Leave 24-30in of walking space on at least one side of the bed and 18-24in at the foot. A flanking pair of nightstands balances the room; size dressers and wardrobes to the wall, not just the floor space.

Pick a nightstand within about 2in of the mattress top — usually 24-28in tall — so reaching items is easy when you're sitting up. Standard widths run 18-24in; a matched pair frames the bed neatly.

Platform beds have a solid or slatted base that supports the mattress directly, with no box spring, and sit lower (8-12in). Traditional frames need a box spring under the mattress, which raises the overall sleeping height.

Most platform and slatted beds support memory foam, latex, hybrid and innerspring mattresses. Slat spacing of 3in or less prevents foam from sagging — if you're unsure, contact us with your mattress type and we can confirm compatibility.

Beds typically take 30-60 minutes with two people; dressers and wardrobes 45-90 minutes. Basic tools and the hardware that ships with the piece are used, and a power drill speeds up the longer pieces considerably.

Fit felt pads or rubber cups under every leg and set heavy pieces like dressers on a rug or runner. Lift to move furniture rather than dragging it, even a short distance, to protect the floor.