downsizing your bed

I sleep in a double, but I sleep in the middle of it. I like to snuggle down and regularly wake in the night due to joint and back pain. I need to extra space to be able to stretch out to ease the pain.

I opted for a metal framed bed so I have room underneath for storage, much easier than a divan for cleaning around and under. Plus if it needs to be moved, it collapses flat.

I love the luxury of my king size double bed.

What happens if one moves to a single bed, and then has a gentleman caller? (Or lady caller, for that matter, I suppose).

geekesse

I love the luxury of my king size double bed.

What happens if one moves to a single bed, and then has a gentleman caller? (Or lady caller, for that matter, I suppose).

Just not as romantic in a single bed us it, lol.

is it. Just one of the many reasons why I hate autocorret.

I sleep in a super king, zip link bed - one week on one side the next on the other. It’s my ‘office’ with everything I need on the vacant side. The thought of a single bed, clinging on as if in a raft or turning over and hitting my head off the wall would be a nightmare ?. I need new mattresses and am tempted to downsize to a 5’ but, living in a cottage with narrow access, not sure if the mattress would go up the stairs. Buying a bed is a huge and possibly expensive decision (or mistake!). Ekwa. Can you trial run a single before buying? As has been suggested, perhaps a 4’ would be a compromise? Good luck with whatever decision you come to

EkwaNimitee I sleep alone in a double. I’ve often been tempted at the thought of a single bed as I feel my room is cramped. I’m average sized.

2 years ago I slept in a hotel single bed and fell out of it! Fortunately unharmed apart from a bruised elbow and a bit shaken up. That put me off any ideas of investing in a single.

I regret choosing a divan bed thinking the storage drawers would be an advantage. Any benefits are outweighed by the fact the bed needs to be moved for a thorough floor wash. I wish I’d opted for a bed frame that I could vacuum and mop underneath.

Out of necessity I moved from a king size bed (for just me) to a double bed for the two of us. Hate it as I need space. Can't wait for when we move into our new home and back to a king size bed. I'll still have to share it with MrM.

The Linen Cupboard do an excellent range of linen for a small double - including a small double duvet which is also a good size for a single bed. much better range and quality than Amazon.
Make sure you measure the mattress depth before buying a fitted sheet as they vary hugely and there's nothing worse than struggling with aging hands on a sheet that's a bit too tight.

I have a small double with storage drawers underneath. It’s smaller obviously than a double but still plenty of room to stretch out. I use a double duvet on it, as I like loads of duvet! ?

Don't give your double up. You will really miss it. Make sure you get a good mattress and enjoy spreading out in the middle of it.

i tried a single bed after sleeping in a double for over 40 years, it was awful .i nearly fell out, ive thought of a 3/4 bed though.there is also the possibility i may meet someone and have a relationship......

I have a king size bed, but use a single duvet. Much lighter on my knees, when I turn over. I am a very restless sleeper. My 2 dogs, sleep on the other side of the bed. So much easier to manage, on laundry day.

I’ve always had a small double bed, even when I was married. The biggest problem now is buying bedding for a 4’ bed.

Never mind the width of your bed, please also consider the height. As we get older we need a higher bed, easier to get in and out of and also much easier to change the sheets.

I’m on my own and would never swap my double for a single after sleeping in one on holiday, far to restrictive even if your not restless sleeper.

(I have not read all the posts!) Our spare bed is a single but is 3' 6" wide. Fitted sheets for it are available on line. You can also still get 4' divans so there's plenty of choice out there.

I have a king size to myself and love it after banishing hubby to a double in the spare room due to his snoring
I could never sleep in a single I think I would feel as if I’m going to fall out

“EkwaNimitee” I did this last year, downsized to a single. It has several advantages, you can choose a better mattress because you are buying single, lovely bed linen is cheaper to buy when for a single. Also my bedroom has much more space in it. I went for a padded headboard in dark grey and it’s lovely to lead against when watching things on my iPad! Good luck with your decision.

I've been re-thinking the single option overnight. I usually sleep in the middle of the double but last night I tried sleeping on one half. Although I'm not a restless sleeper, I do like sleeping with my limbs especially arms stretched out so part way through the night, my arm is uncomfortably hanging over into space. I'm going back to the middle! Silly maybe, but I felt insecure lying close to the edge. Those who appreciate stretching out are right I think. I've decided to keep the bed for myself when I move and get two singles for the guest room which is a more flexible arrangement. They can always be pushed together if wanted.
Thanks for all your interesting comments. geekesse, I think I am past expecting gentleman callers but I guess we can always live to be surprised.

geekessee! LOL who would want a visitor in bed, male or female! I like sleeping on my own!
oh dear, the very thought of it.

anyway, I went into our second, smaller bedroom, some months before my husband died as I was disturbing him, with so many nightly trips to the bathroom, four foot bed, very comfortable..
strange , when he died, I had no difficulty in moving into our Queen size or is it King size? well big... bed..

some people wondered if I would cope with it.. but no, I enjoy the space, and spread... mind you , my cat sleeps on the bed with me,,, if I still had a dog, she would sleep on the bed also.... but just my cat now.

who wants a human being! duh!
(lol)

When I was married I had a king size, divorced now and I have a double. I love being able to spread out, especially with my stupid night sweats, to roll over onto the cool side is bliss. I also think I would end up and fall out of a single.

EkwaNimitee

Has anyone, having been widowed or for other reasons, decided to move to a single bed?
When my late DH died, I moved from our aging queen sized bed to a standard double where there's more than enough room. I'm moving house now and thinking of getting myself a single bed and putting the double in the guest room. I haven't slept in a single bed for decades and when I look at them in a store, they do seem rather wee. I'm a medium sized person, not a restless sleeper and I think 3 foot should be a sufficient space in theory. I will have a reasonably sized new bedroom but hate being cluttered and cramped. I like plenty of open floor space. Has anyone tried this and regretted it?

Don't do it. You can't toss and turn, or stretch out, if you want to, in a single bed.
You are likely to end up with aches and pains in the morning.

EkwaNimitee, you said ‘I think I am past expecting gentleman callers but I guess we can always live to be surprised.’

Live in hope! The day you give up your double bed is the day you decide it’s never going to happen again. Whilst it isn’t impossible to do the deed in a single bed (though harder as your joints get less flexible), any kind of sleep afterwards isn’t really an option if you only have 3ft of space for two bodies.

When I lost my DH we had been planning to get a new bed, which I put off for a while. However on downsizing from a large house to a 2 bed bungalow I decided now was the time.......and I brought another king size bed! Downsizing my bed was never an option, I now sleep in the middle, in the summer there is always a cool side to roll on to, and as I move around in bed, and suffer on occasions from restless legs I can always get comfy. A single bed is very restrictive, as I know from saying on one at my daughters, so please think very carefully before you downsize. X

polnan, I wouldn’t want to share a bed every night with a person, but once in a while can be quite pleasant. I wouldn’t ever want to share a bed with a dog or cat - yuk! My animals have always lived downstairs and are banned from bedrooms.