Welcome to our journey of transformation, where a decision that once seemed unnecessary turned out to be a game-changer for our bedroom and our sleep. For over seventeen blissful years, my wife and I shared a queen-size bed, perfectly content with its comfort and size. We often wondered why some friends seemed utterly bewildered by our choice, as if sleeping in a queen was some form of self-deprivation. Yet, last fall, a sudden shift in perspective led us to embrace the grandeur of a king-size bed. The primary catalyst? Our beloved dogs – a testament to the lengths we’ll go for our furry family members, a story we’re excited to share in detail.
This wasn’t just about upgrading; it was about meticulously planning how to integrate the largest bed we’ve ever owned into our relatively smaller bedroom. Along the way, we stumbled upon a profound realization about incorporating larger furniture pieces into compact living spaces – a discovery that might challenge your conventional thinking. We also had a bit of fun with design mock-ups to envision the possibilities. Join us as we recount the charmingly chaotic, and ultimately rewarding, path to our king-size haven.
Our decision to switch to a king bed genuinely surprised many of our friends, who couldn’t fathom how we’d spent over a decade and a half of blogging, and even longer together, without one. It seemed to them that a queen bed for two adults was an unthinkable compromise, perhaps akin to sharing bunk beds. This reaction always perplexed us because, quite frankly, we were perfectly content with our queen-size sleeping arrangements. Our journey together began with far more modest setups, making the queen feel like an absolute luxury in its own right.
Indeed, a queen bed was a significant upgrade from our early days. I vividly recall the beginnings of our relationship, when my “bedroom” consisted of a futon in the living room of a one-bedroom apartment in Queens, shared with two other guys. If you’re doing the math, that meant one lucky person got the actual bedroom, while two of us made do with futons in the communal living area. Below, you can see my rather un-Pinterest-worthy setup. It’s a miracle, or perhaps a testament to true love, that I managed to win Sherry’s heart despite these humble sleeping quarters.
Shortly thereafter, I upgraded my living situation, moving to a different apartment on the Upper West Side, where I finally enjoyed the luxury of a full-size bed. You can even take a nostalgic video tour of that apartment, and also catch a glimpse of Sherry’s charming NYC apartment in The Village, which also featured a cozy full-size bed. Transitioning to a queen-size bed in our first Richmond apartment together, pictured below, felt like an absolute extravagance after a year or so of sharing full-size beds. Although, I must admit, those side tables and inexpensive Ikea lamps weren’t quite shouting “luxury” at the time!
For many years, the queen-size bed never felt cramped. We truly believed we were among the happy majority who found ample comfort in a queen. Despite the chorus of “I can’t live without my king bed” from some friends and a significant portion of the online community, we saw no reason to incur the extra expense for a larger mattress, sheets, and duvet when we were perfectly content. It was a classic case of practicality meeting the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” We valued frugality and saw no compelling need to change what was working so well for us.
However, after moving into our current home, a series of subtle shifts began to challenge our long-held convictions about bed size. The initial nudge towards change wasn’t about width, as one might expect, but rather about height. And surprisingly, it wasn’t for our comfort, but for our beloved senior dog, Burger.
As with many aging dogs, Burger, our cherished chihuahua who was 15 when he sadly passed in 2021, found the simple act of jumping onto and off the bed increasingly challenging. Despite his stubborn refusal to consistently use the helpful benches and floor poufs we provided – often opting for a daring, albeit wobbly, leap – he adored being on the bed with us. He’d usually make it, sometimes after a few attempts, and we were always happy to assist him. Yet, we couldn’t shake the worry about the cumulative toll these jumps were taking on his delicate legs and back.
Initially, our thoughts turned to simply investing in a lower bed frame, like a platform style, to reduce the jump height for Burger. We had already made several “Burger-mobility” modifications around the house, including installing a sisal stair runner over our slippery wood steps. Tragically, before we could implement a new bed solution, Burger left us suddenly in the fall of 2021 due to a longstanding heart condition. His memory, however, continued to influence our home design choices.
The conversation around bed height resurfaced with renewed urgency when Penny, our energetic Chorkie, bounded into our lives last year. Penny, who believes she possesses the agility of a cat, the stealth of a ninja, and the fearless spirit of a mountain goat, leaps with absolute abandon from chairs, couches, and, most frequently, our bed. While she’s still a young and spry three-year-old, we understand that a lower bed will significantly benefit her joints and back in the long term, preventing future strain.
Our thought process slowly evolved from “let’s simply lower our queen bed” to a more ambitious “what if we got a lower bed that’s also king-size?” The reason for this significant shift? Penny’s unique sleeping style. Unlike Burger, who curled into a neat ball by Sherry’s legs or snuggled on my pillow, Penny prefers to stretch out horizontally, often impersonating a Twizzler. On our queen bed, this meant she regularly collided with both of us, effectively forming an ‘H’ shape where Sherry and I were the vertical bars and Penny the central dash. This delightful, yet slightly uncomfortable, arrangement quickly made our queen bed feel considerably less roomy.
