subject: Modern Beds And Bed Varieties [print this page] A modern bed is more than just a piece of furniture in the home, it is a household item in which we spend some of our most vulnerable and intimate times.
Most beds in the 21st century consist of the bed frame and the mattress, with the mattress sitting on top of a solid base made of either a sprung base or wooden slats. Most modern beds also include the option of a headboard for resting against and medical beds can even include side rails and in some cases both types of beds also include footboards. Beds that have headboards also normally have bed skirts which double up as dust covers that both protect and hide the actual bed frame under the mattress.
Bed Accessories
We all use them and all know them, but for continuities sake we will still list the most important bed and mattress accessories which are:
Pillows Used to provide greater neck and head support
Bedding These are used to insulate the person sleeping and include everything from sheets, quilts, duvets and woolen or knitted blankets
Did you know? In some Asian cultures people have historically not used bed frames. These platform beds are especially common in Japan and use a futon mattress!
Bed Varieties from around the world
There are a number of different bed and mattress types that are used around the world, including (but not limited to) the following bed types:
Air Beds:
Air beds use a mattress that is air-inflated. In many cases these beds also have a small electric air pump that allows one to change the firmness of the mattress. This type of bed is not to be mistaken for the well known portable air mattress which is used as a travel bed or to sleep temporary guests in a house.
Box Beds:
Box beds are a Scottish bed oddity and are often found in cottages outside of the major metropolitan areas of Scotland. They consist of a wooden box big enough to hold a mattress, a roof, 4 sides and sliding panels. The term box bed in other countries is also sometimes used to describe a space saving bed that can fold up into a box.
Bunk Beds:
Bunk beds are a childhood favourite and include two or more beds assembled one on top of the other.
Loft Beds:
Loft beds are similar to the bunk bed mentioned above, but do not have a lower bed. This space is used instead for storage or as a play area.
Captains Bed:
A captain's bed looks like a normal frame bed, but has storage drawers built into the base. This type of bed is often referred to as a chest or cabin bed.
Camp Beds:
A camp bed (also "cot") is a simple, temporary, portable bed used by armies and large organizations in times of crisis.
