Buying a Bed

Buying a bed is often a big investment, so think long and hard about what you want before you make a decision. Is your style formal or causal? Contemporary or traditional? Do you prefer wood, metal, leather or fabric? Make sure to do a lot of comparison-shopping before making a final decision.

Popular Bed Styles

If you're thinking of buying a bed, make sure you're familiar with some of the more popular styles and what kinds of rooms they work best in.

Platform Beds
Platform beds are simple and streamlined. Often made of wood, they have a flat, horizontal surface that holds the mattress. The straight and sleek design is well suited to contemporary and modern rooms. These beds are definitely "no-frills".

Storage Beds
Storage beds are ideal for small spaces. They're very similar to platform beds but they have storage underneath the mattress. Some have drawers while some have a single large compartment under the mattress. Some also have built-in shelving in the headboard which can eliminate the need for bedside tables.

Sleigh Beds
Sleigh beds have gently curved headboards and footboards that are reminiscent of sleighs. They're very elegant but the simple design makes them just as appropriate for casual rooms as for formal rooms.

Canopy Beds
The height of canopy beds makes them great for large bedrooms with high ceilings. They're very similar to four-poster beds but they also have horizontal posts that attach to the vertical ones. They often have some type of fabric hanging over them that creates a sense of intimacy.

Four Poster Beds
Four-poster beds have traditionally worked best in formal rooms but these days more casual versions are starting to become available. They have four vertical columns (one in each corner) that in the past were often carved wood, but are now available in simpler styles and a variety of materials. There are many other styles of beds, but these are the ones that are currently the most popular. If none of them suit you, keep looking. There are many styles available.

Bed Buying Tips

• Make sure you know what the right size bed is for your room and your needs.

• To save some money, buy (or make) a headboard and then place the mattress on a simple metal frame. The blankets will cover the frame so no one will see it. All they'll see is the beautiful headboard.

• If you're buying a fabric bed frame keep the color neutral. Because it's a big investment, you don't want to have to buy a new one if you decide to redecorate or change your color scheme at a later date.