We inevitably end up in the same bed together at some point. Usually, it’s right before bedtime. Our son - just two and a half years old - takes a while to wind down at night, and my wife and I have found that the best way to get him to sleep without too much hassle is to hang out in our room reading books and telling stories until he drifts off. And have I mentioned that we’re usually joined by our very large and very cuddly pit bull?
Typically, he’ll fall asleep in our bed and stay there until we move him to his room. And more often than I think either of us would like, we sometimes doze off in those early evening hours and end up taking a brief, impromptu nap together. Our story is not uncommon, but it is just one example of the many different reasons people may consider upgrading their sleeping arrangement with an oversized bed.
There are a few different oversized bed options, but the most common (and the biggest) is the Alaskan king, which measures an astounding nine feet by nine feet (or 108” x 108”). That’s a lot of bed, and some of you may be wondering about the practical applications of such an enormous piece of furniture.
Great Sleep for the Whole Family
Alaskan King Beds are wonderful for families with infants or young children that practice some kind of co-sleeping arrangement. Though it’s always been around to some extent, co-sleeping is becoming more common. Some of the purported advantages of co-sleeping include more restorative sleep cycles (especially for parents with infants), increased intimacy as a chance for parents and children to bond, and even health benefits, such as regulating a baby’s breathing, body temperature, and weight.
Ultimately, the debate over co-sleeping continues among health and childcare professionals, and whether you want to engage in co-sleeping or not is a personal choice that you should make after consulting with your pediatrician.
But buying a big bed for your family doesn’t have to mean everyone sleeps together all the time. Sometimes, it’s just nice to have a cozy, centralized place for your family to hang out. Think story time, movie nights, or even breakfast in bed. An Alaskan King Bed can offer an intimate setting that still has more than enough room for everyone to have their own space.
More Room for Two
Even people without kids can benefit from having more surface area to sleep on. While queen beds are still the most popular size in the United States, more and more couples are turning to standard king size beds for an improved sleep experience, because no matter how much they love their partners, there are some people who just can’t get enough space at night. The Alaskan King Bed offers more room for each person to move around at night without interrupting or being interrupted. This also makes it a great choice for couples with different work and/or sleep schedules.
Space to Spread Out
For the tallest folks among us, the California king size bed tends to be the best standard option available, offering 84 inches (or seven feet) of length, but it’s also slightly narrower than the regular king. Since the especially tall tend to have long arms as well as legs, Alaskan King Beds offer more room in all directions.
Pets
Let’s not forget the other family members who often make their way into our sleeping space. In the United States, 45% of dog owners sleep with their pets and 62% of cats share a mattress with their humans.
Sleeping together is an important part of pet parenting for many people, both for their relationship with their pets, but also sometimes for safety and security. If this is the case for you — and especially if you have a big dog or multiple pets that you plan on sleeping with — you’ll want to make sure you have a bed that can accommodate them. For pet parents who enjoy cozying up to their furry friends, an Alaskan King Bed from Francis Lofts & Bunks offers the size and durability to support everything from a chihuahua to a Saint Bernard.
Luxury Lifestyles
Nothing screams leisure like lounging around on the biggest commercially available platform bed on the market. And not only are they (really) big, but because of their tasteful modern style, our Alaskan King Beds are a great way to display elegance and sophistication with your design choices.
Plus, truly massive master bedrooms can make even a king or California king size bed frame look minuscule. From a design perspective, an Alaskan king can often make better use of the space in an extra large room. This makes it both functionally and stylistically practical for oversized spaces.
Alaskan King Beds are also a great addition to luxury hotel rooms or high-end vacation rentals in expensive locations. Treat your guests to an extravagant and unforgettable sleep experience that, much like our impressive Adult Bunk Beds, will give them something unique to remember and talk about.
Outfitting Your Alaskan King
If the Alaskan King Bed sounds like the right fit for you, your family, or your space, getting a strong, sturdy, and durable bed frame is only half the battle. Because oversized mattresses and bedding aren’t easy to manufacture on a mass scale, you’re going to need to get them custom ordered from a specialty provider.
Luckily, if you order an Alaskan King Bed from Francis Lofts & Bunks, our standard delivery time frame is four weeks from the date of purchase, so that will give you plenty of time to track down the other items you’ll need. For your convenience, we’ve compiled helpful guide of companies that offer Alaskan king mattresses and accessories.
Mattresses
A handful of companies specialize in creating mattresses for Alaskan King Beds. We’ve listed some of our favorites below. Please note that if you end up purchasing a memory foam mattress for your Alaskan King Bed, you’ll want to order a masonite board from us to help support the mattress on the slats. Contact us for more information.
Natural Form® - Hybrid foam mattresses with a breathable cotton cover and 10-year warranty
Sleep Boutique - Custom oversized mattresses made in various sizes and firmness levels using the materials you select
Rest Right Mattress - Three 12” foam mattress options with varying levels of firmness
MattressInsider.com - Custom mattress manufacturer that can craft any mattress to your unique specifications
Bedding
Though it is possible to find Alaskan king size bedding online from your standard big box e-commerce retailers, we still recommend sticking with custom made products from specialized manufacturers to ensure you get the quality and luxury sleep experience you deserve.
Rest Right Mattress - Featurng a wide variety of comforters and sheet sets with various color and style options
Vero Linens - Beautiful and comfortable Italian sheets custom made for a true luxury sleep experience
Other Considerations
Although our Alaskan King Bed frames will come in multiple boxes to be assembled in your home, there’s a good chance that your mattress might not, so before buying, make sure your home has the space and clearance to admit an Alaskan king mattress. Always have at least one other person available to help you move your bed frame and mattress.
Is an Alaskan King Bed Right for You?
Now that you’re a bona fide expert on this particular oversized bed, it might be a good time to check out our Alaskan King Bed to see if it could fit perfectly into your life and your space.