Have you ever carefully considered the "height" of your bed?

Many people think carefully about the "size (width)" of a bed, such as single or double, but surprisingly, they tend to overlook the "height."

If you are searching for a product with a vague idea in mind, such as "low beds are cool" or "storage beds seem convenient," you will have a higher chance of success in choosing a bed if you fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of "height (lowness)."

for example,

• Easy to stand up and sit at
• Height that makes dust less noticeable
• Relationship between height and creaking resistance

These bed height-related factors have a significant impact on your everyday use.

In this article, we will introduce how to choose the height of your bed and some points to keep in mind when choosing a bed.

■Author Introduction

Daisuke Tsuge (Bed and Mattress Specialist)

Representative Director of Yu Design Co., Ltd. After working for a furniture manufacturer for about seven years, he launched the bed-specialized information media "Bed Recommendation Ranking ( https://bed205.com/ )" in 2016. He has interviewed domestic and international manufacturers and reviewed over 100 products. As an expert on beds and mattresses, he also appears on television, in magazines, newspapers, etc. and cooperates with interviews.

Beds come in a variety of sizes.

Here we will introduce the features of bed sizes (width, length, height) and what to look for when choosing each one.

"Bed size" generally refers to "width."

And the size of the bed frame is the size that the mattress can fit on.

Common mattress sizes are as follows:

In addition, there are many products that make up a queen size bed by combining two semi-single mattresses, making them a good choice for couples who prefer mattresses of different firmness.

The typical mattress length is 195cm.

Accordingly, the length of the bed frame is also determined by adding the length of the headboard and footboard to the floor space that can accommodate a 195cm mattress. In other words, the length of the bed frame = the thickness of the headboard + the length of the floor space + the thickness of the footboard.

Although there are only a few, there are also mattresses that are shorter than the standard length, such as ``short length'' and ``long length.''

Therefore, when choosing a short or long mattress, be sure to check the length of the bed frame.

The height of your bed is primarily determined by the bed frame.

The height of a bed frame depends on the length of the legs and whether or not it has storage.

Broadly speaking, they can be divided into the following categories :

The advantages and disadvantages of each will be explained in more detail later.

A lower bed will give a greater distance to the ceiling, creating an open feeling in the room.

Also, a lower center of gravity gives a smarter impression, so if you want a cool-looking room or a room that doesn't look lived-in, a low bed frame is recommended.

The average height of a bed frame is around 40-45cm, so for those who prioritize ease of standing up and sitting down, we recommend a combination where the mattress is about the same height (40-45cm) when placed on the bed frame.

Also, since the ease with which a mattress sinks can affect how well you stand up and sit down, it is recommended to choose a mattress with reinforced edges that are less likely to sink in (edge support) .

The area up to about 30cm from the floor is said to be a dust accumulation zone, so low beds are not recommended for people with house dust allergies.

The higher the bed, the greater the risk of injury if you fall. If you sleep in an awkward position, you should use a side guard or choose a low bed to reduce the risk of serious injury if you fall.

"Storage beds" have drawers or other storage space underneath the bed boards, and their height varies depending on the storage space. If you have a lot of luggage, we recommend a large-capacity storage bed (a chest bed or a lift-up bed) as it allows you to make effective use of the space underneath the bed boards.

Please note that for high bed frames such as bunk beds and loft beds, thick mattresses are generally not recommended for safety reasons. (Generally, a thickness of 10cm or less is recommended . )

Also, if you are buying a bed frame with a headboard, depending on the length of the front board, there may be gaps if you place a mattress that is too thin, so be sure to check before purchasing.

If you have a bed with legs (a slatted bed), it may be possible to fit a robot vacuum cleaner in it depending on the length of the legs. Please consider the thickness of the robot vacuum cleaner you want to use.

Low beds and slatted mattresses fall into this height category.

• The room looks spacious and has an open feel
• It doesn't feel oppressive and is easy to place in a small room.
• Many products are low-priced and easy to assemble

Because it is close to the floor, you may feel dust (not suitable for people with house dust allergies)

Difficult to stand up and sit down (not suitable for people with weak legs)

Beds with legs (such as slatted beds and pipe beds), beds with storage, and daybeds fall into this height category.

• Easy to stand up and sit down (recommended for those with leg and back problems)
• Many products allow you to use the space under the floorboards as storage space (recommended for those with limited closet storage in their bedrooms).

