Article by Dave Saltonstall
Divan beds are truly versatile with one available to suit any environment and sleeping requirement. A standard divan bed only consists of a base and a mattress but there are hundreds of variations available to customize your sleeping experience.
Divan bed sizes
The primary factor in choosing any bed is the size of the bed. Divan bed sizes will be determined by the size of the room the bed is going to be used in as well as the body size and number of people sleeping in the bed.The most common sizes of divan beds are:
• 2FT 6 Small Single. The small single divan bed is usually used for children’s’ first beds as they are very compact and small children really don’t need any more space. Dimensions of the small single are 75cm wide by 190cm long.
• 3FT Single. This is the standard single bed for older children or couples who sleep in separate beds in the same room. Dimensions of a single bed are 90cm wide by 190cm long.
• 4FT Small Double. An ideal bed for a single person wanting more sleeping space but limited by the size of a room. Dimensions of the small double are 120cm wide by 190cm long.
• 4FT 6 Double. This is the standard double bed found in most guest bedrooms. Dimensions of the standard double bed are 135cm wide by 190cm long.
• 5FT King Size. The King Size bed is the most popular size of bed on the market today and is favored by most people as their main bed. Dimensions are 150cm wide by 200cm long.
• 6FT Super King. For people who really need their space when they sleep, the 6FT Super King is a perfect solution. However, its 180cm width and 200cm length make it difficult to place in many rooms, especially in smaller homes.
Divan bed bases
There are generally 2 types of base on the market.The platform top divan base is a solid top and will provide a more firm overall feel to the bed. Also available is a sprung-edge divan base which offers more bounce to the bed. A sprung-edge can effectively make a firm mattress feel like a medium tension mattress, so changing the base of a bed that is too hard can be a cost-effective solution.
Divan bed storage options
Possibly the most useful feature of a divan bed has nothing to do with sleep. Divan bases have loads of under-utilized space in them, making them perfect for storage compartments. Most bed manufacturers now include a choice between no storage, 2 storage drawers and 4 storage drawers, depending on the size of the bed. On many models there is also an Ottoman option, allowing you to lift the entire top of the bed and make the most of storage space beneath.


