Styles of Beds

Four-Poster Beds

• One of the most traditional styles of beds is the four-poster bed. This design features four columns, one at each corner of the bed. They often support a canopy and sometimes feature curtains that can be drawn around the bed. This luxurious style became popular in the 16th century.

Platform Beds

• Platform beds are popular in modern design. The mattress is situated, as the name indicates, on a low platform that sometimes extends beyond its edges. They are available in a variety of materials, including wood and metal. The sleek look of a platform bed complements minimalist décor.

Bed With Storage

• A variant of the platform bed includes drawers or cabinets beneath the mattress for extra storage space. These beds are a practical option for small apartments that lack closet space, or for a child's room to provide extra storage for toys and games.

Day Beds and Futons

• Day beds and futons become sofas when they are not in use. Many people use these beds for guest rooms so the room can double as an office or exercise room, for example. Urban dwellers with small studio apartments often purchase futons so their living room can double as the bedroom.

Murphy Beds

• Murphy beds can literally disappear into the wall. This bed is hinged at one end and folds into a vertical compartment. Murphy beds are another excellent space-saving solution but may prove cumbersome with daily use.

Bunk Beds

• Popular in children's rooms and dorm rooms alike, bunk beds can be stacked, one on top of the other. It is also possible to raise a bed in this fashion and use the space beneath as an office or storage area. Bunk beds usually include ladders for reaching the top bed.