An expert guide to bedroom clearances, measurements, and spacing – the key elements to consider when designing your room

Understanding bedroom clearances, measurements, and spacing is the starting point for a sleep space that’s a restful sanctuary. They’re the guidelines that make the design look beautiful and work beautifully too.

The ultimate bedroom layout ideas allow space to move around and to access closets, provide the right reach to nightstands, and let furniture look its best. In other words, your room will be both stylish and usable.

To make life easy we’ve gathered all the crucial bedroom clearances, measurements, and spacing together for you below, and we’ve also asked designers to weigh in on why they’re so important.

How much space do you need between a bed and the opposite wall?

There isn’t a single measurement you can use for the distance needed here as it will depend on the type and size of bed you are dealing with.

‘The ideal distance between the end of a bed and the opposite wall depends on both bed size and how you plan to use the space,’ explains Izabela Tokarski, founder and interior designer at Kabela & Co.

‘For a twin/full bed leave at least 24 to 30 inches for easy movement,’ she advises. ‘For a queen bed aim for 30 to 36 inches to allow comfortable walking space. And for a king/California king bed 36 to 42 inches is best, especially in larger rooms, so the space doesn’t feel cramped.’

How much space do you need on either side of the bed?

Which type of bed is in the room matters when thinking about the space on either side too. ‘For a twin/full bed, ideally, leave 18 to 24 inches on each side for easy movement, but at least 18 inches is a minimum,’ says Izabela Tokarski.

‘For a queen bed 24 to 30 inches on each side is best to allow for comfortable access to the bed and nightstands, while also giving a more spacious feel,’ she continues.

‘For a king/California king bed, 30 to 36 inches on each side is ideal,’ she adds. ‘This allows for more open space in larger rooms and is especially important if you plan on having side tables.’

How much space do you need between the bed edge and a rug edge?

If you’re putting an area rug beneath the bed, don’t stint on coverage. ‘12 to 18 inches between the bed and rug edge creates a balanced look and ensures you wake up to warmth underfoot,’ says Kristin Farnan, founder of Ridge Residential Design.

How much space do you need between two twin beds?

A room with twin beds needs a considered layout. ‘When placing twin beds next to each other, it’s ideal to leave about 2 to 3 feet (24 to 36 inches) between them,’ says Izabela Tokarski.

‘This provides enough space for movement and allows for easy access to both beds. If the beds are placed in a shared room, having this gap will help keep the space from feeling cramped.’

How much space do you need between a bed and a nightstand?

Think reach when deciding on the distance between the bed and the nightstand. ‘Opt for 6 inches or less,’ says Kristin Farnan. ‘It should be an easy arm’s length for a glass of water.’

Izabela Tokarski agrees that about 2 to 6 inches is ideal. ‘This distance allows for easy access to the nightstand, while also providing enough space to move comfortably around the bed,’ she explains. ‘If the nightstand is too far from the bed, it might feel less functional, but if it’s too close, it can feel cramped. Keeping this gap balanced is key for both convenience and comfort.’

What's the best height for a nightstand?

And while we’re talking nightstands, it’s vital to get their height compared to that of the mattress right.

‘Your nightstands should be roughly the same height as the top of your mattress or within 2 inches of the mattress height,’ says Izabela Tokarski. ‘This makes them easy to reach while lying in bed.

How much space do you need in front of a closet?

Don’t neglect space for opening hinged doors along with room for bedroom sharers to move around at the same time when it comes to a closet. ‘Allow 36 inches for a hinged door as this permits someone to walk behind you while you have it open,’ says Kristin Farnan.

An alternative? ‘Measure the width of the door and allow a few extra inches,’ she says.

And if the closet has sliding doors? ‘ You don’t need as much space in front of the closet, but you should allow at least 24 to 30 inches of clearance,’ says Izabela Tokarski. ‘This ensures you can slide the doors open without bumping into furniture or other obstacles.’

How much space do you need between the bed and any bedroom seating?

If you have seating in the bedroom, it needs sufficient separation from the bed.

‘For a comfortable and functional layout, you should leave about 24 to 36 inches between the bed and any bedroom seating (like a chair, bench, or small sofa),’ says Izabela Tokarski. ‘This distance allows for easy movement and keeps the space feeling open, while also making it easy to get in and out of the seating area.’

Get the correct space between chairs as well. ‘Between two armchairs in a bedroom allow 24 to 42 inches to accommodate a side table between them,’ says Kristin Farnan.

It’s far easier to implement the bedroom spacing experts recommend if you organize it first. Get savvy about the things that make your bedroom look cluttered and follow the 10 steps to a clutter-free space.