Metal bedsteads have a minimalist look. They are not ostentatious, or clinging to the limelight, demanding attention. They appear content with what they have, which is a simple and straightforward design, incorporating functionality in a pleasing sort of way, but one that has strength and character. Metal bedsteads can take you back to an earlier time too. They taste of grandmothers and an era when there were bed knobs without the broomsticks. Metal bedsteads are pleasing to have. They are easy to keep clean, and they will never lose their modernity – or their flair for yesteryear.

Metal bedsteads are available in a wide variety of styles and colours to suit every bedroom taste. Brass can look especially good with a kind of 19th century feel, something Scrooge-like for the 21st century home. A large brass knob at every corner of the bed has a kind of satisfying appeal. It may not help you sleep better at night, but it can add quality, style and a sort of splendour that your neighbours may lack. Brass can also work as connecting rods found in vertical rows on a headboard, or the footboard. The yellow gilded effect of brass can definitely lift the average metal bedstead above the ordinary.

The traditional style of metal bedsteads can often have stark contrasting features. Brass and chrome fittings and elements can gleam and shine, while the more functional cast iron part are usually a dull black, almost hidden from sight. This worked well in the metal bedsteads of an earlier time, and it still does today too, but expect more from the metal bedstead of today. Expect to be surprised by an adventurous spirit where white, black, orange, pink and yellow dominate. Where the bare, unadorned metal can shine through in gleaming stainless steel, sparkling chrome, or gilded brass.

It is easy to keep a metal bedstead clean. They can be wiped down with a damp cloth to restore their sparkle immediately. They tend not to have crevices where bacteria and mould can multiply, unlike wooden bedsteads. The metal remains almost detached from the softer materials of sheets, blankets, pillows and mattress. Yet it is all the more functional for being so as it seems to hold more focus, more determination of purpose, and ultimately we love the way a metal bedstead can dominate in a matronly kind of way.

Metal bedsteads have been around for many, many years. Today, they have the same appeal they held for our forebears. We love the hard, cold, unyielding metal surrounding the soft, warm, pliable sheets and mattress. The contrast works well, which is why metal bedsteads are as popular today as they have always been.

For as long as I can remember, wooden bed frames have been the most popular type of this item by a wide margin. I have no doubt that this is still the case. However, in recent years, metal beds have become increasingly popular for a number of reasons. The first, and probably most important of these reasons, is the increased quality with which these beds are now able to be constructed. Precision tools and computer aided designs now allow for parts to be cut with incredible accuracy, and a bed to be constructed at costs that would have been unthinkable just twenty years ago. A great age that we live in, indeed.

But beyond the production side of things, there has been a large cultural shift towards metal bed frames in much the same way that stainless steel appliances are now highly prized. For whatever reason, stainless steel, wrought iron, and anything metal has been associated with better quality, and more luxurious in recent years. Of course, metal bunk beds and the like are nothing new. There have always been cheaply produced, cheap looking metal beds. If you’re having trouble imagining what I’m talking about, think about a metal bunk bed that you or a friend may have had growing up. They had the awful ladders that were terribly uncomfortable to climb up without shoes…. remember? Thought you would.

The metal bed frame of today is much different than those of our childhoods, however. They are big. They are heavy. They are substantial. And they typically have an imposing presence on a bedroom. But shopping for one of these can be a bit of a tricky endeavour. If you are out shopping for a metal bed, there are a number of things you really need to keep in mind.

As I mentioned earlier, metal beds can now be produced by sophisticated cutting tools to very exact measurements. This can now be done at a fraction of the price that these beds were once produced at, and that is what makes them such an attractive target for the big furniture manufacturers. So, what do you need to look for? Well, it may sound odd, but in my opinion, you really need to see what your bed will look like assembled on either a warehouse or showroom floor. Even if you have a picture of your potential metal bed from every possible angle, and have read ten great online reviews, I would not recommend making a purchase like this site unseen. This is for a couple of big reasons. For one, you just don’t know how a bed is going to move and squeak unless you can get up close and personal. Now, I know that you’re probably not going to jump up and down on your bed, but at the very least you can expect some movement in the night. If you have a bed that sounds like the wooden floor of a 200 year old house, you’re going to regret your purchase. So, go down to the store, and give the frame some good shakes. Try and put some torque into it by putting pressure on the joints. Remember that just because these furniture companies can now make a great metal bed frame at a small portion of the money it used to cost doesn’t mean they won’t be just as willing to make a cheap metal bed at an even cheaper cost and put the same price tag on it. Don’t trust these guys.