From Victorian to English colonial designs, antique beds are a glistening display of the elegant aesthetics of the 17th and 18th centuries.
These beds are known for their charm and refined craftsmanship, and are great for individuals who want to add a luxurious yet historical look to their bedrooms.
However, finding the ideal mattress to fit your beautifully crafted antique bed can be challenging, given how old they are.
Most modern mattresses are not standardized to fit on antique beds, so you have to look extensively for a mattress with the right shape and size. We are here to guide you through the process of finding a perfectly fitted mattress for your classic antique bed!
Why It's Difficult to Buy the Right Mattress for Your Antique Bed
First and foremost? It’s the sizing.
The dimensions of an antique bed are roughly 48 inches wide by 75 inches long.
This makes them 6 inches narrower than a standard Full mattress.
Therefore, an antique bed cannot fit modern-day large mattresses and must instead use rare, narrower “3/4” mattresses — which, as their name suggests, are 3/4th the size of a regular mattress.
Antique Bed Sizes
It’s important to note that not all antique beds will be the same size. In particular, older antique beds were often custom-made by hand, and as a result, did not follow conventional bed sizing.
Some more common antique bed sizes are:
- 48″ x 80″
- 48″ x 75″
- 48″ x 72″
- 45″ x 75″
- 42″ x 80″
This is not an exhaustive list, due to the point made above. However, this will give you a good starting point.
What Mattress Size Is Right for Your Antique Bed?
Before King and Queen-sized beds and mattresses came into existence, the antique beds of the past used to have very unusual and odd dimensions.
The most convenient mattress size for these beds available today is the three-quarter mattress, which is larger than a Twin-sized but smaller than a Double bed.
Most Common Antique Mattress Sizes
Antique beds mostly have a standard width of 48 inches, equivalent to approximately three-quarters of the width of a Full-size mattress.
The most suitable mattress is a 3/4 mattress since it will fit in a 3/4 bed frame.
The width of a 3/4 mattress is around 48 inches, while the length is approximately 75 inches. Although they are much less common, 48″ x 72″ sized mattresses also exist in this category.
Classical one-off bed frames can be made by retailers who specialize in producing antique bed frames
Custom Mattresses
If you have an antique bed that is entirely a one-off and cannot accommodate any typical mattress size, you’ll want to consider ordering a custom mattress.
Custom-sized mattresses can be made in various shapes and sizes to fit any antique bed.
They can be made having cut corners, radius corners, hinges, and many other unique elements of design.
At MattressInsider, we make any custom-sized mattress you may need. While our most common request is for a custom-size memory foam mattress, we also offer odd-size latex mattresses, innerspring mattresses, gel foam mattresses, and more!
We use only the best quality open-cell, plant-based, temperature-neutral foams. Plus, our memory foam and high-density foams have been independently tested by the laboratory CertiPUR US and have been certified non-toxic.
Each custom antique mattress is made to order, so your mattress will be perfectly crafted to fit your bed!
Can You Use an RV Mattress for Your Antique Bed?
Unfortunately, the answer is likely no. RV mattresses are not all the same, and come in different sizes.
Typical mattress sizes used for RV beds are Twin (38″x75″), Full-size (53″x75″), and RV King (72″x80″).
However, there is an exception — the 3/4 or Antique size (48″x 75″).
This means that if you’ve correctly measured your bed frame and know that a 3/4-size mattress can be accommodated on your antique bed, then buying an RV mattress of this size should be no problem!
The Right Type of Mattress for Your Antique Bed
Innerspring, airbed, foam, latex, or hybrid are the five categories that most mattress types fall under.
For antique beds, innerspring mattresses are the more suitable option.
By being more familiar with the characteristics and features of these different mattress types, you can make a more educated and informed decision before buying the perfect antique bed mattress.
Innerspring
- Innerspring mattresses are the oldest and most widely used among all mattress types. Antique beds were initially only made for these mattresses, as they have been around for over 100 years
- They are well known for being relatively lightweight and providing extensive body support, thanks to the numerous pocketed spring coils they contain.