• Dust easily gets in (especially beds with legs)

"Large capacity storage beds" such as chest beds and lift-up beds fall into this height category.

• Can store a large amount of luggage
• They tend to be well-made and creak-resistant

• Difficult to stand up and sit down (to stand on tiptoes)
• There is a feeling of pressure
• Price is high

This is the height at which you cannot get down to the floor without using a ladder or stairs. Loft beds and the top bunk beds fall into this category.

• The space under the bed can be utilized
• You can fit a lot of furniture in a small room

• Climbing up and down is a hassle (not suitable for people with weak legs)
• Easy to shake
• It tends to get hot near the ceiling
• Can't use a thick mattress

■What is the recommended bed height?

As mentioned above, there are many different types of bed frames, so there is no right answer when it comes to choosing the right height.

Please consider your usage scenario and what you want to achieve.

For your reference, we will introduce the recommended height for each typical usage scenario.

▼Beds that emphasize ease of standing up and sitting down

• Beds with legs (slatted beds, pipe beds)
• Storage bed (drawer type or shallow lift-up type)
• Daybed

▼A bed that makes the room look larger

• Low bed
• Slatted Mat

▼Beds that emphasize storage capacity

• chest bed
• Folding bed

▼A bed that makes effective use of space

• loft bed
• bunk bed

Mainly for beds with legs (slatted beds and pipe beds), there are some products that allow you to adjust the height of the bed frame by using extension legs and other specifications.

An adjustable bed is convenient because you can adjust the height to suit your lifestyle.

Generally, beds (bed frames), whether purchased in a store or online, are usually delivered after purchase, but one thing to be aware of is the difficulty of assembly.

Especially inexpensive beds with drawers and headboards can be quite difficult to assemble.

For example, in a storage bed that can be purchased for around 20,000 to 30,000 yen, each drawer may come separate, and assembly can take anywhere from half a day to a full day.

Furthermore, if the assembly is not complete enough (such as `` screws not tightened properly '' or `` parts not fitting together properly '' ), durability will be compromised.

Therefore, if you find assembly difficult or are not good at assembling, we recommend that you actively take advantage of the ``assembly and installation service.''

The assembly and installation service is a service in which a contractor will assemble and place the bed and even collect the packaging materials.

Assembly and installation services may or may not be available at some shops, and the content and price may vary, but we recommend checking it out.

Please give this a lot of thought when purchasing items that are particularly difficult to assemble, such as drawer storage beds, chest beds (large storage), lift-up beds, loft beds, and bunk beds.

Even if a product is easy to assemble, it can be difficult to place the bed in the bedroom, so this product is especially recommended for those with weak strength.

If you are worried about whether you need a sturdy bed or are worried about your weight, we recommend checking the bed frame's weight capacity.

Load capacity is a number that indicates how many kilograms of load a product can withstand.

In addition, the load on a bed frame in a typical usage environment is the combined weight of your body, the mattress, and light bedding (duvet, pillow, etc.).

In short, think of load as the weight of everything on top of the bed frame.

• The load capacity is the weight guaranteed by the manufacturer.

The load capacity is the weight that the manufacturer can guarantee quality for.

Therefore, numbers are generally displayed with a margin of error.

In other words, as long as you use it within the load capacity, you can be sure that there is little risk of it breaking, so if you are particularly heavy, want to share a bed with two people, or want to use a heavy mattress (common in high-end models), be sure to check before purchasing.

Reference) https://bed205.com/bedtype/load-capacity

Choosing the right size bed is important. Generally, the larger the bed, the more comfortable it will be, so even if you are using it alone, we recommend a semi-double size (120cm wide) or larger.

The reason for this is the "range of turning over."

Turning over in bed helps to prevent poor circulation by conserving blood and regulates body temperature, so moderate and smooth turning over is necessary for a comfortable sleep.

People turn over in their sleep at a distance of 2.5 to 3 times their shoulder width (the average shoulder width is about 40 to 45 cm), so it is recommended that each person choose a size of semi-double (120 cm wide) or larger.

Bed frames come in a variety of heights, but the lower the frame, the less likely it is to creak.

The obvious reason is that the higher you are, the more you feel the shaking.

This means that bunk beds (top bunks) and loft beds are particularly prone to creaking and shaking.

The ease of assembly (few parts) and the material (wood or steel) also affect the likelihood of squeaking.

