A guide to bedroom furniture
A brief history of beds and bedroom furniture
One of the great pleasures of modern life is to slip between the sheets of a comfortable bed. A supportive mattress and a soft duvet can be the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life. When these are part of a beautiful bedroom suite, complemented by attractive , you have the ideal sanctuary in which to recharge.
Few of us probably consider how beds and bedrooms developed, but its history is long and fascinating. Having a room set aside to sleep in is a relatively recent phenomenon for most people. Our ancestors were rarely so lucky. The oldest mattress ever found dates back 77,000 years, consisting of layers of plant material gathered into mats. These were periodically burned, probably because of infestation. They might look rustic to our eyes but nevertheless, they were a lot more comfortable than sleeping on the cold hard ground.
It was the ancient civilisations of Egypt, Greece and Rome who first developed something resembling a modern bed. Woven metal supports would hold your straw-stuffed mattress, and you'd sleep under a woollen blanket. If you were a relatively wealthy Roman, you might even have your own bedroom to retire to after a long day.
For much of history since ancient times, ordinary people slept on wooden pallets filled with rough straw mattresses, usually in the corner of their main living space. This living space would be shared with the rest of the family, and probably your livestock. Comfortable beds, mattresses and bedrooms to sleep in were the preserve of the wealthy.
Through the Medieval and Early Modern periods beds became more elaborate and luxurious and were a status symbol as well as somewhere comfortable to sleep. Expensive furniture became a must-have in the wealthier home. If you were very rich, this may be made with materials found overseas. Wealthy people would often have their servants sleeping in the same room as them.
By the 17th century it was common for middle-class homes to have at least one four-poster bed, and a separate bedroom to keep it in. The furnishings in the room were also becoming more luxurious, depending on where you were on the social scale. More people now had a comfortable bed to sleep in, even if they had to share it with other family members.
By the 18th century, beds and bedrooms were becoming more commonplace, and less ostentatious. That said, most people were still sleeping where they could, usually on makeshift beds, or sharing a bed with a number of siblings or other family members.
It was in the 19th century that bedrooms became much more like the bedrooms we know today. You could still find four-poster beds, but the posts were much smaller, and headboards and footboards had shrunk. Victorians loved their furniture, with heavy wardrobes, chests of drawers and Ottoman storage all appearing in middle-class homes. Some of this furniture remains in use as family heirlooms today. Few of us would want to sleep in their beds, however. It was during the 19th century that metal bedsprings to support the mattress were also invented, which made for a more comfortable night's sleep, but which squeaked anytime anyone moved.
As the size of the middle-class population grew, so too did the ubiquity of the bedroom.
As the 20th century began, and developed countries began clearing their high-density slums and replacing them with comfortable homes, increasing numbers of people began to have their own bedroom, or one they shared with close family members.
Bedroom furniture design, materials and technology also underwent a revolution throughout the course of the 20th century. Bedroom furniture now became more practical, affordable and comfortable. Manufacturing techniques brought it down in price. Today, most of us can enjoy a level of bedroom luxury that our ancestors could only dream of.
We have more choice than ever before when it comes to style of bed and mattress, and our bedroom furniture can reflect our personal taste. In the 21st century quality is paramount. There's also more awareness of design and environmental sustainability. We want furniture that looks good, reflects our lifestyle and doesn't cost the earth.
Why great bedroom furniture matters
Given how much time we spend in our bedrooms, it's one of the most important rooms in the house. As the place where we sleep it plays a primary role in our general wellbeing. The average person should sleep for 8 hours a day. Getting the right amount of sleep is key to how well we look, feel and function in the world. By making sure you have a clean, attractive environment to sleep in, and a comfortable mattress to sleep on, you can go a long way to ensuring your sleep is deep and unbroken.
As well as a place to sleep, it's also a place to relax. We can read, take time out, and pause for a moment or two in the day. It can be a place to enjoy personal space away from family life for a short while. With more of us working from home, it might also be a place to work.
Both the ability to sleep and having space apart to call our own is very important to our personal well-being. It helps us recharge our batteries, consider challenges we face in life, and generate new ideas to help us live happier lives. That's why you should make sure that you take time considering how you're going to furnish your bedroom. Fashions change, but quality is timeless.
