A bed frame, also called a bedstead, is the part of a bed used to position the mattress and base. It includes head, foot and side rails of the bed.
Wood is one of the most common, oldest and preferred materials for making furniture. It suits a wide range of styles like rustic, vintage, country, and cottage and can be carved, cut, painted to make beautiful pieces.
What are the different types of wood for bed frames?
There is a wide range of woods available for building various types of furnishings. Each type of wood has its own unique characteristics, which in turn can add different degrees of warmth, emphasis, and beauty to its surrounding decor.
The types of woods are classified broadly as softwoods and hardwoods. Softwoods are woods of conifers trees and hardwoods are woods of flowering trees. Softwoods grow faster and are easily available whereas hardwoods come from those trees that produce their seeds and drop leaves every season. The most popular softwoods are cedar, white pine, yellow pine, and most popular hardwoods are birch, cherry, ebony, mahogany, maple, oak, poplar and teak. Hardwoods are considered the best woods for beds.
Things to know before buying a wooden bed
Here is a list of criteria that we should take into consideration before buying a wooden bed.
Comfort: Comfort is the most important criteria when buying a bed as unless and until the bed is comfortable, one can’t enjoy sleeping on it.
Bed Size: The general rule of thumb is to buy the biggest bed that can fit into the room. So, one must be equipped with all the dimensions of the room before buying a bed.
Use: Though beds are used for sleeping on they can be made to use as storage, beds with computers, beds with plasma TVs or extra sleeping space for kids. So, one must keep in mind what extra use one wants from their beds before buying them.
Price: Beds are available in a wide range of budgets. So, before buying a bed one should be clear about their price range.
Research and test-rest: It is always advisable to perform some research and test-rest various types of beds before finalizing one as it will go a long way to saving time and money for the future.
Which Wood to consider for bed?
India is globally accredited with traditional woodworking art without any use of advanced machinery. When it comes to selecting the wood type everyone has their own choice as no type can be considered a real winner. In the furniture industry, in India and globally, Sheesham wood makes for an excellent choice. Sheesham also is known as Indian Rosewood is a deciduous rosewood tree that is native to the Indian Sub-continent and Southern Iran. The best furniture brands in India would vouch for Sheesham wood. It is the best wood for bed in India for a variety of reasons as mentioned below.
Texture: Sheesham has a natural grain and marking with the chestnut color which gives it a royal and grand appearance. Sheesham is basically brownish in color, but some varieties have darker veining and rich grain patterns. Though color varies depending on the species, Sheesham wood is strong, heavy and highly durable.
Appearance: Sheesham wood consists of natural wood markings, visible as dark streaks. It contains interlocked grains, giving it a beautiful appearance.
Water & Termite Resistance: Sheesham has a highwater-holding capacity and is very flexible. Sheesham wood is decay-resistant, which makes it durable to all weather conditions. It is one of the timbers least susceptible to dry-wood termites.
Best carving alternative: Sheesham is the best hardwood available for carving as it never warps, bends, or splits during the carving process.The furniture made by Sheeshamlooks better and distinguished.
Longevity: The Sheesham trees produce wood that is heavy and dense. Sheesham wood is naturally resistant to dry termite attacks and is anti-bacterial, which adds to its longevity.
Economical: Sheesham wood is very economical as it does not require any special maintenance or care and can easily be cleaned by simply wiping with a dry cotton cloth.
Maintenance: Sheeshamhas to be polished, waxed and maintained well to make it long-lasting. Sheesham wood takes well to polish and finishes to a smooth surface. It is recommended to use beeswax every three months to retain the sheen of the wood.
Conclusion: We spend one-third of our lives in bed, so we must make it as comfortable as we can. It is a known fact that a good night’s sleep is essential for a good day ahead. A bed is a long term investment, so buying a bed requires a lot of planning. With online furniture portals, we get a chance to compare and decide before making a final decision which suits our budget and needs.