Bedsteads, Bed Frames and Bases
The Popularity of Bedsteads With its Variations
A bedstead is also popularly known as bed frame. It is an important part of the bed. A bedstead is used to position a mattress or foundation set off the floor. Bedsteads are usually constructed of metal or wood to give it hardness and durability. It is typically made of three parts- a head, a foot and the side rails.
All king and queen sized beds along with most of the double (full) sized beds need some sort of center support rail, mostly along with extra feet extending down to the floor. There are three types of bedsteads- Platform, Captain and Waterbed, which are meant to provide different facilities. Thus, a person can choose a bed frame according to his or her requirements from the different variations available of Bedsteads.
Platform Bed Frames: A platform is the most basic and simple of all the bed frames. In its typical form it supports only a mattress. There are also some platform beds which use a box spring. A platform is also usually the most economical of all bed frames.
Captain Bed Frames: The people who live in compact places want to utilize each and every space that is available. They prefer this type of bedstead as it is a space utility bed frame. The space between the floor and the bed frame is constructively utilized by filling it with a set of drawers. These drawers are mostly filled with bed linens, bed covers and extra pillows.
Waterbed Bed Frames: This is a very tough and durable type of bed frame. It has slats and heavy duty rails built specifically for the purpose of supporting the weight of the water which is filled in the mattress. Thus, waterbed may be the costliest variety of bed frames.
Though, headboards, footboards and bed rails do not strictly come under the definition of a bed frame, still their mention is necessary for they form the basic part of a bedstead. Both headboards and footboards can be made either of wood or of metal to give strength and support to the main body of bed frames.
These headboards and footboards are stained, painted or covered with leather or fabric to make it look more attractive also to protect the wooden or metal body from stains, oxidations etc. Bed rails are generally made only of metal (steel or iron) to give it strength.
Most of the bed frames are constructed in such a manner so that they can accommodate headboards only. These types of bed frames do not have the facility to attach footboards. If someone desires to have a footboard as well as a headboard then he will have to buy specially designed frames that have attachment facilities at both ends.
The beds that have both headboards and footboards included or attached to them have frames made up of bed rails. These head rails are fixed to the footboards and headboards with slats positioned in the direction perpendicular to the bed rails to support and hold the bed.