Basically, fewer parts means fewer joints, so it's less likely to creak, and steel (metal) materials transmit vibrations more easily, so they tend to shake, and the sound of metal rubbing against metal is more noticeable.

Therefore, if you are particularly heavy and are concerned about the bed creaking, it is recommended that you choose a bed that is low in height, easy to assemble (few parts), and made of wood.

Since sweat (moisture) and other substances that accumulate inside a mattress while you sleep, we recommend a bed frame that has as high moisture-wicking and moisture-absorbent properties as possible.

Therefore, the safest option is a bed with a slatted base made of natural wood (especially paulownia, cypress, cedar, etc.) (a so-called "slat bed").

This is especially true for natural woods such as paulownia and cypress, which have natural moisture-regulating properties, and slatted floorboards with many cavities allow for excellent ventilation underneath the bed.

On the other hand, if you have a bed frame with a panel-type floorboard, we recommend making good use of dehumidifying sheets, etc.

Futons are lower in height than mattresses, so if you want to keep the height as low as possible, using a futon is one option.

Generally, bed frames are designed to be used with a mattress, but there are also bed frames that can be used with a futon (Japanese futon).

• A slatted bed that improves breathability

Futons are less breathable than mattresses, so if you want to use a bed frame, choose a slatted bed frame that is more breathable.

However, please note that if the spacing between the slats is too wide, you may feel the corners of the slats hitting the bed (you may feel the presence of the corners of the slats when you lie down), or it may not be durable enough to use a futon mattress at all (this is because a futon mattress has lower load distribution than a mattress and puts more strain on the frame).

• A good match is a tatami bed

Futons go well with tatami mats, and tatami beds (beds with tatami flooring) are also recommended.

This is because the cushioning properties of tatami mats reduce the feeling of your futon hitting the bottom.

In addition to the moisture-regulating and heat-retaining properties of tatami mats (rush grass), tatami beds also have the appeal of a relaxing scent.

However, tatami beds have the disadvantage of being prone to mold due to moisture, so they are not recommended if you plan to use a mattress (which is often left out).

The final height of your bed is determined not only by the bed frame, but also by the thickness (height) of your mattress.

Mattress thickness varies depending on the product, but they can be broadly divided into "thin types" that are less than 10cm thick, and "regular types" that are around 15cm thick or more.

The differences between each are as follows:

Pros: Lightweight and easy to handle

Disadvantages: Tends to be less comfortable than regular mattresses and tends to be on the firmer side

Advantages: It's easy to choose a mattress that's comfortable to sleep on, it's easy to sleep on your back or side , and there are many products available.

Disadvantages: It's heavy, so it's difficult to move (and difficult to throw away)

If you are primarily concerned with comfort, we recommend the regular type.

Many products offer high cushioning and a luxurious sleeping experience due to their thickness. As a guideline, you will be less likely to go wrong if you choose a single size mattress that costs over 30,000 yen.

However, there are some bed frames that cannot accommodate the regular type.

For example, for safety and design reasons, many loft beds and bunk beds (especially the top bunk) recommend mattresses that are 10cm thick or less.

Also, "lift-up beds" that use a lifted base are limited in weight and thickness due to the constraints of the lift-up mechanism (gas pressure damper, etc.), so it is generally recommended to purchase them as a set (frame + mattress).

The chest bed (large capacity drawer storage type), which is the tallest storage bed, is also quite high off the ground, so it is easier to use if you choose a thin mattress.

Also, for electric beds with reclining floors, it is standard to choose a mattress that comes with the set, and there are many products where you can only choose a thin type.

To summarize:

Regular type is recommended

• Low bed
• Beds with legs (slatted beds, pipe beds)
• drawer storage bed

Thin type is recommended

• loft bed
• bunk bed
• chest bed
• Folding bed (usually purchased as a set)
• Electric bed (usually purchased as a set)

We hope you enjoyed this article. We've introduced how to choose the right bed height.

There are many different types of bed frames, and their heights vary depending on the product, but they can be broadly divided into four height categories.

Please carefully consider what is important to you, such as ease of standing up and sitting down, lack of shaking (creaking), and efficient use of the room, and then choose the perfect height.

Also, the final height (height from the floor) is greatly affected by the mattress, so it is a good idea to pay attention to the ``height (thickness)'' when choosing a mattress.

Thank you very much for reading to the end.