When we talk about beds, we inevitably are looking for the right bed for our homes. There are a few different styles of beds to consider, and those considerations are important before choosing the bed you need.
While the choices you make for your bedroom needs vary greatly, it is important to know ahead of time what kind of bed will work best in your home. Below, we’ve gathered a number of the types of beds available, and information on each.
 This article was originally written for my 2012-2013 position at lifestyle and furniture retailer Haiku Designs. Go check them out here, they are great folks. |
Traditional Box Spring Beds
Many beds sold today are what have become traditional beds, seen in many homes. They usually feature a support system for a typical box spring, with a mattress placed on top. Since their invention in the mid-19th century, these beds have been very popular, especially in the North American market.
Box springs offer strong support for mattresses, and give a consistent flat surface for the mattress to rest on. The box spring, in combination with the mattress, can raise the top of the bed from the floor significantly. Box springs come in different heights, normally the standard “high profile” box springs or the less common “low profile” size.
Platform Beds
A platform bed is normally constructed with a series of slats, to support a mattress directly without the need for a box spring. In Japanese platform beds, often a Tatami mat is used on the slats to give a consistent, flat surface.
Mattresses, and often futons and sleeping mats, are placed directly on the slats. The real benefit of this type of slat system is that it the slats provide optimal support, allowing the mattress to firmly rest inside the bed frame, while allowing air to freely circulate through the mattress. The air circulation helps keep the mattress free of moisture, and keeps molds and dust mites from taking hold over time.
Platform beds tend to be closer to the floor, but many also feature raised designs and storage areas underneath. Much like traditional box spring beds, there are many different styles to choose from.
Four-Poster and Canopy Beds
The “four-poster” bed refers to the tall posts rising from each corner of the bed. The bed, as with canopy beds, can be a platform bed or a traditional bed.
While similar to a four-poster bed, the canopy bed further connects each post to the other corners, creating a square around the top of the posts. Canopy and post height can vary greatly, usually between six and eight feet tall. Often, fabric is then hung from the canopy, for decoration and even privacy.
Canopy and Four-Poster beds can give your bedroom a unique look, one that is more enclosed than other types of beds. Consider the height of your ceiling when you are looking at these types of beds, and make sure there is plenty of clearance.
Many choices to make
Within each category, there are untold numbers of styles, variations, and unique designs. Materials can vary, including wood, leather, even metal.
When you are making your decisions about your new bedroom furniture, it’s good to consider what type you want first, and then start looking at the various styles within each type. That can help narrow down your choices, and you’ll end up with the type of bed you need. The right bed contributes to your rest and relaxation, and to the overall feel of your home.
