Modern Bedroom Furniture

Modern Bedroom Furniture

If you stop and consider that most of us spend about 8 hours a day/night in our bedrooms then you will understand how important it is to have a bedroom set that is not just functional but also pleasing to look at.
Today, modern bedroom furniture offers us a wide variety of styles to choose from and we often can find ourselves wondering just what look we’re trying to create in our bedrooms. Since the bedroom is supposed to be a place where we rest and relax and prepare our bodies for another hard day, the furniture we choose for our bedrooms must be comfortable as well.

Beds/Styles
Air Beds



You may find yourself wondering why anyone would buy an air bed versus a standard mattress. In fact, they can be easily adjusted to conform to the firmness you desire, they’re lighter weight, they’re typically of high quality (as many are designed for outdoor use) and they are very comfortable as they conform to your body and typically reduce the pressure point pain that many suffer in the morning.
A good air mattress may also come with a foam topper (though other toppers are available) and they’re often a great solution to have on hand in the event that a sudden guest arrives or if you’re living in a really small apartment. Most air beds come in the same standard sizes as a regular mattress and some even offer individual ‘zone’s’ that can be adjusted for two people. Air mattresses never have to be turned; they’re lightweight and easy to move as well!




Bunk beds are one of the most user friendly pieces of furniture for those who have a little bit of room that they need to fit more than one person in! From sleeping two or sleeping three, bunk beds fit into a room that is limited on floor space and are especially great for children. Bunk beds do have to be used safely and this is important whether you’re using the beds for adults and children. Make sure that ladders are sturdy and that they’re safe and meet or exceed weight requirements.


Cabin Beds

Cabin beds are also known as ‘captains beds’ or ‘log cabin’ beds and are best described as a bed that supplies often much needed storage areas underneath the foundation/mattress. Cabin beds got their name because they were designed originally to be used in the captain’s quarters on board ships where space was often limited and storage areas were needed for personal items. Today, captain beds are increasing in popularity for both children and adults bedrooms as a means of providing extra storage space especially in homes with smaller rooms.
Canopy Beds/Poster Beds

Canopy beds are typically metal but may also be made of wood and they have a cloth canopy overhead. Canopy beds may come in a variety of sizes and styles and the canopy may also be purchased separately. Canopy beds are created from a standard bed frame with posts that form the canopy and you can even build your own if you are the do it yourself type. Today canopy beds are typically considered to be luxury items in years past they were designed for durability and practicality to help keep bugs out of the beds and also to provide privacy in rooms where many people might be sleeping. Canopy beds are almost all king or queen sized though they can be purchased as twins or full sized as well.
Futon Beds
Originally a Japanese mainstay, futons have become more and more popular in our culture. Western style futons have little in common with their Japanese counterparts which were originally designed to help with limited space. Futons offer an added benefit as many of them double up as seating space after being used for sleeping space thanks to their forgiving mattress (which is typically more like a pad than a mattress). These space saving pieces of modern furniture may be used as a couch during the day and a bed in the evening. Most futons tend to be not particularly comfortable due to the thin material that is often used to fill them however, since they’ve gained in popularity they are more commonly filled with foam or even with the more expensive memory foam. When shopping for a futon make sure you know exactly what you are buying since often the frames come without any type of padding or covers and may have to be purchased separately.

Loft Beds

You may think that given the name that a loft bed is built to be used in a loft. This would be an incorrect assumption. Loft beds are constructed from wood or from metal and are clearly defined as a raised sleeping surface with empty space underneath. They are especially good for rooms that may have a small footprint but have high ceilings and are built so that the space below can be used for storage and some even have storage features built into them. The loft bed is similar to a bunk bed without the lower sleeping surface. Loft beds have far less support underneath them than a bunk bed does and therefore safety becomes critical. Children should be over the age of six before they have a loft bed and one must guarantee that weight specifications are appropriate for anyone sleeping in a loft bed. Commonly these beds are available in twin, queen or full size and are often used in college dorm rooms to utilize the space below them as work space.
Murphy Beds (wall beds)

Built to allow those with small areas to hide their bed away when they were entertaining in limited spaces, the Murphy bed is increasingly popular in city apartments where space is an issue. Two styles of Murphy Beds are available, the style where the whole bed folds down from a wall or the closet style where the doors open and the bed folds out from inside. While today’s Murphy Bed is not much like its original design, today these beds offer high quality design and a rich choice of finishes that allow you to incorporate them into your decor without anyone ever knowing there is a bed contained in the unit.