How we furnish our bedrooms should reflect our personal tastes. Whether you like a minimal environment in which to sleep, or like to indulge in luxurious bedroom style, the right choice of furniture will help you create the perfect sanctuary.
Take your time
It's good to take some time to think about your bedroom, how you'd like it to look and feel, and the atmosphere you'd like to create. What sort of design helps you to relax? Which materials do you prefer? Do you like a bedroom that's cosy and filled with furniture, or do you prefer to keep your bedroom uncluttered?
When you've answered these and similar questions you can set about exploring some of the available range. At Oak Furniture House we have an incredibly wide range of wooden furniture in classic and contemporary designs.
Types of bed
The first and most important component of your perfect bedroom that you need to consider is the type of bed that will best match your needs. A lot will depend on the size of your bedroom, and your own particular requirements for a comfortable night's sleep.
Here's a quick guide to your options of beds:
Single beds
Usually the first type of bed we have as a child. Great for smaller rooms and in occasional guest bedrooms. The UK standard bed size for a single bed is 90cm x 190cm.
Small double
An increasingly popular alternative to the single bed, or as an occasional bed for guest rooms. Ideal for single people who want more space, or teenage children. The UK standard bed size for small double beds are 120cm x 190cm.
Double
The most popular type of bed in the UK. A standard double bed is 135cm in width, and 190cm in length according to UK standard bed sizes.
King size
An increasingly popular choice for couples, allowing more space and comfort for sleep, and for taller people who appreciate the extra length. The UK standard bed size for a king size bed is width of 150cm x 200cm length.
Super King-size
The super king size bed is a favourite choice when it comes to luxury and comfort. The largest bed size in the UK with a width of 180cm and a length of 200cm. If you need extra space and have a large enough bedroom, this is the option for you.
How to find the right type of bed for your bedroom
It's important to carefully choose the right kind of bed for your bedroom. The bed is the centrepiece of any bedroom. If your bed is too large for the room, it will completely dominate the space and limit the choice of bedroom furniture you can have. Similarly, a small bed in a large room can look lost, or something of an afterthought. Getting it right will make a huge difference to the overall look and feel of the room.
Here's some of the factors you should consider before purchasing a bed.
Design and style of your bedroom
What is your personal style preference? Do you prefer a stripped, back minimalist look when it comes your interior, or do you prefer something cosier? Perhaps you want all your bedrooms to be luxurious places to which you can retreat. The simple, classic look of the Atlanta Two Tone Painted King Size Bed can complement stripped wooden floors, and a Scandinavian style look.
If you've an eye for luxury, the lavish style of the Bentley Designs Chantilly White Panel Super King size could be ideal. There's urban designs, more traditional options and everything else in-between. Think about what you want, and then look online for inspiration. That way you'll have a room that looks cohesive rather than patched together.
Size and dimensions
The size of your bedroom should be taken into account when choosing the size of the bed. It's no good having a bed so large people need to squeeze around it when entering and leaving the room, nor should a bed look lost in a large room. Interior designers have come up with the 60-30-10 rule. Your bedroom furniture should take up no more than 60% of your bedroom space, 30% should be free space for moving around and the remaining 10% given over for miscellaneous bits and pieces. Measure your bedroom dimensions, and then work out what percentage of those dimensions your chosen bed will take up. If it's too high, you won't have much of that 60% left over for other types of bedroom furniture. If it seems low, you might want to consider buying a larger bed.
Age groups & ideal bed size
Depending on the age of the children and their personal preferences, you can always start your search with children's beds as the most obvious an option. A small child will be lost in a king size bed, an older teenager may well find a single bed too small. In which case, an older child may be more comfortable in a small or standard double. Increasingly, couples are preferring king size beds to standard doubles as they offer extra space and can make for a better night's sleep. If you're tall, the extra length of a king size bed might be necessary to ensure you're comfortable.
Cost
An important consideration when considering the right type of bed for your bedroom is cost. Generally, the larger the bed you opt for the more expensive it will be. Prices vary widely however, a size of bed that may be beyond your budget in one range could well be considerably cheaper in another. If you have some flexibility both about style and size of bed, you're more likely to find the ideal choice within your price range.
Bedding
