You finally get that dream bed. Maybe it’s a super king size bed. It looks amazing and it feels great. But now you can’t open your wardrobe properly. The drawers bang into the bedframe and you have to shuffle sideways just to make the bed. Sound familiar?

It’s a common one. In New Zealand, heaps of us go for the biggest bed size that’ll fit in the room. If we can squeeze in a king mattress, we do. If we just manage to wedge in a super king bed, even better. But bigger doesn’t always mean better. Especially when your room ends up cramped, awkward, and hard to move around in.

At Bedpost, we help Kiwis find the right mattress and bed for their space. Not just what looks big and fancy. We know what works, and what doesn’t, after decades in the game. And there’s one simple rule that most people ignore when choosing a bed. Designers know it. Builders know it. But for some reason, most of us skip it. Here it is:

The 60cm Rule: The one designers swear by

You should leave at least 60cm of space around every side of your bed. That’s the rule. Not 30. Not 'just enough to get in sideways.' A full 60 centimetres.

Why? Because you need room to live. To walk around the bed without tripping. To open drawers. To get dressed without knocking over your lamp. This isn’t just about looks, although yes, it helps the room feel more balanced. It’s about making your bedroom actually work .

Designers use this rule because it creates more space without knocking down any walls. And it makes a huge difference. Suddenly your bedroom breathes again. But most people don’t follow it.

Why Kiwis Ignore This Bed Size Rule

Our bedrooms aren’t huge. Not always. Loads of NZ homes, especially older ones and new apartments, have small rooms. And when you’re standing in a store or scrolling online, the temptation is real. That king mattress or super king bed just looks so much better. You think, 'It’ll be fine. I’ll make it fit.'

And sure, technically, you can fit a queen mattress or even a king bed in that room. But at what cost? You lose space around the edges. Your bedside table barely fits. The room feels like a game of Tetris. We get it. It’s easy to focus on the bed size alone and forget about everything else. But that’s where things go wrong.

We’ve seen people squeeze in double mattresses where they should’ve gone down to a king single mattress. Or buy a queen bed when a double bed would’ve left room for actual movement.

Remember, it’s not just about what fits wall to wall. It’s about what fits your life.

How to Know If Your Bed Size is Too Big

Here’s a quick way to tell. If you say yes to one or more of these, your bed might be too big for your room:

• Is it hard to walk around all sides of the bed?

• Do your drawers or wardrobe doors bump into the bed?

• Does the room feel tight, awkward, or kind of like a storage unit?

If it’s yes to even one of these, it’s time to rethink your mattress size. And don’t just guess. Look up your mattress dimensions and measure your space properly. You might be surprised how much of the room your bed is taking up.

What to Do Instead

First things first: measure the room. Not just from wall to wall, but from the edge of existing furniture to where your bed would go. Think about where you walk. Where you need room to bend down. What needs to open and shut.

Then check the mattress dimensions of the mattress you're considering. Write them down. Compare. If it looks tight, consider going one size down. A queen bed instead of a king bed. A double bed instead of a queen mattress. Or if it’s for a kid or teen, a king single mattress instead of a double.

Next, think about how to free up extra space. Go for a bed base with hidden drawers. Try floating shelves instead of big bedside tables. Mount your lights on the wall. There are lots of clever ways to open up the room without giving up comfort.

A smaller bed doesn’t mean worse sleep. You still get the same support, the same materials, just with a bit more bedroom space to breathe. The best mattress and bed combo is the one that works for your life, not just your Pinterest board.

Talk to Bedpost: Right bed, right bed size, right bed feel

If you’ve just realised your bed might be too big for your room, don’t worry. You’re not the only one. It’s one of the most common mistakes people make when buying a bed.

At Bedpost, we can help you fix it. Our team knows what works in NZ homes, because we live here too. We stock everything from single bed to super king bed options. And we can walk you through the best fit for your room, your budget, and your sleep.

You can try out our beds in person, lie on them, ask us questions, and get honest advice. Or if you already know what you need, you can shop online and check all the sizes right there.

So before you cram another oversized bed into your small room, come have a chat with us!