Bedroom beds differ in three things: what the frame is made of (upholstery or wood), whether it has storage (a lifting mechanism, drawers or nothing), and the sleeping place — from a single 900 × 2000 mm to 2000 × 2000 mm. Once you have sorted out these three, you will quickly rule out most of the catalogue. Below is each type with its strengths and its caveats.
By frame material
Upholstered beds
In an upholstered bed the headboard and the side rails are covered in fabric with a layer of foam beneath. This is the most common type for a bedroom: an upholstered headboard is comfortable to lean on when you read, and there are no corners to knock into at night.
Inside such a bed is a rigid frame. In Veneto upholstered models it is solid natural wood, sanded chipboard and fibreboard, and under the fabric Ecofoam foam and ThermoFiber fibre. The fabric is chosen from seven groups, so one and the same model can look quite different; the samples are gathered in the fabric catalogue.
An example is the Josephine Soft Bed, with restrained geometry and a high headboard of 1120 mm. The opposite in character is the Sharon Soft Bed, with deep-buttoned upholstery and decorative buttons: it at once becomes the main piece in the room.
What to bear in mind: fabric collects dust and has to be vacuumed, and in a home with a cat it is worth choosing dense upholstery without loops. All the models are in the upholstered beds collection.
Wooden beds
A frame of solid wood is not afraid of claws, wipes clean easily and only looks better with the years. Such beds usually have open legs, so they seem lighter and are easier to clean under.
The Julie Bed with Soft Topper is made of solid oak and combines both approaches: a wooden frame and an upholstered pad on a headboard 1000 mm high. There are several finishes for the wood, lacquer and oil among them, and the fabric of the pad is chosen separately.
What to bear in mind: solid wood is heavier than a frame of board, and such a construction usually has no bedding box. The models are in the wooden beds collection.
By way of storage
With a lifting mechanism and a box
The base with the mattress rises on gas struts, and beneath it a box opens across the whole area of the bed. Winter duvets, pillows, suitcases — everything that would otherwise take up a separate wardrobe — fits in there. For a small flat this is the weightiest argument.
On most Veneto upholstered beds the mechanism is a choice made when ordering: the same model can be taken with it or without. Josephine and Sharon, among others, are made this way; on Sharon the lifting mechanism is a double one.
What to bear in mind: to get something out you have to lift the mattress together with the bedding, so the box suits seasonal things, not what you need every day. Check in the showroom that the mechanism lifts easily with your own mattress: a heavy mattress takes more effort.
With pull-out drawers
Drawers open from the side, and the mattress need not be touched. This is handy for things used often: bedding, pyjamas, toys. The Unity C7 Bed is a single, for a 900 × 2000 mm mattress, with pull-out drawers; it is taken for a child's or a teenager's room.
What to bear in mind: free space is needed in front of the bed for the full depth of the drawer, so such a bed cannot be stood right against a wardrobe or a desk.
Without a box, on legs
A bed on high legs has no storage, but air moves under it and a vacuum cleaner passes through, and the construction itself looks lighter. The Trinity Bed stands on metal legs, has a rounded headboard and is made without a lifting mechanism; LED lighting can be added on request.
What to bear in mind: if there are few wardrobes in the bedroom, the lack of a box will be felt every day.
By size of sleeping place
The size of a bed is named by the size of the mattress that lies in it:
- Singles — 900 × 2000 mm. For a child, a teenager, a guest room.
- Small doubles — 1200 × 2000 mm. Roomy for one person; tight for two.
- Doubles — 1400, 1600, 1800 and 2000 × 2000 mm.
Most upholstered beds in the catalogue are made in five sizes, from 1200 × 2000 to 2000 × 2000 mm. The outer dimensions are always larger than the sleeping place, and the difference depends on the model. How to choose the width for two and place the bed in the room is covered in detail in a separate article on choosing a double bed.
A type of its own: the bed frame
If you need a sleeping place without a headboard and side rails, a bed frame is the answer: a metal frame with slats on which the mattress is laid. It takes up exactly as much room as the mattress and suits a rented flat, a guest room or a minimalist interior.
The Classic Multi Bed Frame is a base of metal tube coated in black powder paint, with 18 beech slats 68 mm wide and 8 mm thick per sleeping place. Other options, including ones with firmness adjustment, are in the bed frames collection.
Comparing the types
| Type | Main advantage | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Upholstered | A comfortable headboard, no hard corners, a wide choice of fabrics | The fabric needs care |
| Wooden | A durable surface, easy to clean | Heavier, usually without a box |
| With a lifting mechanism | A box across the whole area of the bed | Access only with the mattress lifted |
| With drawers | Things at hand every day | Room is needed in front of the bed |
| On legs, without a box | A light look, simple cleaning | No storage |
| Bed frame | A minimum of space and weight | No headboard |
In short
- First settle three things: the frame material, the need for storage, the size of the sleeping place.
- An upholstered bed is more comfortable for reading and kinder to the knees; a wooden one is simpler to look after.
- A lifting mechanism is for seasonal things, drawers for everyday ones.
- A bed frame is the most compact option when a headboard is not needed.
- The size of a bed always equals the size of the mattress, and the outer dimensions are larger.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more practical: an upholstered or a wooden bed?
A wooden one is simpler to look after. In everyday use many people find an upholstered one more comfortable, because the headboard can be leaned on. If there are pets or a dust allergy, wood or a dense smooth fabric will be the wiser choice.
Do I have to take a bed with a lifting mechanism?
No. It is needed if storage space is short. If there are enough wardrobes, a bed without a mechanism is simpler and lighter.
Can bedside tables in the same style be matched to the bed?
Yes, some models have matching bedside tables; they are gathered in the bedside tables collection.
Which mattress will fit the bed?
One of the same size as the sleeping place. Before buying, check on the product page which base comes with the bed.