While these beds are able to be built from kits or plans, you should exercise all safety precautions when constructing one. Some places even offer Murphy Beds for your pet!



Platform Beds
This very minimalist design is often combined with a futon or memory foam mattress. Lighter weight than their counterparts, platform beds consist of no box spring and often are without head boards or foot boards and sometimes are raised to provide some under-bed storage. Platform beds are generally used when the traditional Zen or Japanese theme is desired.
Sleep Number Beds

The ‘newest’ bed on the market this bed is designed with air pockets instead of traditional mattresses with an adjustable setting from very soft to very firm depending on the users requirements. Some sleep number beds also have individual controls for two people who are sharing a bed. Many high quality hotels and resorts are using this type of bed as an additional ‘perk’ for their guests.
Sleigh Beds


Very popular in the United States, these beds originated in Europe. These beds consist of a large headboard with a smaller footboard that are curved and generally roll slightly outwards. These beds often have wooden bars or slats along the side and are almost always wood. The prominent headboards and footboards usually mean they’re best suited for a very large room as they do dominate the entire room due to their size.





Sofa Beds


Still the choice of those who may need to make a spare bed available to a guest with no or short notice, the sofa bed is typically larger than a settee (which seats two), although some designs now come in ‘chair sized’. Designs vary on sofa beds from those that simply slide or those where the backs fold down. Some sofa beds are extremely heavy and often are complicated to operate. Having enough internal space to hold bedding, store pillows and hold the mattress/spring combination often make these beds heavy and unwieldy. The sofa bed today however can even be purchased as a completely inflatable unit! Sofa beds come in a variety of prices, styles and comfort levels. If you know you’re going to need additional space for a guest it is strongly recommended that you go the extra mile and buy the higher quality sofa bed as it will last longer than some of the less expensive models. On the other hand if you’re only going to use this bed very rarely, a less expensive model may be equally appropriate.
Trundle Beds

Another space saver, the trundle bed basically slides under a larger bed and simply slides out for use when you have an overnight guest. Trundle beds are often used in combination with a day bed but it’s important to understand that not all trundle beds will fit under just any bed. Carefully measure fit before purchasing or even better, purchase the set of the bed with attached trundle. Some pop up while others slide out (the underside is hollow). These beds typically do not have boxed spring’s, they simply are platforms with mattresses on top of them. The trundle is typically outfitted with wheels to make it easier to use.
Water Beds

A popular piece of bedroom furniture these beds are available in sizes ranging from super singles to kings. The idea is that the water filled mattress (which acts similar to memory foam) reduces pressure on your body as you sleep. These vinyl mattresses often don’t collect dust or dust mites and may be very helpful to people who suffer allergies. There are a number of accessories for water beds including puncture repair kits, conditioner to prevent the build up of bacteria inside the mattress and heaters. Waterbeds require a very solid frame to support their weight and floor construction must be looked into. Contrary to what some believe, water beds are unlikely to make you feel seasick since they are designed to avoid any type of wave motion even if filled to only seventy five percent of their capacity and while a water bed certainly may be punctured, this isn’t done easily. It is however prudent to keep a repair kit on hand. Waterbeds come in a variety of sizes and even shapes and can provide a very good nights rest.
Beds/Mattresses

