Furniture
Sleep on it: A Guide to Buying a Bed
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
The bedroom is named after the one critical piece of furniture present in any space, the bed. It has to be comfy and large enough so that you don’t experience discomfort when going to bed. While many people know the different sizes of beds, ranging from twin to king, you may not be aware of the different types of beds that are available. When choosing a bed, either for the master bedroom, guest room, or children’s room, think of the purpose it will serve and the type of style you’re going for.
To Review –Sizes:
Just to review, there are a sliding scale of bed sizes. The smallest size for a normal bed is a Twin, which is just big enough for one average sized person. Twin beds are roughly 3” across and 6” long. While you can try to squish another person in there for a night or two, they are not ideal for couples. Even for a single occupant, many find it does not allow for enough movement or comfort and therefore choose a larger size. If you ever spend time in a college dorm room, you’re probably familiar with the Extra-Long Twin, which doesn’t seem to provide much more luxury besides a few more inches at the end, which makes buying sheets more difficult. The upgrade from a Twin is a Full, which are 4 ½” across and remain the same length. This is a great choice for someone sleeping alone who enjoys extra space in bed but doesn’t have much floor space. A Queen bed will comfortably sleep two people with a width of 5” and a longer length. A King sized bed is the widest bed available and spans 6 ½” across. This is wider than a California King, which sacrifices width for extra length. California King beds are the longest beds on the market, so if you have a tall person in your family this might be a good investment.
Standard Mattress:
Even within this relatively basic category of mattresses there are subgroups. Innerspring Mattresses are the most common choice among households. They have coils within the bed which add support, and are then covered with fabric to add comfort. Memory Foam is another option which has recently gained popularity. These mattresses slowly conform to the shape of your body to create support. This is the type of mattress used in those commercials where kids jump on the bed trying to spill a glass of wine. An updated version of Memory Foam is a Latex Mattress, which does not conform as readily, making it easier to move around on the bed. If you are looking to furnish your bedroom with a typical bed, one of these mattresses is likely to be your best bet. For additional comfort you can purchase a mattress topper.
Water Beds:
These beds grew rapidly to popularity in the 1980’s, but are still seen in households today. There are two main types of waterbeds on the market today. The hard-side waterbeds are those which are encased in a wooden frame and set above the ground. The alternative to this is a soft-side waterbed. These are enclosed in foam and appear to be typical mattresses. This helps disguise that typical waterbed appearance present with hard-side beds. Tube water mattresses are a third, but very uncommon, form of water beds. Essentially they act as a mattress topper that goes over standard mattresses. These do not provide the waterbed feel that hard and soft sided beds have. Water beds are an exciting alternative to standard mattresses. Besides adding chemicals to prevent bacteria growth, they require far less maintenance than most people expect. In fact, you only need to drain the bed when moving. You can adjust the water temperature, which can provide a cooling effect during the summer months or add the necessary warmth throughout winter.
Platform Beds:
Platform beds are simple yet sleek beds which bring a modern and minimalistic style to your bedroom. They typically support only a mattress. Platform beds keep a room from looking cluttered and a great for apartment living.
Murphy Bed:
Even better bedrooms with limited space are Murphy beds. These fold up and are easily disguised. While there are built-in Murphy beds, they are now also sold as part of what looks like an entertainment center. The bed is surrounded by book cases or other storage, creating a nice decorative bedroom furnishing piece. You cannot find a bed more ideal for a small home.
Trundle Beds:
These are hidden beneath another bed, great for kid’s rooms. The main bed is elevated and the trundle bed can slip in and out beneath it. Trundle beds are perfect for slumber parties or when grandchildren come to visit. It maintains the appearance of a typical bedroom while providing a little extra sleeping space.
Convertible Beds:
Sofa beds and futons both fit in this category. These are beds which have alternate functions. A sofa bed is one which is normally designed as a couch, but has a fold-out bed underneath the cushions. A futon on the other hand simply folds down from a couch to a bed.
Whether you’re going for the perfect bed for you and your mate, or just something for visitors, go in and try out the bed in the store. Measure it and make sure it fits in the space you have available. Just like in the movies where couples go and try out the mattresses, do that! You’re going to be spending 1/3 of your time in bed, so make sure you’re comfortable!
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Arranging your Master Bedroom
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Arranging your master bedroom can be difficult regardless of whether you’re short on space or have quite a bit of square footage. You want to make your master bedroom feel comfortable without looking sparse or too crowded. Decorating your bedroom will help you feel at home, instead of like you’re sleeping in a hotel room. Below are some bedroom interior design tips that will help you to maximize your space by properly arranging your bedroom furniture.
Like the name suggests, the bed is the main focal piece of any bedroom. In small to medium sized master bedrooms the bed will typically be the largest item in the room and take up the most space. The best spot for the bed is on the wall across from the doorway. There should be enough space around the entire bed for ample walking space. Don’t place your bed in a corner, as it creates a hassle if anyone sleeps next to the wall. If you intend on sharing the bed consider placing the bed for easy access in and out. Also make sure the bed does not block any windows; this can be irritating for opening and closing the windows as well as how the light hits you.
When decorating your bedroom you should place bedside tables on both sides of the bed if space permits. Make sure both have lights that can be operated independently of each other.
Other furniture like dressers, armoires, and hampers can be placed along the room out of the walking path. Space out your furniture to avoided a crowded look.
In large master bedrooms there might be space for a sitting area. Feel free to transform this into a mini-living room with comfy chairs and an entertainment center. For rooms that don’t have this additional space, you can place your television on the dresser if you don’t have space for a stand.
These bedroom interior design tips will hopefully help you arrange your bedroom so you can easily enjoy all aspects of it.
