Dorm beds are universally narrow. Twin XL mattresses—standard in college housing—measure just 39 inches wide. For many students, that’s too cramped for comfortable sleep or relaxation. Brennan Hellmers and Sloane Barry experienced the same frustration while living in dorms and decided to do something about it. They weren’t trying to redesign college furniture from the ground up, just fix one specific issue students had been dealing with for decades: not enough room on the bed.
After testing mockups in garages and working late nights on the concept, they built a prototype and launched Somnia+, a small company focused on improving dorm sleep with one core product—the Dorm Bed Expander Kit.
Built by Students, for Students
Both founders were recent college students themselves. That firsthand experience helped them understand the constraints of dorm life, from prohibited modifications to limited storage. Hellmers, who studied finance, brought a business lens to the venture, while Barry helped shape the product experience and brand. Their shared goal was to make dorm rooms more comfortable in a way that didn’t require permanent changes, tools, or school permission.
They designed the expander kit so it could be installed quickly on move-in day and removed without damage on move-out day. They also recognized that the market they were targeting—college students and parents—would need something easy to understand and ready to use right out of the box.
How the Dorm Bed Expander Kit Works
The Dorm Bed Expander Kit increases a standard Twin XL bed by about 25% in width, turning it into a 48-inch-wide mattress—about the size of a full bed. The expansion is fully tool-free. Key components include:
Expander Platform & Straps: A sturdy platform fits against the side of the existing bed frame and secures with heavy-duty Velcro straps. It doesn’t require any drilling, screwing, or bolting, so it complies with most dorm housing rules.
Foam Mattress Blocks: Two foam pieces fill the gap created by the expansion, sitting flush with the original mattress. The foam is height-adjustable to match the dorm bed thickness and expands to full size after unboxing.
Memory Foam Topper: A 2-inch memory foam topper spans across both the old mattress and the new foam blocks, creating one seamless sleeping surface.
Custom Bedding: Since 48-inch mattresses are not a standard size, the kit includes a mattress protector and sheet set tailored to fit the new dimensions. Optional add-ons include duvets, oversized pillows, and even headboards designed for the wider setup.
The entire installation process takes about 10–15 minutes. All components are washable or wipe-clean and pack down into storage bags when it’s time to move out.
Launch and Growth
Somnia+ launched as a direct-to-consumer brand and focused heavily on social media. Their videos showing how to make a dorm bed larger gained traction on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Some clips reached millions of views, and the product started turning up in online discussions and parent forums. Students began ordering the kits before arriving at school, and some brought them in during the semester once they’d experienced how tight the dorm beds really were.
Orders came from colleges around the country, from large public universities to private campuses. The company has since expanded its offerings to include bedding accessories designed for the 48-inch format, making it easier for students to create a cohesive sleeping setup.
Beyond Dorm Rooms
Somnia+ has also positioned its product for use by college athletic departments. Taller and larger-built student-athletes often struggle with narrow beds, and the company began marketing the expander kit as a way to help schools support athlete recovery and rest. It’s a pitch aimed not at comfort alone, but at performance and wellness.
The company remains small, focused, and privately held. Distribution is handled through its website. Orders are shipped nationwide, and the packaging is designed to be easily transported and reused.
A Practical Fix
Somnia+ isn’t trying to overhaul dorm furniture. It’s focused on one problem—narrow beds—and offers a single, physical fix that works within the constraints of student housing. The solution was built from firsthand experience and remains rooted in what students actually need: more space to sleep and stretch out without getting in trouble with housing staff or needing a toolkit. Hellmers and Barry set out to solve a simple problem. Somnia+ is how they did it.
