To measure your bedroom for an upholstered bed, start with the complete bed-frame dimensions rather than the mattress size alone. Then check the space around it, the height and position of the headboard, your bedside furniture and anything that needs to open or move nearby.
It sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to measure for a Queen mattress and forget that the bed frame around it takes up additional room.
How do you measure a bed frame properly?
Start by measuring the area where the entire bed will sit: width, length and available wall space behind the headboard.
Don’t assume that every Queen, King or XL bed has the same outside dimensions. Upholstered frames can extend beyond the mattress because of their side rails, headboard and, depending on the design, footboard.
Our Zola and Lira Luxe Bed Frames both come in Queen, Queen XL, King and King XL, but their silhouettes are different. Zola has a tall upholstered headboard and matching footboard, while Lira Luxe pairs its tall headboard with a low-profile base.
Always check the full product dimensions for the exact bed you’re considering before marking out your room.
How much room should you leave around your bed?
Leave enough space to move naturally around the parts of the bed you use every day.
Think about your actual routine. Can you comfortably get in and out from both sides? Can you make the bed without squeezing against a wall? Is there enough room to walk past the foot of the frame?
Use removable tape suitable for your flooring to mark the bed’s full footprint on the floor. Live with that outline for a moment. Walk around it, open the bedroom door and see whether the room still feels comfortable.
If it suddenly feels tight, that’s useful information before the bed arrives.
What should you measure beside the bed?
Measure the space available for your bedside tables rather than positioning the bed first and hoping they fit afterwards.
Take into account lamps, charging cables and anything else you regularly keep beside you.
Also check nearby wardrobe and cupboard doors. A beautiful bed isn’t much fun if your wardrobe door can only open halfway.
Drawers matter too. Measure them in their open position, not just when they’re closed.
Does the headboard affect where your bed can go?
Yes. An upholstered headboard is part of the complete bed, so check the wall behind it carefully.
Look for windows, plug points, light switches and wall-mounted fittings that could be covered or become difficult to reach.
Both our new bed designs use a tall upholstered headboard as a key part of their silhouette, so the wall behind the bed deserves just as much attention as the floor space beneath it.
Should you measure the route into the bedroom too?
Absolutely. A bed can fit beautifully once assembled and still be awkward to get into the room.
Our Zola and Lira Luxe Bed Frames arrive flat-packed for self-assembly, which simplifies getting the components into the bedroom before setup.
Even so, check doors, passages and stairways so you know there’s a clear route to where the bed will be assembled.
What else should you check before choosing a bed?
Is mattress size enough to tell me whether a bed will fit?
No. Use the complete external dimensions of the bed frame, as upholstered rails, headboards and footboards can extend beyond the mattress.
Should I measure before or after choosing a bed?
Measure your bedroom first, then compare those measurements with the exact frame you like. That makes it easier to rule out options that will overcrowd the room.
What if the larger bed technically fits?
Ask whether it still leaves the bedroom comfortable to use. A bed that fits on paper can still feel too large once bedside tables, wardrobes and everyday movement are considered.
Explore our Zola and Lira Luxe Bed Frames and choose the size that works for your bedroom, not just your mattress.
Zorora – Furniture made for living
