A bed frame or bedstead is the part of a bed used to position the

bed base A bed base, sometimes called a foundation, is the part of a bed that supports the mattress. The bed base can itself be held in place and framed by the bedstead ( bed frame). In the United States, box-spring bed bases are very common (to the p ...

, the flat part which in turn directly supports the

mattress A mattress is a large, usually rectangular pad for supporting a person Lying (position), lying down, especially for sleeping. It is designed to be used as a bed, or on a bed frame as part of a bed. Mattresses may consist of a Quilting, quilted o ...

(es). The frame may also stop the mattress from sliding sideways, and it may include means of supporting a canopy above. There are several types of Bed Frames found around the globe. They are typically made of

wood Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

. A bed frame includes head, foot, and side rails. The majority of double (full) beds and all queen- and king-sized beds necessitate a central support rail, often accompanied by additional feet that extend towards the floor for stability. The concept of a "bed frame" was initially introduced and referred to between 1805 and 1815. This foundational support system not only reinforces the structure of the bed but also ensures its durability and longevity, distributing weight evenly to prevent sagging and enhance overall comfort. Not all beds include frames: see

Early bed frames

Some of the earliest bed frames are known from the Sumerian culture.

Ancient Egyptian Ancient Egypt () was a cradle of civilization concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. It emerged from prehistoric Egypt around 3150BC (according to conventional Egyptian chronology), when Upper and Lower E ...

beds have been found in well-preserved condition, dating to well over 6000 years before the present time. The bed frames of the early dynastic period are made of wood and can vary in craftsmanship from mere branches lashed together, to fine works of art.

Brass beds

Brass beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of

brass Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in proportions which can be varied to achieve different colours and mechanical, electrical, acoustic and chemical properties, but copper typically has the larger proportion, generally copper and zinc. I ...

; the frame rails are usually made of

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

. The ratio of metals may vary between manufacturers. Initially, brass beds boasted a minimalist and straightforward design. Throughout the centuries, designs have become increasingly elaborate and can contain extensive ornamentation, such as

porcelain Porcelain (), also called china, is a ceramic material made by heating Industrial mineral, raw materials, generally including kaolinite, in a kiln to temperatures between . The greater strength and translucence of porcelain, relative to oth ...

finial A finial () or hip-knob is an element marking the top or end of some object, often formed to be a decorative feature. In architecture, it is a small decorative device, employed to emphasize the Apex (geometry), apex of a dome, spire, tower, roo ...

s. Some brass bed styles include traditional,

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...

, Victorian, transitional,

Edwardian In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian era was a period in the early 20th century that spanned the reign of King Edward VII from 1901 to 1910. It is commonly extended to the start of the First World War in 1914, during the early reign of King Ge ...

and contemporary. USMC-100306-M-2697B-006

Iron beds

Iron beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of iron; the frame rails are usually made of steel. Iron beds were developed in 17th century Italy to address concerns about infestation by bed bugs and moths. An iron

cradle Cradle or Cradles may refer to: * Cradle (bed) * Bassinet, a small bed, often on rockers, in which babies and small children sleep Mechanical devices * Cradle (circus act), or aerial cradle or casting cradle used in an aerial circus act * Crad ...

(with dangerously pointed corner posts) has been dated to 1620–1640. From the start of their production in the 1850s until

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, iron beds were handmade. The manufacturing process included hand pouring and polishing intricately detailed casting and hand applying finishes. In the many small foundries of the time that employed only a small number of employees, it could take days to produce a single bed. Following the conclusion of

, the methodologies employed for mass production during the war had a substantial impact on the iron industry. The erstwhile handmade craftsmanship gradually yielded to the adoption of cost-efficient mass production techniques. Today's iron beds are constructed of cold roll, heavy-gauge steel tubing and solid

bar stock Bar stock, also (colloquially) known as blank, slug or billet, is a common form of raw purified metal, used by industry to manufacture metal parts and products. Bar stock is available in a variety of extrusion shapes and lengths. The most commo ...

. Almost all iron beds now have a beech wood sprung slatted base in a steel framework which gives support to all types of mattresses.

Wooden drawer beds

These beds have a wooden framework resembling a box, designed to accommodate the mattress within a carved-out space, and have wooden drawers beneath the mattress area.

Early bed frames

Brass beds

Iron beds

Wooden drawer beds

See also

References

Further reading