A bedroom set is the fastest way to make a room look finished: matching bed, dresser, mirror and nightstand, one decision instead of four. It is also the most confusingly labeled thing in furniture retail. "5-piece bedroom set" means something different at every store. Here is how to read the listings, how to choose between queen bedroom sets and king bedroom sets, and how to buy smart.
What is actually in a bedroom set?
The industry counts pieces in a way that surprises people. A bed is usually counted as three pieces: headboard, footboard and rails. So a "5-piece bedroom set" is often a bed (3) plus a dresser and mirror (2). That is one bed, one dresser, one mirror, and no nightstand. A "6-piece" adds a nightstand; a "7-piece" adds a second nightstand or a chest. Always read the list, not the number. At our store we list every set by what is in the box, in words, on the bedroom sets page.
The typical pieces and what each one does
- •Bed: headboard, footboard and side rails. Panel, platform, storage or upholstered. Decides the look of the room.
- •Dresser: wide and low, 6 to 9 drawers, usually 60 to 70 inches long. Folded clothes and the TV spot in many bedrooms.
- •Mirror: attaches to the dresser. Included in most sets; skip it if the dresser is going under a window or a wall-mounted TV.
- •Nightstand: one or two drawers, about 24 to 28 inches tall to sit level with the mattress top. Buy two if you can; one looks unfinished.
- •Chest of drawers: tall and narrow, 4 to 6 deep drawers. The piece to add when the closet is small.
Queen bedroom set or king bedroom set?
The bed size changes the whole footprint, not just the mattress. A queen bedroom set, with the bed, two nightstands and a dresser, lives comfortably in a room about 11 by 12 feet. A king bedroom set with the same pieces wants 12 by 13 feet or more, because the bed alone is 16 inches wider and the nightstands push out with it. Most second bedrooms in Cincinnati homes are queen rooms. Primary bedrooms in newer builds in West Chester, Mason and Florence are usually king rooms. Measure the wall the headboard goes on: a king headboard plus two nightstands needs 11 to 12 feet of wall.
One more factor: most collections are made in both sizes, so you can pick the set you love and then pick the bed size. Queen beds and king beds from the same collection use the same dresser, mirror and nightstands.
The buy-it-in-stages trick
You do not have to buy the whole set at once. Bedroom collections stay in production for years, so you can buy the bed and one nightstand today, the dresser next month, and the chest at tax time. Two things make this work: write down the collection name (it is on our tag and your receipt), and buy from a collection that has been around a while rather than a brand-new one that could be dropped. With $11 down financing, plenty of our Cincinnati customers build the full room over a single year.
What to check before you buy any bedroom set
- •Drawer glides: pull a drawer all the way out. Metal ball-bearing or wood-on-wood glides that run smooth are good; plastic that wobbles is not.
- •Drawer boxes: look for joints at the corners (dovetail or at least a locking joint) rather than staples into the face.
- •Dust panels: thin boards between drawers keep dust and small items from falling into the drawer below. A sign of a better-built case.
- •Anti-tip kit: every dresser and chest should ship with a wall strap. Use it, especially with kids in the house. More on that here.
- •Headboard height: make sure the top of the headboard clears the window sill or sits below any wall-mounted TV.
What does a 5-piece bedroom set include?
Usually a bed counted as three pieces (headboard, footboard, rails) plus a dresser and mirror, so one bed, one dresser and one mirror with no nightstand. Some stores count differently, so read the item list rather than the number. A 6-piece set typically adds one nightstand.
What size room do you need for a king bedroom set?
Plan on at least 12 by 13 feet for a king bed with two nightstands and a dresser, with 24 to 30 inches of walking room on each side of the bed. The headboard wall alone needs about 11 to 12 feet for a king bed flanked by two nightstands.
Can you buy bedroom set pieces separately?
Yes. Nearly every bedroom collection sells the bed, dresser, mirror, chest and nightstands individually, and collections stay in production for years, so you can build the set over time. Keep the collection name from your receipt so the later pieces match.
Our Cincinnati store carries more than 500 complete bedroom sets across queen and king, and many in-stock sets qualify for same day delivery. Tell us the room size and we will tell you which sets fit, honestly, before anything gets loaded on a truck.
Complete bedroom sets in queen and king. $11 down. Delivered today.
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