Metal beds have been in use for hundreds of years. The durability of the metal head and foot boards is exemplary, so one purchase ensures a bed for generations. At various times, owning a brass bed has been the epitome of fashion. Then the brass bed falls out of favor, and generally gets painted, usually white. By painting the brass, it no longer has to be polished to keep is bright. Then some lucky antique browser will buy the head and foot boards, strip the paint off and have a brass bed again. The cycle repeats itself.
Some metal beds come already painted, usually in a princess style for a little girl’s room. The documentation that comes with the bed should identify the metal the frame is made from. Whether it will be presentable if you strip the paint off is problematic. For one thing, factory applied paint should be baked on enamel to provide durability to the finish. This will also make it difficult to remove without making marks on the metal itself. It is unlikely that a bed painted at the factory is going to look very good unpainted. The best bet is too keep it painted, and change the color as needed to fit the changing decor of the room it is in.
Wrought iron metal beds are usually painted black. Instead of round rods forming the head and foot boards, like a brass bed, the wrought iron rods are usually made from square stock. The blacksmith or factory may twist the rod in the middle to give the head or foot board a spiral effect. Quire often the hollow square stock used for the end posts will have a brass finial added to finish off the piece. The wrought iron has to be painted every third decade or so to keep the iron from rusting and keep the bed looking good.
Silver colored metals can also be formed into beds. Aluminum is sometimes used, or the base metal frame may be plated in nickel to give the silver look. Both shiny and brushed nickel beds are available. There are also beds with a pewter finish. The choices are many, and include canopy beds too.
Metal side rails or a complete metal bed frame is needed with each set of head and foot boards. The metal bed frame actually hold the box springs and mattress up off of the floor, making the bed the normal height. This also allows for under bead storage, using wheeled boxes or perhaps a trundle bed. The choice of under bed storage depends on the size of the bed and the presence or absence of a center leg.
Metal beds also come in the canopy version, so you can have a brass bed and a canopy bed at the same time. Or a pseudo-canopy can always be added by using a mosquito net or fabric without having to buy the metal framework. For a child’s room, there are metal bunk beds, giving two beds for the space for one.
Some bed have only a metal head board, leaving the foot free to allow people to hand over the end. This is good for tall people, and there are others that sleep on their stomachs who just sleep better if their toes hang over the end of the mattress.
For durability, a metal bed is hard to beat. With a minimum of care, it will last generations, and if you really get hard up, you can sell it for scrap if nothing else. If you are looking for a new bed, I can recommend a metal bed and bed frame.
* * * Spend your nights in luxurious Egyptian cotton linens. * * *
Click * here * to return to the home page.