More than one-third of our lives is spent sleeping usually in a bed. Even so, how often have you thought about the quality of your bedroom furniture? Particularly the bed, mattress, sheets, blankets, and pillows - all essential for a restful nights sleep that provides the physical and mental recharge we all need. There are hundreds of styles of bedroom furniture from which to choose and they range in quality from excellent to poor. How do you make good decisions when buying bedroom furniture? The tips below may help.

Bedroom Furniture
As you shop for bedroom furniture, you will notice three main groupings: adult; teen; and childrens' furniture. Teen and childrens' bedroom furniture is primarily distinguished from adult / master bedroom furniture by the smaller scale and design of dressers and chests, the frequent use of laminates, metals and the sizes and shapes of the beds.

Master Bedroom Furniture
Master bedroom furniture falls into five main categories: beds, dressing tables, chests of drawers, wardrobes and mirrors. Suites come with various combinations of these items.

Beds
Beds play the most important role in any bedroom furniture ensemble. As master bedrooms get larger, beds are keeping up through scale and design. In general terms, a bed will consist of a headboard, footboard, connecting side rails and a mattress, with or without a box spring. Mattresses and beds are available in a variety of sizes ranging from single beds through double, king and ultimately queen size. In purchasing a bed, if budget dictates that you need to compromise, do so on the bed itself rather than the mattress. A significant percentage of the UK adult population suffer from lower back trouble, at least in part attributable to poor sleep posture and mattress quality.

Dressing Tables
Dressing tables are again chosen by size. The smallest tend to have only drawers. The largest models sometimes have doors in the centre, which usually conceal pull-out trays or shelves. When choosing a dressing table, think about whether you prefer more/smaller drawers or fewer/larger drawers for storage. More expensive bedroom furniture offers more drawers. Less expensive dressing tables sometimes appear to have more drawers than they really have.

Mirrors
When choosing a mirror, the scale of your dressing table is important, as that is where the mirror will in all likelihood be located. Two basic mirrors are usually offered in a bedroom furniture collection. One is the single mirror, scaled to be used over the dresser. The second is the "Tri-Mirror. Designed in three hinged, adjustable sections, this is the biggest mirror and is designed to be used on a larger dresser. Other mirrors are "Dressing Mirrors" that sit on top of a chest of drawers and full length mirrors that stand on the floor.

Chests of Drawers
A chest of drawers may be chosen to hold not only socks, underwear and T-shirts, but also for general storage purposes. When considering a chest of drawers, look carefully at the quality of the drawers. Some modern 'flat pack' offerings may have somewhat flimsy drawer construction which is unlikely to stand the test of time. Look for a smooth drawer action and for metal rather than plastic drawer runner mechanisms.

Wardrobes
Many modern homes now have built-in wardrobe space. In the absence of this, many people choose to build in their own wardrobes and a variety of kits are available for this purpose. Perhaps the most important decision here is the door type. Sliding doors have the benefit of requiring no opening space although they have a tendency to snag on clothing inside the wardrobe unless it is of a generous depth. Snagging isn't an issue with hinged doors but you need to be mindful of the available space in which to open them. One or more clothes rails inside create a "wardrobe. Some offer flexible storage within in the form of wire baskets and various hanging and shelving options. Many of the more modern offerings are modular, allowing you to choose the storage you need.

Free standing wardrobes also remain popular, particularly for those looking to create a vintage feel to the room. You may even decide to treat yourself to an antique wardrobe. In addition to checking it carefully for value (and woodworm!) make sure that you not only have the space for it but that you will be able to get it into the room in the first place! Stand-alone wardrobes, particularly of the vintage variety, do not generally disassemble for transport and entry into the room.

Armoires and Entertainment Cabinets
An "armoire" is effectively a smaller free-standing wardrobe. It becomes an "Entertainment Cabinet" when it has TV/stereo spaces, doors that slide back into the piece of furniture, holes for interior wiring and adjustable shelves for electronic equipment. Here the most important consideration is the size of your TV - remember to check all three dimensions - width, depth and height.

