A single bed is the hardest-working bed in most homes: the bed a child grows up in, the spare bed for guests, and the practical choice for a small bedroom. It gives one person a full, comfortable night of sleep without taking over the room. At Kensley Home we sell single beds UK wide, with free delivery and pay on delivery.
This guide covers single bed sizes, the best single beds for adults, teenagers and children, storage and pull-out options, colours and fabrics, and how to choose the right one. Our single beds range covers simple frames, divan beds and ottoman beds, with single bed sales through the year.
What Size Is a Single Bed?
The standard single size bed in the UK measures 3ft wide by 6ft 3in long, which is 90cm by 190cm. 3ft single beds are the standard size sold across the UK, and single size beds in this width take a standard 90cm by 190cm mattress. A 3ft single bed suits children, teenagers and most adults, and a single bed 190cm length takes the standard mattress. A 190cm single bed listed on our site is that length, and the width is the usual 3ft unless the listing says otherwise.
There are useful variations. A large single, also called a 3ft6 large single bed, measures 3ft 6in wide (105cm) and gives a broader sleeper more elbow room. A super single bed is another name some shops use for this wider size. A small single bed is narrower than standard, usually 2ft 6in wide, and suits a very young child or a tiny box room. A slim single bed is a narrow design, around 75cm to 90cm wide, that fits a tight corner, and slim single beds are ideal for a small single bed in a child's room. Narrow single beds suit a tight corner or a box room too. A single narrow bed is the answer when the room is tight but a child still needs a proper bed, and a single bed narrow in width can still be full length.
A long single bed is 200cm long instead of 190cm, which suits taller sleepers. An extra long single bed is the same idea, and extra long single beds are worth considering if the sleeper is over 6ft tall. The European size, a euro single bed, is 90cm by 200cm. A single bed corner placement works well in a box room, keeping the middle of the room free.
If two children share a room, a 2 single bed set, two matching single beds side by side or on opposite walls, is often better than one double bed. Some shoppers call this a bed single twin arrangement, and a single bed twin bed pair gives each child their own space. For a guest room, a double bed single bed combination is another option: a double bed for couples, with a single bed in the corner for a child. Measure your room first, and leave at least 60cm beside the bed.
Single Beds for Adults
A single bed is not just for children. Single beds for adults are one of our most popular requests, and a well-made single bed for adults is every bit as comfortable as a larger bed. Adult single beds come in the same strong frames and quality mattresses as our doubles, so there is no compromise on comfort.
A single adult bed should be strong enough for daily use, so look for a solid frame and a good mattress. A strong single bed with a supportive mattress, from £170 at Kensley Home, will last for years. Single bed adults buy for a guest room often choose a divan base, because a divan gives a neat, tidy look and can include drawers. See our divan beds. Divan beds start from £130.
Single beds adults choose for everyday sleeping should suit the sleeper's height. A single bed adult who is tall will be happier on a long or extra-long size, and a heavier sleeper should choose a solid slatted or sprung base. Adults single bed shoppers sometimes ask for a high bed: a high single bed, also called a single high bed, sits higher off the floor, so getting in and out is easier. A single bed high off the floor also leaves room for storage boxes underneath, and single high beds are handy in a small room. A single bed low design, sometimes called a lower single bed, sits close to the floor and suits a younger child.
For an adult who needs storage as well as sleep, an adult single bed with storage is the answer. Adults single bed with storage designs include ottoman beds, where the whole mattress lifts up to reveal a large storage space underneath, and divan beds with drawers. Our single ottoman beds are available in our single ottoman beds collection. Ottoman beds start from £250, with our headline figure of £250 for a popular size.
White Single Beds
White is the most popular colour for a single bed. A white single bed makes a small room look brighter and larger, and it goes with any bedding or carpet. A single white bed suits a child's room, a guest room or a modern flat, and white single beds are easy to keep fresh with a quick wipe.
A white single bed frame is usually made from wood or metal with a clean white finish, and a single white bed frame works in a traditional or a modern room. White single bed frames come in several styles, from a simple metal frame to a padded headboard in white fabric. A white bed single in a plain wooden frame suits any style, and a single bed with white frame and a fabric headboard gives the same bright finish with a cosier feel. A white bed frame single size is a safe choice for a guest room.
Cream is a warmer cousin of white. A single bed cream in colour, or a single bed frame cream finish, brings warmth without the starkness of pure white, and cream single beds look lovely with wooden furniture. A cream bed single size bed hides dust better than a bright white frame, and a single beige bed, or a beige bed single size, works well in a calm, natural-style bedroom.
Colours: Grey, Blue, Green, Brown and Red
If white is not your style, a single bed comes in almost every colour. A single grey bed is our most popular coloured choice after white, because grey goes with everything and hides marks well. A single bed grey finish, or single beds grey across the range, suits a modern room.
Blue is a favourite for boys' rooms and calm, coastal-style bedrooms. A single blue bed is cheerful without being loud, and a blue bed single size frame in soft navy, a navy single bed, looks smart in a teenager's room. A green single bed brings a fresh, natural feel, and a green single bed frame in a deep sage or forest green suits a modern home.
A single brown bed has a warm, traditional feel and looks at home with wooden furniture. A brown single bed in rich chocolate or a warm wood-tone finish is a classic choice for a guest room. A single red bed is bold and fun for a child's room. Whatever colour you choose, the size and the mattress matter more than the shade, so pick the colour you love and then check the measurements.