Penny’s adorable, yet often intrusive, sleeping habits included extending her front paws forward with her face resting between them, occasionally resulting in a cold nose or stray claws for whoever happened to be on the receiving end of her horizontal sprawl. It was undeniably cute, but undeniably disruptive to a good night’s sleep. The queen bed, once perceived as spacious, now felt increasingly cramped and inadequate for our growing family, even if the “growth” was primarily canine.
Then, last summer, we embarked on a family vacation to Mexico, and as often happens with our travels, it sparked a significant shift in our perspective on home and lifestyle. We could trace our minimizing efforts back to a transformative spring break trip, and our Costa Rica adventure propelled us toward our Florida move. True to form, our Mexico trip planted the undeniable seed for a king-size bed.
Funnily enough, despite the profound impact it had, we somehow managed to take zero photos of the specific bed that so captivated us. However, you can see it below in a screenshot from the Airbnb listing. From this particular angle, it doesn’t appear exceptionally spacious, but it was there that I had a definitive “aha!” moment: “So THIS is why people adore king-sized beds.” Upon further reflection, the epiphany likely stemmed from it being the first time in months that we slept without a rigidly stretched-out dog poking into us from both sides. It was pure bliss. We all, Penny included, slept exceptionally well, awakening refreshed and invigorated by the newfound space.
You can get a better sense of the overall space in the video tour Sherry filmed of the Airbnb immediately after we checked in, before our suitcases and vacation paraphernalia took over every surface (which is probably why I never managed to capture a decent photo of this specific bedroom during our stay).
Note: You can also view this video on YouTube for a full walkthrough.
Ultimately, we returned from Mexico with an overwhelming desire to somehow, against what seemed like logical constraints, make a king-size bed fit into our bedroom. Our biggest concern was the 16-inch wider span of a king mattress compared to our queen, a dimension that felt impossible to accommodate, especially since we needed to maintain easy access to our closets along the left wall. The image below shows our room with the previous queen bed, illustrating the tight quarters we were working with.
Instead of immediately surrendering to our spatial limitations, we decided to approach the challenge with meticulous measuring and creative visualization. At one point, we even turned our queen bed sideways, using its longer dimension (80 inches, close to a king’s 76-inch width) to simulate the feel of a wider mattress in the room. This ingenious trick helped us determine that, with a few strategic adjustments, a king bed was not just a dream but an achievable reality! We’ll delve into those crucial adjustments in just a moment.
The King Bed We Chose: A Perfect Blend of Style and Functionality
Our search for the ideal low-profile, wider bed frame led us through numerous options, ultimately culminating in the selection of this elegant Tessu upholstered platform bed frame from Article. We were particularly drawn to its solid construction, knowing how much both Burger (and now Penny) enjoyed sneaking under the bed for a cozy retreat. A sturdy, non-rickety frame was paramount for us, confirming our “dog obsession” – a label we gladly embrace, as dogs truly are the best! Even with its significantly lower profile compared to our previous bed, Penny still delights in army-crawling underneath, ready to assume her signature Twizzler-like sleeping posture.
Beyond its robust build, the Tessu platform bed’s design offered crucial functional and aesthetic advantages. We especially appreciated that the legs are subtly inset from the corners, allowing them to virtually disappear beneath the duvet. This was a bonus since the walnut finish of the legs didn’t quite align with our room’s existing palette. More importantly, this clever design completely eliminated any toe-stubbing hazards, a minor but significant detail for comfort and safety in a busy room!
We opted for the Tessu in “Taupe Clay,” a beautifully versatile medium warm gray that effortlessly complements our existing decor. While it’s also available in sophisticated navy and a deeper gray, the Taupe Clay felt like the perfect neutral, acting as a serene backdrop for the vibrant elements in our room. We’ve been absolutely thrilled with our choice; it’s proven to be incredibly adaptable, harmonizing with everything we’ve introduced into the space.
Clever Solutions: How We Fit a King Bed Into Our Smaller Bedroom
We briefly touched upon some of these details in our previous post about our DIY modern wood nightstands, but the “fit” of this new king bed was such a critical aspect of this project that it deserves a deeper dive. Even I, who harbored the most significant reservations about a larger bed overwhelming our bedroom, am absolutely delighted with the outcome. Crucially, we still have seamless access to our closets, a non-negotiable requirement given we use them multiple times daily. My dedication to ensuring this wasn’t an annoyance remained unwavering throughout the planning process.
The core strategy involved a careful repositioning of the bed and the custom creation of smaller nightstands. Sherry’s side, in particular, required an even more compact nightstand than mine to gain those precious few inches. This thoughtful concession ultimately provided us with ample clearance for unhindered closet access – a trade-off that was undeniably worth it. The result is a surprisingly spacious feel in a room that now accommodates a giant bed, giving it a much grander presence than it ever had before.