Teens and Childrens' Bedroom Furniture
Childrens' bedroom furniture comes in an array of shapes, sizes and themes. Where possible, it is better to buy modular furniture which will grow with the children although some find theme furniture irresistable. The modular approach becomes more viable as children turn into teenagers with plenty of good quality modern beds including single and double sizes and various bunk options with work or storage space beneath them. Whether you choose metal or wood is a matter of individual style and preference. Always be sure to look for reputable manufacturers and, in the case of painted furniture, that the paint used doesn't contain any lead (this is particularly important when buying second hand or antique furniture). Also check that any soft furnishings meet current fire retardent standards. As with an adult bed, don't skimp on the mattress - it is better to buy a cheap bed and an expensive mattress than vice versa, not only for comfort but for the wellbeing of your offspring's back now and in the years to come.

Buying Second-hand Bedroom Furniture
Whenever you buy something second-hand, you save valuable resources (such as landfill space and trees) and the energy needed to make new products. Buying second-hand bedroom furniture is of course much cheaper (unless you are buying an antique). It can therefore fill a need until you can afford new furniture. A wealth of second hand furniture can be found here at classifieds. You can also look in your local newspaper for second-hand furniture sales and shops. Remember you may have to hire a van to move large pieces, in contrast with purchasing a new piece where the seller will often deliver it to you.

If you buy second-hand bedroom furniture, check it thoroughly beforehand. Signs of insects include spotting on the furniture, usually on the back or around the joints. These spots are the droppings of bedbugs.

If there is any possibility that painted furniture may contain lead, you need to strip all paint and re-paint with lead-free paint. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities and other serious medical problems.

For infants, make sure that cot or playpen bars are less than 45-65 mm apart (a can of Coke should not fit between the slats) to prevent a baby's head from getting stuck between the bars.

Important Things to Consider When Purchasing Second-Hand Furniture
  • Determine your budget
  • The size of your bedroom AND access to it (check thoroughly)
  • The style of furniture you want
  • Does the colour match your dcor?
  • Inspect for damage, insect presence, and broken, unfinished, and missing parts.
  • Check soft furnishings meet fire retardent standards
  • Check for lead in paint
UK Home / Home & Garden / Beds & Mattresses
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Second Hand Beds & Mattresses  
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Classified Ad Results  ( 1 to 12 of 12 ads found )
01 July 2008
Trendy Bed..
Ikea trendy bed. single/double three drawer divan bed. excellent condition used by child. cosy £350 will accept £100 no offers.
£100
BS30
29 June 2008
Metal Frame Sofa Bed..
Metal frame 2 seater sofa bed with terracotta futon mattress converts to double bed ideal for guests. used but in good condition. buyer to collect. .
£35
S64
25 June 2008
Bed Base and headboard..
for sale; double divan base with pine headboard in pristine condition. collect only. .
£60
NE3
18 June 2008
Double bed frame in white as in ikea (MALM)..
This bedframe is in very good condition, when i bought it cost about £130ish, it is now selling ikea for £90,it is easily assembled,modern and low to the ground. will sell for £60. if you have a decent sized car you will have no problem in using it to. .
£60
CF5
14 June 2008
MISTRAL BED 4'6" - Low Foot End..
Description: mistral bed 4'6" - low foot end product information expresso brown pvc with posture sprung slats and fifth and sixth legs for added stability supplied flat pack mattress available separately.
£175
SE19
ARABELLA FOUR POSTER BED 4'6..
Description: arabella four poster bed 4'6" product information antique pine supplied flat pack mattress available separately.
£136
SE19
CORONA SCROLL BED 4'6" - High Foot End..
Corona scroll bed 4'6" - high foot end product information distressed waxed pine supplied flat pack mattress available separately.
£127
SE19
ALTON BED 4'6" - Low Foot End..
Description: alton bed 4'6" - low foot end product information light antique pine supplied flat pack mattress available separately.
£69
SE19
06 June 2008
High Sleeper with desk underneath..
Single high sleeper with ladders & desk underneath and room to fit a fold out bed/chair. already dismantled, we`ve lost the screws for it, so if you can get hold of some screws for it then you`ve got yourself a cheap bed. ready to go. £10- tel: 07773113451 day. .
£10
CW1
05 June 2008
king size myers bed..
king size myers bed with drawers, pine headboard and a orthapedic mattress, few marks. good condition, £100 ono, sittingbourne, 01795 424267 / 07711780570. .
ME10
16 May 2008
Pine Bed..
Solid pine double bed for sale. pole across footboard. very good condition. .
£50
DN10
13 May 2008
Silver framed single bed..
Single bed for sale single bed and mattress, excellent condition. silver metal frame buyer collects - can be disassembled. mattress included if required. .
£30
BR6
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