Should You Buy a Regular Bed or 4-Post Bed When You Have a Small Master Bedroom?

Mattress Size

• Mattress size determines the size of the bed. Although mattresses range in size from twin to king, for a master bedroom you might prefer a double, queen or king size mattress. Compare the differences in dimensions between a double (53 x 75 inches), also known as a full mattress, to a queen mattress, (60 x 80 inches) or a king, (76 x 80 inches). The dimensional difference ranges from a 6-inch in a queen to a 23-inch difference in width. Both a king and queen mattress are 80 inches long, with the exception of the California king mattress which is 4 inches longer in height but 4 inches shorter in width.

Bed Frame

• A bed frame's size depends on the mattress as the mattress normally sits inside the bed frame. Usually only slightly larger than the mattress, a bed frame may contain a foot board and a headboard. A foot board sits on the bottom of the bed, usually flat against the mattress, while a headboard commands attention at the top. Headboards may also be flush against the mattress or take up more space with the addition of shelves or curving backwards, such as a sleigh bed design.

Four-Poster Bed

• A four-poster bed may forgo the foot board and headboard entirely, containing four posts in the corner instead. The posts may connect to a canopy on top, or four railings may connect the posts. These railings may include curtains, such as sheers or netting, surrounding the bed that can be tied back during the day to let in light and closed at night for privacy. Four-poster beds may also include a headboard and foot board in models without the railings above.

Space

• A four-poster bed and a regular bed, if using the same mattress size, will occupy the same actual floor space. The primary difference between the two results from the vertical and visual space. As a four-poster bed builds upward, it looks bigger, especially when you dress it with a canopy and side panels. One way to minimize the appearance of size is to place one or two large pieces of furniture in the room because using several smaller size pieces will make the bed appear larger. Another option is going drapeless to present an airy appeal.