I cannot stress enough the value of using whatever resources you have to physically “feel” how a larger item might impact a room. As mentioned, recognizing that a king bed’s width (76″) is quite similar to the length of a queen bed (80″) was our breakthrough. This insight allowed us to turn our queen bed sideways, providing an invaluable, real-world simulation of how a wider king would affect our ability to navigate around the room and access our closets. This simple, hands-on experiment was far more effective than any tape measure or digital rendering alone.
You can observe how all these elements come together harmoniously in the brief video tour we created for our nightstand post, offering a dynamic perspective on the room’s new layout.
Note: For a clearer view, you can also watch this video on YouTube.
Not only does the king bed fit flawlessly from a logistical standpoint, but we both strongly feel it enhances the room aesthetically. It’s a common, yet counterintuitive, design secret that larger furniture can actually make a small space feel more expansive. Small-scale furniture can sometimes emphasize a room’s diminutive size, while a bolder, larger piece can anchor the space and create a sense of generosity. Furthermore, the lower profile of our new platform bed significantly contributes to making the room feel taller and more airy, defying its actual dimensions.
To truly grasp the impact, consider how our old queen-size bed, despite being smaller, somehow managed to make the entire room feel more constricted and less open. While the exact photographic perspective isn’t identical, the contrast is clear: the king bed, counter-intuitively, expands the perceived spaciousness. The lower headboard also allows more of the wall behind the bed to be exposed, further contributing to a sense of height and openness in the room, making it feel brighter and less cluttered.
As for the actual experience of finally joining the “king bed club,” it feels nothing short of outright luxurious. On lazy weekend mornings, all five of us – myself, Sherry, our kids, and Penny – can comfortably find a spot on the bed, creating a cozy and communal atmosphere. Penny can now shift and stretch throughout the night without inadvertently rousing us, and vice versa. Gone are the days of forming a human-dog-human conga line in an attempt to find comfort. Though, as this playful photo suggests, old habits (and adorable photobombs) die hard!
For those wondering about the fate of our former queen bed, rest assured, nothing went to waste! We successfully sold the old bed frame and headboard through a local neighborhood buy-sell-trade group, and the mattress was gratefully donated to the same platform. Within a single day of listing, everything found new homes, ensuring a smooth and sustainable transition for our bedroom makeover.
With the new king bed gracefully in place, our attention has naturally shifted to the wall behind it. The lower-lying headboard means a greater expanse of this wall is now visible, sparking ideas for adding a touch of color or texture to elevate the room’s design. We love the bright and airy feel of this room, so painting the entire space isn’t on the table. However, we’re actively debating various options for that prominent accent wall.
Using Photoshop to visualize our ideas, we’ve explored several possibilities. One option is a subtle, muted pink hue, which could introduce a soft warmth without overwhelming the room’s inherent brightness, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
Another compelling idea is a soft blue-green shade. This would beautifully complement the lush greenery visible through the expansive wall of glass doors to the right of the bed, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor environments and enhancing the room’s connection to nature.
We’ve even considered something with more tactile appeal, like textured grasscloth wallpaper or an elegant wood slat wall. The mock-up below represents our best attempt at visualizing a wood slat wall, possibly stained in a soft, warm tone. Please bear in mind that these are mere Photoshop renderings, which can sometimes appear jarringly perfect. We encourage you to squint a little and imagine the subtle beauty of these textures in real life!
To be entirely honest, some days we find ourselves simply adoring the pristine simplicity and expansive feel of the white wall, perfectly offset by the vibrant abstract art. With a truly magnificent view stretching out beyond the entire wall of glass doors to the right of the bed, we sometimes conclude that this natural panorama serves as the ultimate accent. Our walls, in comparison, simply can’t compete with nature’s artistry. The ongoing debate continues, and we’re in no rush to decide.
So, who knows what the future holds for that wall! We promise to share any updates if and when we embark on a new design project. In the meantime, we’ve already implemented another significant functional upgrade to the room that we’ll be revealing in an upcoming post. Spoiler alert: it involves an incredible amount of additional storage – so much so that it rivals the capacity of our previous house’s expansive walk-in closet!
If there’s one pivotal message to take away from our journey, it’s this: never give up on the idea that a larger piece of furniture can fit beautifully, and functionally, into a smaller room. Had we not taken the unconventional step of turning our queen bed sideways to visualize the space, or been willing to shift the bed and custom-size Sherry’s nightstand, our dream of a king bed would have remained just that – an unfulfilled aspiration. Creative problem-solving and a willingness to challenge conventional notions of space are often the keys to unlocking a room’s full potential.
The truly remarkable and counter-intuitive discovery that larger items of furniture can often make smaller rooms feel bigger has been a profound revelation for us. This exciting insight from our bedroom transformation is already inspiring an upcoming change in our sitting room, which will also be based on this very finding. So, stay tuned for more design adventures (though be warned, furniture deliveries can take upwards of 15 weeks these days!). As soon as we have something tangible to share, you can bet Sherry will be posting all the details on Instagram stories!
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