- Typically the more affordable option when compared to other types of mattresses.
- The top surface of an innerspring mattress is padded and offers a smoother feel than a hybrid and memory foam mattress.
- With little contouring, an innerspring mattress provides a flat, even, and comfy sleeping surface.
Memory Foam
- Memory foam mattresses are an excellent choice for antique beds since they are very soft and don’t put excessive pressure on the bed’s side panels.
- Memory foam mattresses are much heavier than innerspring ones, so it’s important to assess your bed frame’s strength and weight-bearing capacity before getting one.
- As per the Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, natural latex memory foam can help relieve pressure on the spine and joints significantly, and improve blood flow during sleep.
- You must first purchase a bed foundation or box spring to use with your antique bed to stabilize it, before you place a memory foam mattress on top.
Hybrid
- Antique beds that lack a rigid structure and good support are not suited for hybrid mattresses. Only a bed with good built-in support can accommodate this type of mattress.
- Hybrid mattresses typically consist of a two-inch layer of latex or memory foam placed on top of a pocketed coil support system.
- Hybrids are mainly known for their excellent level of support and overall resilience. They quickly adapt to the shape of your body, making them very comfortable to sleep on.
- Due to their design, hybrid mattresses are very breathable and allow for sufficient airflow through the bed.
What to Do Before You Buy a Mattress for Your Antique Bed
To ensure you get the ideal mattress for your bed, you need to know the exact dimensions of your frame, alongside its design and weight capacity.
Does your bed have any rounded or cut corners? Is the depth of the bed frame compatible with your desired mattress’s thickness? Can your bed withstand the weight of a heavy memory or hybrid foam mattress?
These are all critical questions you need to ask yourself before deciding what mattress to buy.
Measure the Width and Length of the Inside of the Bed frame
Before measuring the dimensions of your bed, it is necessary to take everything — like pillows and blankets — off the bed. Then, get a measuring tape and determine the length of your mattress by measuring it from the center of the head of the bed to the center of the foot of the bed.
The width is then calculated by measuring the distance between the bed’s right and left sides, preferably across the middle portion of the bed.
Since 48 by 75 inches is the typical size for an Antique mattress, the dimensions you calculate should be more or less the same.
Thankfully, unless you own a very unusual bed, this should be an easy task to do!
Measure the Depth of the Bed Frame
When measuring the depth of the bed frame, it is essential to keep in mind the total height of the bed from the floor and the thickness of the mattress you will use.
Most antique bed frames have a depth of 2, 3, or 4 inches, but this can vary greatly.
This is why it is essential to measure the dimensions accurately, instead of relying on rough estimates.
You can also determine the thickness of a mattress using a measuring tape by hooking one end under the bed and measuring to the upper surface.
Determine Whether or Not You Will Need a Box Foundation for the Mattress to Rest On
Both box springs and foundations can work as exceptional quality bed bases.
Most antique bed frames can be very delicate and unstable, and if that’s what you have, you’ll want to consider a box spring or foundation as a bed base for your antique bed’s mattress.
The advantages of a foundation are that it can provide a considerable amount of support to your mattress, keeping it in place, and are readily compatible with most antique beds.
Box springs can also offer great support — but they are better known for providing extra bounce to the bed and offering more breathability.
Find the Right Mattress for Your Antique Bed
You may own an antique bed, but that doesn’t mean that you have to sleep on an old and outdated mattress.
From the large variety of mattress types and sizes available, you can now sleep in an historical antique bed, just with all the most comfortable and modern features!
Since 2008, MattressInsider has established a reputation for itself by specializing in producing and developing custom-size mattresses. Our mattresses can be made to fit on any bed, no matter how unconventional their design may be.
Can’t find the right mattress for your antique bed?
Feel free to contact us anytime at 888-488-1468, where we can help by answering any questions you have!
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