How to Style a King Size Bed When You Are Tall

Know your king size before you buy anything

A standard king mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long. A California king is 72 inches wide and 84 inches long, so it is narrower but four inches longer. Tall sleepers often prefer the California king for that reason, but its bedding is harder to find in stores and the proportions change how a bed looks: a narrower mattress needs less width of comforter, while the longer length asks for a longer drop at the foot.

Measure the mattress thickness too. Modern mattresses with a topper can reach 14 to 16 inches, and standard fitted sheets labeled for up to 12 inches will pop off the corners. If your mattress is deep, start with a deep-pocket set before any decorating, because a sheet that slips loose ruins every layer above it.

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Layer the bedding in a fixed order

Work from the mattress up. First the fitted sheet, then a flat sheet with the top edge lined up with the head of the bed and the hem folded back over the top of the comforter. Over that goes the duvet or comforter. A common way to style a king is to fold the top third of the comforter down and lay a quilt or throw across the lower third, which gives depth without extra weight.

Tall sleepers can skip the fold-over and keep the layers tucked under the foot of the mattress instead. A tucked flat sheet stops the bedding from being pulled off your feet overnight. If the covers always end up short, the problem is usually the cover length, not your technique.

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Pillows: how many and what size

A king bed takes two king pillows (20 by 36 inches) or four standard pillows (20 by 26 inches) across the headboard. The usual arrangement is two sleeping pillows against the headboard, two shams in front of them, and one or two smaller decorative pillows in the center. Euro shams (26 by 26 inches) sit at the back if you want a fuller look.

If you sleep on your side, a long body pillow between the knees and arms takes the place of the extra decorative pillows and does more for your comfort. Keep it off the bed during the day or let it stand in as a bolster along the headboard.

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Match the headboard to the bed and the room

A king bed is a wide object, so a headboard that is too short makes it look squat. A headboard that rises clearly above the pillows balances the width, and a taller one doubles as a backrest if you read or watch TV in bed. For tall people, a headboard that rises well above the mattress also keeps pillows from sliding down behind the bed when you sit up.

Wall-mounted or bolt-on panels work if your frame has no headboard. If you use a platform frame, check that the legs of the headboard line up with the frame and that the headboard does not stick out past the mattress edge, or you will lose the extra length you bought the bigger bed for.

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Finish the foot and the sides

Use the foot of the bed for one layer that adds shape: a folded quilt, a throw blanket or a bench. If you are tall and your feet reach the end of the mattress, a footboard or a bench pressed tight against the frame can restrict your legs. Leave a gap, or pick a bench that sits a few inches back.

Allow at least 24 inches of walkway on each side of the bed, and aim for 30 inches or more where the room allows it. With a king bed, nightstands of equal height on both sides keep the layout symmetrical. If your bed sits high, taller nightstands avoid the awkward reach.

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Fixes that matter more when you are tall

Most styling advice assumes an average sleeper, so a few things need adjusting. Bedding that is pulled up to your shoulders will leave your feet uncovered if the cover is short, so look for covers listed as extra long, and tuck the foot of the flat sheet under the mattress firmly. A bed that is made with hospital corners stays in place even when you stretch out diagonally.

Raise the bed if getting up is awkward. Bed risers add a few inches under each leg and make a low frame easier to sit up from, though they also change how tall the nightstands look, so check that your side tables still sit near mattress height afterward. Keep decorative pillows to a minimum on the side where you sleep, because a pile of shams on the floor every night is a sign there are too many.

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Frequently asked questions

How big should a comforter be for a king bed? A king comforter is usually about 102 to 110 inches wide. Anything narrower will leave one side bare when two people share it. For a tall sleeper, also check the listed length so the cover reaches past your feet.

Is a California king better for styling? It is longer and narrower, so it suits narrow rooms and tall sleepers, but standard king bedding will not drape well on it. Buy bedding labeled for California king when you can.

How many throw pillows does a king bed need? Two to three decorative pillows in front of the sleeping pillows is plenty. More than that just has to be moved every night.

Should the bedspread touch the floor? Not required. A drop of 12 to 18 inches over the sides covers the mattress edge and looks neat. Floor-length bedding is harder to keep clean.