Today we have a variety of not just sizes of beds but a variety of frames, styles and colors to choose from. A good quality bed lasts on average eight to ten years (at least the mattress). Most states prohibit the resale of used mattresses due to the health hazards such as dust mites and others. There are safety requirements that must be adhered to when mattresses are constructed and you should inquire about those standards in your area.
Beds come in a variety of sizes and it’s typically recommended that you purchase the largest bed you can afford and that will fit into your bedroom. Sizes are generally standardized if you purchase US mattresses but if you’re purchasing a mattress from the UK you may find that the sizes vary considerably. Some manufacturers often ‘slice’ off a bit of length from a mattress to save costs of production while others may add additional padding making the mattress not only more comfortable but also a little larger.
You’d be wise to measure any mattress before buying sheets for them but here are the ‘standard’ sizes of mattresses:
Type US Size (Length/Width) UK Size (Length/Width)
Twin / Single 75” X 39” 75”X36”
Twin Extra Long 80” X 39”
Full / Double 75” X 54” 75”X54”
Queen 80” X 60”
King 80” X 76” 78”X60”
California King 84” X 72” *Super King* 78”X72”
Typically a twin bed is used for a child’s room or for a guest room. Most adults find that a full (or double) bed is not large enough for both of them to sleep comfortably. The queen sized bed is often the choice of couples although in some cases it may not be large enough to accommodate them comfortably. King Sized beds are a great option for most adults and California Kings which tend to be slightly narrower than a King Sized bed they’re longer and therefore often the choice for taller people.
Mattresses are very expensive. Since mattresses are generally expected to last ten years as a rule however, the cost effectiveness cannot be denied! If you simply can’t afford to purchase a brand new high end mattress immediately you can opt to put a high quality mattress ‘topper’ (or pad) on your bed to get a little extra comfort for a little longer! This certainly won’t work if your mattress is completely gone but if you still have some fair amount of wear left in an already aging mattress this can be a good stop gap between replacing a mattress and saving a few dollars.
Buying Pillows

You’re probably wondering where pillows came from in a discussion about bedroom furniture. Your mattress could be the most comfortable, high quality mattress available but the wrong pillow can ruin what would otherwise be a great night’s sleep! Many of us run to our local discount store and grab a couple of pillows on sale and assume that a pillow is a pillow. Like everything else, pillows come in a variety of sizes and firmness. You’ll know when you need to replace your pillow when you fold it in half and it doesn’t spring back (or springs back very slowly). You could generally consider replacing your pillow at least every couple of years, but if you’ve purchased a low quality pillow you may find you need to replace it a lot sooner.
Pillows come generally as firm or soft and may be filled with a variety of items including natural and synthetic ones. Pillows may be filled with husks and seeds which provide firm support but mold to the sleepers shape (and are less prone to mites), cotton which is perfect for those who suffer allergies, feathers which are less expensive than their down counterparts. Natural fillings tend to last a little longer and are generally higher in quality than synthetic filled pillows. Synthetic fillings include those that are meant to duplicate their higher priced natural filling counterparts. Synthetic fillings tend to be less costly, more suitable for allergy sufferers, are easier to maintain (as they are often washable) and can be incredibly durable if you buy a high quality. Memory foam synthetic pillow filling is gaining in popularity as it can offer not only support but a great deal of comfort.
Dressers

With space always at a premium you may opt to select dressers that will actually fit in a closet or in a relatively small space. Often storage chests are options that are perfect for those who simply do not have the room for a full sized dresser and the cost is substantially less than a full sized dresser. Another reason that these pieces can be so versatile is that they can service dual purposes – not only for storing clothing or other items but also used as night tables or even end tables to place a clock or a lamp on to put near your bed. In addition, these chests are often much smaller than a full sized dresser, lightweight for easier moving and they are generally very sturdy and will last a long time!
One of the bonuses offered with storage chests that that they are often made of transparent or translucent drawers which make them even more useful since you no longer need to try to remember what you put in each drawer – therefore in the long run they can save you a lot of time. These are great alternatives for children, first time renters and even more useful for college students since they are portable and easy to move. Storage chests come in a variety of sizes and are made from a variety of materials from sturdy poly-plastics to heavier wooden units.
If you’re more interested in a dresser because you have the space you can often match a dresser (or set of them) to your bed and night tables. Dressers should be well constructed and the drawers should fit into it properly. Whether you opt for a ‘low boy’ or a ‘high boy’ you will want to estimate how much storage space you’re anticipating gaining from the dresser before you purchase it.

Low boy dressers are defined by the fact that they are typically waist high (or slightly higher) and may contain as few as four drawers and as many as twelve (though six and eight are more common). These units allow for a lot of storage if the drawers are deep enough and often the drawers are longer than they are wide allowing for more separation of various types of clothing. Low boys are typically available in colors and finishes that will match both your bed frame and night tables.

The high boy dresser is the one that is most commonly seen in smaller rooms as they have a smaller footprint and take up less floor space but will provide the same (and in some cases more) amount of storage as a low boy with more dressers. These dressers are typically chest high and often contain an odd number of drawers, ranging from 3 to 9 (though 5 or 7 are most common). These complimentary pieces are perfect if you’re decorating a room that has two windows close together, often the tall boy will fit nicely between them.

