Platform Beds 101

Since we spend one third of our lives sleeping, mankind has probably always had a designated area for sleeping. In ancient days, when homes were basically crude shelters, the sleeping area was usually on the floor with perhaps animal furs for a mat. The Egyptians are believed to have first raised the sleeping area off the floor, probably to get away from slithering and creeping animals.

The first raised sleeping areas, beds, were flat, hard surfaces. They were essentially platforms on which people slept. Since living space was limited, the platform was often raised up on poles, leaving space underneath for family activities. As homes increased in size, the beds were lowered to the height of present day beds.  Please keep in mind that today's platform beds are not the same as loft beds.

Platform beds have again become popular, designed for contemporary 21st century living. They are a raised, flat surface on which a mattress is placed, eliminating the need for a box spring. There are many styles of platform beds and they are made of wood or metal. Some have a headboard and foot- board; some do not. Some have built in drawers underneath for storage and they come in whatever size you are looking for. Many families will use a platform bed for a perfect guest bed.

A storage platform bed my have drawers on rollers that roll under the platform or may have drawers built into the bed frame to create an enclosed look for the bed. Another style has, instead of drawers sliding out of the sides of the bed, a hydraulic lift to raise the mattress to give access to storage under the bed. Beds with drawers can start from $300 to $800, depending on style and size. Bed sizes range from twin to cal king. A hydraulic lift bed will start at about $1150. Most of the platform storage beds I liked at on-line were made of wood, but there are many styles and colors, including shaker, colonial, and ultra contemporary.

King Platform Beds

King platform beds are popular, contemporary styled beds. The mattress of a king platform bed often sets on a slated platform frame for ultimate comfort. For a lot of extra storage, choose a king platform with drawers to effectively use all that space under the bed. Or, if you can afford the extra cost, a hydraulic lift for the mattress gives easy access to all that under the bed space.

A Basic Sage Hardwood king size platform will range from $450 to $560. Add drawers for $750 to $950. You can also find styles with headboards and footboards. Sleigh beds have headboards and footboards with a soft curve, which gives a relaxing atmosphere to the bedroom. There are many style choices in iron, wood, and even leather.

A king Arlington Leather platform sleigh bed is a bold, contemporary bed made with dark tropical hardwoods with warm brown leather panels on the curving headboards. List price is $1375.The Wilshire Panel bed by Hillsdale is a blend of American and English country style. It has an antique white finish and is available with or without under bed storage drawers. It is built with quality old world craftsmanship. King size list prices range from $1036 to $1786.

While the frame you choose, will determine the décor of your bedroom, the mattress you choose will determine the comfort of your bed. Since you spend about one third of your time in bed, you will want to spend some time in selecting the mattress that is best for you. When you are trying out mattress in a store, you need to take into consideration that a platform bed had a solid surface and will feel differently than it does on top of a box spring.  Sealy Posturepedic is one of the world’s largest mattress manufacturers and they offer a large variety for both budget and softness or firmness. They are rated as one of the best mattresses for durability and quality. If you choose a Sealy, be sure you work with a sales associate who can recommend mattresses that will work with your platform bed. The Sealy Futon Mattress works well on a platform bed. It is made of a foam core that is wrapped with good quality cotton batting. It can also come with an innerspring coil system that has a hinge so the mattress can bend in half lengthwise. If you need to fit your mattress through a tight space, this is a solution. These are made in the USA, priced from $550 to $600.

An Orthoflex Mattress may be a good choice for your platform bed. It is constructed of eliocel hipur material and has four vents to facilitate ventilation. The mattress molds itself to the weight of the body, giving resistance and support where the body needs it. It lasts for years, is anti allergenic since it doesn’t trap dust or cause dust mites, and it repels static electricity. The core material is firm foam. It is available in twin, full, queen, or king sizes.

The AlluraBed by Tempur-Pedic mattress requires a firm base like a platform bed. It is the only mattress recognized by NASA. Crafted to provide excellent support with pressure relief and a pillow-top layer for comfort, the mattress is also hypoallergenic. It never needs to be turned, rotated, or flipped and has a 20-year limited warranty.