Beds get bigger every season, but big isn’t better if it crowds bedside tables. Aside from the night table, there should be at least three feet of space on three sides of the bed. “The appropriate-size piece can make a room sparkle,” says Leonard Bruce Lewin, author of Shopping for Furniture: A Consumer’s Guide (Linden, $18, www.amazon.com). “The wrong-size piece can close off a room.”

Where to Go

Lane Home Furnishings has traditional wood selections, many for less than $800 (www.lanefurniture.com).

Macy’s is known for a wide selection of beds and reliable service (www.macys.com).

For minimalist beds in wenge wood and industrial steel, try CB2 (www.cb2.com).

Insider Tip

Queen-size beds should have two slats supporting the mattress; king-size beds need three.