of single bed that will best support their sleep. Each individuals bedroom should welcome them home at the end of their day, regardless of the particular design of that bedroom.
