How to Choose the Right Bed for Your Bedroom

Beds – we all love them, don’t we? Getting a good night’s rest is paramount to living a productive and healthy life. It’s important to choose a bed that fits your lifestyle and sleeping preferences. You also want a bed that’s comfortable to lounge in on the weekends.

Choosing a bed is kind of like choosing a sofa. There’s so much to consider about this central and important piece of furniture that it can be quite stressful. Beds are often the focus of a bedroom because they are usually the largest piece of furniture that goes inside one. Because we use them on a daily basis, we really can’t get away with making the wrong decision and just living with it, the way we could with an accent chair or side table.

If you’re thinking about buying a new bed, then this article will help guide you through the process of selecting the right bed for your bedroom and lifestyle habits!

Bed vs. Headboard

The first step in your bed-buying process is to determine whether you would like a bed or a headboard.

Beds are great at ensuring a consistent style of design on the whole piece of furniture from the headboard to the feet. They sometimes require a bit more coordination for the installation and logistics. If you want to move a bed, it’s usually tougher because you would need to take it apart (if you can) and then move each part separately.

On the other hand, headboards will require attaching a separate bed frame to hold the mattress. Headboards are easier to move around than beds. You can purchase a bed frame that hides underneath your mattress so that the headboard is the only item that you see around your bed. Relocating a headboard and bed frame is typically easier because all you have to do is detach the headboard from the bed frame itself. You can also change out your headboard pretty easily if you want to change the decor style of your bedroom!

Beds are a bit more luxurious and give the bedroom a more complete look. Some people opt for beds in their master bedroom as it is the largest, and headboards in the secondary bedrooms have less space.

Know the Types of Beds Available

As you consider how to choose the right bed for your bedroom, you should know the best types of beds available for purchase. These are the most popular types of beds found in residential home interiors.

Platform Beds

Platform beds are great because they don’t require a box spring. They come in a variety of styles to suit your bedroom decor theme. Platform beds typically sit very low off the ground so you’ll have to buy risers if you need room for storage underneath your bed. Because of their boxy nature, platforms are often associated with mid-century modern design. It is often made of wood and finished in a warm brown hue.

Canopy Beds

Canopy beds are great for bedrooms with high ceilings. Canopy beds feature four poles at each corner of the bed connected by four beams. The beams are sometimes left bare and other times, sheer curtains are hung from them, giving privacy to the bed itself. This is definitely one of the larger choices for a bedroom so make sure your room is quite spacious!

Four Poster Beds

Poster beds or four-poster beds are made with four poles at each corner. Poster beds date back to the 16th century. The posters at each corner are typically curved, giving them a traditional look.

Sleigh Beds

These are best for master bedrooms! Sleigh beds have a large, arched headboard and typically a smaller arched footboard. Modern sleigh beds are sometimes without the extra footboard. If you love the old-fashioned look of a sleigh bed, then be prepared to use the extra footage in your bedroom as these beds take up a lot of space!

Trundle Beds

Trundle beds are great for creating an extra bed when you need one for guests. A trundle bed is simply a bed that has a pull-out bed underneath it.

Murphy Beds

Murphy beds are great for guest rooms and small spaces. They are beds that are stored vertically when not in use and fold down from the wall when needed.

Daybeds

A daybed is a twin-sized bed that can double as a sofa. It works great in narrow rooms, as the long side of the bed is supposed to go against a wall. The headboard and footboard are the same height and do not touch any wall in most cases.

Bunk Beds

Bunk beds are great for guest rooms and kids’ rooms. While the traditional bunk bed was built to accommodate children in two twin-sized beds one on top of the other, these days you can find all sorts of bunk beds to suit your needs! You could find a bunk bed with a full-sized bed underneath or a twin-sized bed rotated to form an L-shaped bed. You can also install built-in bunk beds.

Lofted Beds

A lofted bed is great for studios and small spaces. It is similar to the bunk bed, but instead of featuring a second bed on the lower level, it has either an empty space or an attached desk below. This is a great space-optimizing solution for your bedroom or studio.

Consider Popular Bed Materials

Your bed or headboard can be made out of many different materials. Here are a few common ideas for what kind of bed to choose for your home:

Iron Beds

An iron bed is great for a farmhouse bedroom. They give a vintage appeal and look. They are also much easier to clean and take care of than a fabric headboard which tends to attract dust!

Popular iron beds:

Wood Beds

Wood beds are great for mid-century and farmhouse bedrooms. The earthy brown colors can evoke an aura of warmth and calmness inside your bedroom.

Our wood bed selection:

Fabric Beds

Many different fabrics can be used for beds and headboards. This could include velvet, cotton, or linen to name a few! Fabric beds and headboards are great for when you want a comfortable place to lean up against while sitting up in bed.

A few highly-rated fabric beds:

Think About Your Future Bed Accessories

Once you’ve decided on a bed, there are a few bed accessories you’ll need to consider purchasing.

• Box Spring: Box springs are commonly used for support and height for your mattress. They raise your mattress up so you are not getting into bed at a very low height from the ground.
• Mattress: Of course, you can’t purchase a bed without thinking about the mattress you will put on it! From firm to plush, everyone has a different preference when it comes to mattresses. The best American mattress brands will help you decide what’s right for your body.
• Bedding: Several sets of bed sheets and comforters will be necessary for your bed, as well. We recommend purchasing linen sheets or cotton bedding for the spring and summer, and flannel sheets for the cold winters!
• Pillows: It’s a good idea to buy at least two pillows for each bed in your home!

Beyond those bedroom necessities, you’ll want to consider purchasing the following additional bedroom products to make your bedroom even more functional:

• Under-bed Storage Bins: These are great for taking advantage of the space beneath your bed. You can store off-season clothing and coats in these bins and free up some space in your closet!
• Bed Risers: If you have a low-to-the-ground bed, you may wish to purchase risers to place beneath the feet and rise the bed up further above ground.

I hope this post was helpful in your bed-buying process! Let us know your thoughts and questions in the comments below.