An armoire is a very versatile piece of furniture that offers many of the same benefits of a closet while adding the storage space of a dresser. These are perfect pieces for those homes who may have limited closet space and not a lot of extra floor space to accommodate multiple dressers. Armoires can be very plain, blending in with a room or they may be very decorative pieces that are elaborate in design (but often do not have as much storage space as their plainer counterparts.

Armoires are suitable for any bedroom and they may occasionally be found in a common living area and used for basic storage. Most bedroom sets have an optional armoire that will complement the overall look of the complete set and many manufacturers offer armoires specially designed for children’s rooms as well.


Nightstands almost always round out the modern bedroom and offer a variety of styles from very plain tables to night tables with drawers. Depending on your storage needs you may want to consider the tables with drawers. While most night stands will have only one drawer, many manufacturers offer them with upwards of 3 drawers and that can be an extra source of storage when rounding out your bedroom.
Bedding and Linens

Selecting new sheets and comforters or bedspreads can add entirely new life to your bedroom. Because of the variety of sheets that are available you are strongly encouraged to measure your mattress before you go shopping for them! Don’t forget when you are out searching for bed linens that you are going to be sleeping on these sheets and they’ll be touching your skins for hours on end. You’ll want a fabric that helps keep moisture away from your skin, dries quickly and feels good. Sheets are available in a variety of fabrics including polyester blends (which tend to wrinkle less, be warm and unfortunately tend to pill), linen, cotton or even a blend of linen and cotton. The best sheets get softer and more comfortable as you wash them! There is nothing quite like Egyptian cotton sheets which can feel very soft and silky after multiple washings. Check labels carefully for fabric content, too often, labels are misleading. You want to make sure that when you wash these bed sheets they do not pill. When you buy sheets that have a high thread count, avoid using harsh detergents, use fabric softener if you have hard water and wash them in the gentle cycle (unless you’re a heavy sweater then they may need a heaver washing). Avoid drying sheets at a high temperature and if at all possible, remove them from the dry while they are just a little bit damp which will help you avoid wrinkles and allow them to dry themselves (better yet, hang them outside). All bedding should be washed once a week. Bed sheets come in a variety of colors and you can select from solids or prints and refresh the look of your room by simply changing them!

Another popular fabric for bed sheets is silk. Silk sheets and pillow cases offer not only a luxurious feel but silk is also hypoallergenic meaning that they can be perfect for those who suffer severe allergies. Silk also holds heat very effectively and therefore you can use a lighter weight blanket even on the coldest of nights. The biggest downside to real silk bed linens is that they are very costly but if you can afford them they are more than worth the price. Silk is readily available in a variety of solid colors (prints are less common and typically more expensive).

Blankets come in a wide variety of fabrics including cotton blends, fleece and wool or you can select an electric blanket. Cotton and cotton blend blankets are not only comfortable but typically they are comfortable and durable. Fleece blankets are easy to care for, they don’t pill up like some blend blankets and are very popular for use with babies and children because they are very soft, warm and extremely durable. Wool blankets are a perfect solution to cold climates since they offer superior warmth. Electric blankets are perfect for colder climates as well since temperature can be adjusted to suit individual needs and many offer dual controls, are light weight and some are even available as wireless blankets. All blankets are available in a variety of solid and prints designed to suit any decor!
Comforters can be the highlight of any bedroom. Available in beautiful colors and prints and many are even reversible giving you two totally different looks. You can make a huge difference in the way your room looks by simply adding a new comforter and matching pillow shams. A variety of fabrics from rich silks and durable cottons to the newer micro-fiber comforters which are gaining in popularity due to their incredible softness and durability make a comforter a great addition to any modern bedroom.

Whether a comforter matches your sheets, your carpeting or your curtains they also are designed to provide additional comfort and warmth on cold nights and come in a variety of fillings from natural down to polyester blend fillings. Be sure to read care instructions carefully when purchasing your comforter as you can easily ruin a beautiful comforter by not cleaning it properly.
Remodeling or designing the perfect modern bedroom takes careful planning but should also be a fun and rewarding experience. Experiment by designing your perfect bedroom online and shopping online for complimentary bedroom furniture to suit your needs.