Understanding And Appreciating Bed Frames

When considering the purchase of a bed and its frame, it's always good to learn a few facts and features of bed frames, if only to learn how very important a frame has been to the development of the kinds of beds that allow people to get the kind of quality sleep they can get these days. A frame is made to keep a mattress set secure and off the floor, at minimum, and it succeeds quite well at this.

These frames are made in a variety of materials, though it's usually the case that they're normally made of either metal or wood. Typically, there are several different components to a frame, including side rails (which are usually made of what metalsmiths call "angle iron"), foot rails and head rails. The mattress set will sit on the ledge that the side rails provide.

It's important to understand that as a bed gets larger (meaning wider and longer) the more support at the center of the frame is going to be needed. If the central support is missing or inadequate, the box spring and mattress will generally start sagging and will eventually fail, dropping someone onto the floor. Also, understand that most frames are made to have a headboard affixed to them.

Generally speaking -- unless the frame has been specifically designed for one -- most will not come with the ability to have footboards affixed to them. If one is desired, make sure that the frame that is being purchased will have the right kinds of fittings at the foot so that the footboards can be easily joined to it.

Many frames are made in a wide variety of metal, no matter whether they're popular or contemporary frames or more traditional types. A bed and frame that's been around for years and which never seems to lose its appeal is the brass bed (though the rails are usually made of steel). All quality brass beds should be composed of 100% brass, by the way, in their headboards and footboards.

Another extremely sturdy bed that first hit the scene way back in 1850 and which has been around in one form or another since then is the iron bed. Back then, whole industries existed that turned out very finely-detailed and exquisite beds of this type, though the advent of World War I and the rise of mass production saw many boutique foundries unable to keep up, eventually going out of business.

These pre-World War I bed frames and beds are widely recognized as being some of the most detailed and heaviest beds around. Now, modern versions of these beds can be made at much lower relative costs and with nearly the detail and craftsmanship that once were hallmarks of these little boutique foundries. As for what to look for, it's smart to always check any frame over before it's purchased.

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