There are many different types of beds. Beds do not appear to be the most diverse but a historical view of the furniture reveals that we have many design types for beds depending on the level of comfort required.
Bed sizes vary considerably around the world, with most countries having their own standards and terminology. I would just like to go through this section briefly as detailed description of bed sizes can be found in the article below.
There are many types of beds. The most common types of beds are 1. Air bed 2. Adjustable bed 3. Bassinet 4. Murphy bed 5. Box bed 6. Platform bed 7. Brass bed 8. Water bed 9. Sofabed 10. Bunk bed 11. Captain’s bed 12. Loft bed 13. Canopy bed 14. Hospital bed.
Find more details and pictures below. The uses and suitability may depend on bedroom layout.
Beds come in many sizes. These range from infant-sized bassinets and cribs to tiny beds for small single people/adults, to very large queen bed and king-size beds. The larger beds comfortably accommodate more people.
Some beds are also temporary. What do I mean? These temporary beds are used for may be a single night and then removed. Some examples of temporary beds are inflatable air mattress as well as my favorite of them all – the folding camp cot.
Types of Beds
- Air bed
- Adjustable bed
- Bassinet
- Murphy bed
- Box bed
- Platform bed
- Brass bed
- Water bed
- Sofabed
- Bunk bed
- Captain’s bed
- Loft bed
- Canopy bed
- Hospital bed
- Day bed
- Four poster bed
- Hammock
- Futon bed
- Manjaa bed
- Ghostbed
1. Air-Bed
Air bed is bed uses an inflatable mattress. An electric air pump may be used to inflate it to the required firmness depending on the one sleeping on it. This bed main serves guests or is used temporarily especially when traveling.
2. An Adjustable Bed
This type of bed can be adjusted to different positions. For instance, hospital beds are adjustable to allow clinicians to raise the patient’s body for medical reasons.
3. Bassinet
A bassinet is a bed designed specifically for newborns.
4. Box-bed
A box-bed is a type of bed that takes the appearance of a box. It has wooden roof, sides and ends. The opening in front of the box bed has two sliding panels or shutters.
These types of beds were commonly used in cottages in Scotland.
5. Brass Bed
A brass bed is so called because it is constructed from brass. Brass beds tend to be cheaper if brass is used to coat iron to form a brass-coated bed. These beds are prone to scratching though.
6. Bunk Bed
A bunk bed is a layered bed with one or more carriages atop the ground carriage. These beds are common in learning institutions where students share dormitories. Other than schools and summer camps, it is also common to see bunk beds in private homes.
The Bunk bed has space for two mattresses on two tiers together with a ladder to allow one sleeper get to the upper tier.
These bunk beds are also used by adults in military barracks. Very cheap hostels tend to have these types of beds too.
7. Loft Bed
A loft bed shares similarities with a bunk bed. However, the loft bed has no lower bunk. That space left below the bed is used for storage or to place other furniture. It can accommodate a desk.
8. Captain’s bed
This type of bed is also known as a ‘captain bed’ or ‘chest bed.’ This bed is simply a platform with drawers and storage compartments designed beneath it.
9. Canopy bed
Canopy beds look like a four poster bed. However, the posts extend higher and are draped with a cloth. The adorning can completely enclose the bed.
10. Day bed
This bed is a couch. Just like its name suggest, a day bed is used as a seat during daytime. At night, it is turned into a bed. The usage as a bed is due to its pop up trundle.
11. Four-Poster Bed
When talking about a four poster bed, I am referring to a type of bed that has a long post at each of the four corners. Those posts support a tester.
12. Futon bed
A futon bed can be traced to Japanese culture. The bed is a traditional style of Japanese bed that uses a foldable wooden frame supporting a mattress. A futon bed can fold into two halves.
13. Hammock
A hammock refers to a bed made of suspended fabric. This type of bed is used mostly in ships. In some homes, people make hammock beds outside as a place of resting.
The hammock does not contain both a padded mattress and a bed frame. For those who love animals (pets), there are beds made specifically for animals.
14. Hideaway bed
This bed refers to a piece of furniture that can turn into another furniture. The hideaway bed was invented by Sarah E. Goode due to the increased demand for a piece of furniture that can fold into another piece by many people living in apartments.
The hideaway bed could fold into a table or a desk or a shelf when not in use.
15. Hospital bed
Out of all the types of beds, a hospital bed is the one that immediately gives me the least excitement. A hospital bed is designed for healthcare facilities, and most recently, private residence.
16. Manjaa bed
A manjaa bed is traditionally traced to Punjabi. This bed is made of tied ropes bordered by a wooden frame. The ropes are bordered by a wooden frame.
17. Murphy bed
Also known as a wallbed, a murphy bed is a type of bed that folds into a wall or cabinet, mainly to save space.
The Murphy bed can fold into a wall. The sofa bed folds out of a couch.
18. Platform bed
A platform bed is technically a mattress resting on a solid, flat raised surface. This surface we are talking about is either a free-standing area or just part of the room’s structure.
19. Sofabed
Sofabeds are also called “pull-out.” These types of beds fold in a way that the bed is stored inside a sofa. Other people like to call sofabeds ‘convertibles.’ Yeah, that’s a nice name.
20. Waterbed
As the name suggests, a waterbed refers to a flexible piece of mattress that is filled with water. To support the liquid, the waterbed requires a strong frame around it to prevent too much wobbling.
Other designs of beds worth mentioning here include a state bed, toddler bed, trundle bed, rope bed, and vibrating bed. There could be many types of beds that I left out here. However, our team will keep expanding the list.
21. Ghost bed
A ghost bed is a fancy type of bed manufactured by only one American company called Nature’s Sleep. This type of bed is made of three layers and uses an all-foam model.
This bed has a medium firm field and can be sold in four different variations. For more information read our article explaining what is a ghost bed by clicking the link above.
Bed frames
A bed frame is also known as bedstead. Bed frames can be wooden or metallic. The frame consists of three different parts – the head, foot, and side rails.
Some frames are smaller. Others like queen bed frames or king bed framers are larger. The bed frame also consists of a part known as a support rail located at the center. These rails make up part of an assembly to create a box for the mattress.
As a side note, we used to sleep six of us in a single queen-sized bed while we were little. Our came over with his entire family for one week. What’s the highest number of people you’ve ever shared a bed with on one night?
Technically, we can say that more than half of all the world’s beds are single mattresses. However, we have extraordinary beds.
In many cases, headboards, footboards, and bed rails do not make up part of a bed frame. These parts are easily stained, painted or covered in a unique fabric to give the entire bed a new look.
Prices of beds
The prices of beds vary depending on size. Smaller sized-beds such as Twin beds tend to cost less compared with larger beds such as King size bed.
So, if you have more money and space, you can by an expensive bed. Should you need a bed that costs less, it is also a matter of preference too.