Storage Single Beds
A storage single bed is a smart buy for a small bedroom. A single bed with storage hides spare bedding, out-of-season clothes, toys or shoes, and keeps the room tidy. Single bed frames with storage come in three main types: drawers, a lift-up ottoman base, and a combination of both.
A single storage bed frame with drawers gives you two or four drawers under the bed for clothes and bedding, and a bed frame single storage design like this is easy to open and close every day. A single white storage beds option suits a bright children's room, while a single storage bed grey version suits a modern adult room.
A lift up single bed, also called an ottoman bed, works differently. The whole mattress and base lift up on gas-powered pistons, a gas lift, which uses pressurised gas to help lift the heavy mattress easily. A single bed with gas lift opens smoothly, and a single bed lift up storage base holds far more than drawers can, including suitcases and bulky bedding. A modern single bed with storage in an ottoman style gives you the maximum storage from one bed.
There is also a single bed with overbed storage, where shelves sit above the headboard. A single bed with bed underneath, sometimes called a trundle, is a second bed that rolls out from under the main bed, and a single bed under a bed is the classic guest solution: hidden by day, a proper bed at night.
Pull-Out Beds and Beds That Turn Into a Double
A single bed pullout, also called a single pullout bed or a pullout single bed, has a second sleeping surface that pulls out from underneath. By day it is a single bed, and at night it becomes a double sleeping space. A single bed that pulls out to a double is perfect for a sleepover or for guests, because a single bed pulls out to double size in seconds.
A single bed that turns into a double bed is a similar idea, and a single into double bed design is sometimes sold as a guest bed. A single bed to double conversion suits a spare room that sometimes needs to sleep two, and a single to double bed frame is built to open out safely. A single extending bed starts short for a young child and extends as the child grows, so one bed can last for years.
If you are choosing between sizes, remember that a bed single and double options are both available from Kensley Home, and a double bed with single bed pairing covers most family needs. A single bed, double duty as a day bed by day, is another trick: dress it with cushions and a throw.
Velvet, Fabric and Upholstered Single Beds
The fabric on a bed changes the whole feel of the room. A velvet single bed looks rich and soft, and velvet is a fabric with a short, dense pile that feels smooth and catches the light. A single velvet bed in a deep colour looks luxurious, while a single bed velvet in a pale shade looks soft and calm. A crushed velvet single bed has a slightly crinkled finish, where the pile is pressed in different directions so the fabric shimmers, and it is popular for a glamorous bedroom.
A fabric single bed is any bed covered in cloth, and fabric beds feel warmer to the touch than a metal frame. An upholstered single bed is a fabric bed with padding under the covering, so the headboard and sides feel soft, and an upholstered single bed frame with a tall, padded headboard is comfortable to lean against while reading.
Single Beds for Teenagers and Children
Single beds for teenagers need to be strong, a full adult size, and smart enough that a teenager will like them. A single bed teenager will use every day should be a standard 3ft size or a wider 3ft6, with a good mattress and a sturdy frame. A single bed teenager chooses for themselves often comes in grey, navy or a bold colour, and a bed with storage is a bonus for clothes and sports kit.
For younger children, a single shorty bed, sometimes called a shorty single, suits a small child and a small room, and it can be swapped for a full-length bed later. A house bed single size bed is shaped like a little house, and house single beds like these make bedtime fun. A single bed with side rails, low safety rails along the sides, stops a restless sleeper from rolling out, and the rails can be removed once the child is older. A bedroom single bed for a child should leave floor space for play, so a storage bed is a sensible pick.
Z Beds and Guest Beds
A z bed single size folds flat and slides under a bed or behind a wardrobe, and a single zed bed, the same bed spelled the British way, opens in seconds when a guest stays over. Z beds suit occasional use rather than every night, because the mattress is thinner than a normal single mattress.
Headboards: A Single Bed With a Bed Head
A single bed with bed head, in other words a bed with a headboard, looks finished and gives you something to lean against. A headboard is the upright panel at the head end of the bed: it protects the wall, holds pillows in place and makes the bed look smart.
How to Buy a Single Bed
Buying a single bed is simple. First, measure the room and check that doors and drawers can open. Second, choose the size: a standard 3ft for most sleepers, a 3ft6 for a broader sleeper, a long size for a tall sleeper, and a shorty for a young child. Third, decide on storage: drawers for everyday items, an ottoman lift-up base for bulky things, or no storage if the room has plenty. Fourth, pick the style and colour, and fifth, choose the mattress. Mattresses start from £170 at Kensley Home, and a pocket sprung mattress, where each spring sits in its own fabric pocket so it moves on its own, is a good choice for a single bed.
Our single beds in sale change through the year, so check the latest offers before you order. A new single bed should last for years, so buy the best frame and mattress you can afford. A single bedsteads UK shoppers can rely on should have a solid base, a sturdy frame and a guarantee. We deliver every bed single UK customers order with free delivery, and a UK single bed in the standard size fits a 90cm by 190cm mattress.
Browse the full range at Kensley Home. Divan beds start from £130, ottoman beds from £250, and mattresses from £170. Every order comes with free delivery and pay on delivery.
Summary
A single bed is a simple, practical choice that works in almost any home. Pick the right size, think about storage, choose a colour and fabric you love, and pair it with a good mattress. A 3ft single bed suits most sleepers, a wider or longer size suits taller or broader sleepers, and a storage or pull-out design makes a small room work harder. Browse the range today.
