King Mattress: Why It’s Better for Sleep [And Other Things]

When we start talking about the bedroom, a question that is sure to raise its head is, “when it comes to size, is bigger better?”

Hm. That’s surely a question that has many different answers.

Moving on.

Do you remember that massive bed in your grandparent’s room?

What it usually was, is simply two twin or single beds pushed together to make it, through the eyes of a child, one mother-of-a bed.  

But since then, technology evolved and now king bed plus king mattress plus king base or mattress on two single beds, are readily available and grannies and grampas the world over are rejoicing at the simplicity of only having to make one bed instead of two.

And hooray! All reputable bed shops now ensure that king beds are a standard stock item.

Ok. Let’s get back to size.

Size of the king mattress

A standard king mattress is the same size as two single beds pushed together, and measures 183cm x 188cm.

But that’s not all, folks!

Extra-length king size mattresses come with an additional 12cm, to measure 183cm x 200cm in length, and of course, are the ideal solution for taller people. Ask the Dutch.

No more do the tall-ies have to worry about being cut down to size, their feet hanging over the end of the bed.

Biggest benefits of a king mattress

Partner comfort

Reader’s Digest conducted a survey and found that 27% of couples sleep back to back and rather far apart. While you may presume this to be a bad sign, a psychologist says that it shows connectedness and independence which is healthy in relationships.

If however, you’re sleeping intertwined throughout the night, it’s a warning sign of something wrong in the relationship. [Perhaps you need a bigger bed.] Just saying.

The point is, that no matter how loving your relationship, space and comfort is essential not only for your relationship but also your sleep.

And so, a king bed is ideal for couples who want to have as much personal space of their own as possible.

At the end of the day, it’s all about comfort. And the king gives just that.

Truth be told, no matter how much we love our partner, the last thing we need is a rude awakening. Of the painful variety.

There is nothing that gets our adrenaline pumping as fast as being hit by a flying arm in the middle of the night or finding that she’s in the middle of a kickboxing session. And you’re the unsuspecting opponent.

Fun fact! Generally, couples who start off on a double and upgrade to a king bed usually find it hard to believe they ever managed on just a double. Try that for size.

Lifestyle

Nowadays, a bed is not just a bed. For families, it can become the hub of the home on weekends, where parents, kids and peds conglomerate for Netflix, Coke and popcorn. What memories to be built!

It goes without saying that a king bed is ideal for families with small children who love climbing into the big bed with mom and dad, but at least with a king, there’s actually space for everyone plus the dog and parrot.

To boot, more and more people feel a close bond with their animals, and it’s usually only a matter of time before the dog’s bed is out of use as Fluffy and Doodles make themselves at home in ours. Once they’ve crossed that boundary, nothing short of a miracle gets them out again, so best you just be realistic and go for that king mattress right from the get-go.

Health

The importance of sleep is highlighted when you read that some of the health problems caused by lack of sleep include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Irritability
• The physical risk of safety related accidents from lack of sleep

Sometimes an illness such as flu or restless legs causes sleeplessness as you toss and turn trying to get comfortable.

Having the extra space a king mattress provides, makes it easier to stretch out and get comfy.

King mattresses are good for relationships

Psychologists agree that sleeping next to a loved one not only makes you feel loved but gives you a sense of safety and security.

To boot, cuddling is good for your health.

In fact, studies done on sleeping with a partner show:

• It boosts oxytocin levels, otherwise known as the love hormone which is believed to help your relax which reduces anxiety and improves sleep.
• It reduces stress by lowering cortisol which is the stress hormone.
• It reduces cytokines which cause inflammation.

However, the reality is that while sleeping in each other’s arms, sounds romantic, it is not practical or healthy in the long run.

Hands down, a king mattress is a win-win.

With an option to um, do stuff, then snuggle up and finally stretch out and settle into your personal space, well that’s what dreams and great relationships are made of.

Another big plus in favour of the king bed is that small children can climb in with mom and dad if have a bad dream or need some loving, and there is plenty of space [whether or not they do their starfish style sleep thing].

As for pets…well, nor are they confined to their beds, because with the extra space, they are able to climb in too [if of course, their pet parents allow it]. Side note: there is no guarantee that even with the extra space, Snuffles won’t snuggle as close as possible to its humans.

All in all, it is clear that the more sprawling space you have in bed, the more comfortable you and your peeps are likely to be.

And, with very little mattress price differences, there is no time like the present to upgrade to experience great comfort and dream-filled nights.

That’s about the size of it.

To find out more about buying the right bed, download our free Genie Bed guide, ‘How to Choose a Better Bed’