If the term “metal beds” makes you think of youthful times spent in summer camp bunk beds, or some uncomfortable rack in a military barracks, it’s time to think again! Metal beds are trendy, sturdy, and beautiful and they work with any decor. From adult rooms to children’s, spare room to a den, there’s a perfect metal bed design for every taste and budget. Metal Beds Were Good for the Pharaoh and They’re Good For You, Too! History records tell us that the first metal beds appeared in the days of Ancient Egypt. Common people slept on hay, piles of leaves or wooden slats. However, Egypt’s ruling families opted for the strength, richness and prestige of metal beds. What Is A Metal Bed? Chances are you have a metal bed frame that holds your box spring and mattress. But it takes more than that to qualify as a metal bed. A true metal bed does have a metal frame, but it’s the addition of a metal headboard and, perhaps, a metal footboard that converts a bed from commoner’s style to one that’s fit for a Pharaoh and his Queen. Iron is the metal of choice for metal beds, followed by tubular steel. Both metals are strong and can be painted with a variety of scratch- and rust-resistant specialty coatings in a nearly endless array of colors. Wrought Iron in filigree patterns is frequently used to add a decorative touch to the headboard and footboard. However, posts and bars are popular choices as well. What About Workmanship? Metal beds get their sturdiness from both the actual metals used in their construction as well as from the way the bed is manufactured and assembled. Solid welds fuse portions of the bed together, while sturdy bolts typically attach head and footboards to the frame. And, of course, since metal is practically indestructible, you can expect years of solid service from most new metal beds. What If Your Tastes Change? Changed your color scheme? No problem. Metal beds can easily be repainted using materials available at any home center. If your new decor goes beyond a change in color palette, you can leverage the value of your existing metal bed by simply ordering replacement head and footboards in a design to match your new look. But Are Metal Beds Worth The Investment? According to the metal bed experts at ComfyZone.com, a leading online retailer of metal and traditional beds, furniture and accessories, “Metal beds hold their value for years thanks to their strength, durability and beauty.” Metal bed prices are in line with the prices you’ll find on other quality bedroom furniture but deliver a far greater return on your investment thanks to their unusually long lifespan and the fact that they adapt so easily to any decor. Beauty You Have To See To Believe It’s difficult to explain exactly how or why metal beds can easily become the focal point of any room. In fact, to appreciate the true beauty of metal beds, you need to see them for yourself.

If you can’t remember the last time you had a good night’s sleep, it could well be your rickety old bed (not your stressful lifestyle) that’s to blame. We spoke to the best in the bedding business to get this top advice on shopping for a new bed.

1. Invest in quality

Nigel Cairns of Bedworld says, ‘The one golden rule is that you pay for what you get. The more you pay for your new bed or mattress then the better the quality will be.’ A bed will continue to lose its comfort and support year after year so buy the most expensive one that you can afford. A good quality bed should last ten years.

2. The seven year itch

According to the Sleep Council, ‘the critical ’seven year itch’ can be a make or break moment for many marriages and mattresses’. If your mattress is more than seven years old it almost certainly needs replacing. Decide whether you want an open coil, pocket sprung, latex or foam mattress with the help of our Buyer’s guide to mattresses. But first take the Sleep Council’s MOT quiz and assess the state of your sleeping equipment.

3. Roll around

Try the bed in all of the sleeping positions you tend to use, not only on your back,’ says Lucy Benham, assistant buyer for beds at John Lewis. ‘Place your hand in the small of your back and try to move it about. If it moves too easily, the bed may be too hard for you; if it’s a struggle to move your hand, then the bed is too soft. If you can move your hand with just a little resistance, the bed may be just right for you.’ Sleep easy on this Hotel 4-poster bed from John Lewis.

4. To slat or not?

Adam Black, of bed specialists Feather & Black says, ‘Flat wooden slats are the equivalent of placing the mattress on the floor. Always opt for a sprung base, be it a sprung divan or sprung beech slats.’ Foam mattresses are ideal for slatted bases as the springs on other mattresses will push through the slats over time and shorten the life of your mattress. Their Well Base bed (£654.75 for a super-king) combines the comfort of a divan with the contemporary look of a bed base. Superior style and comfort. Stephen George, bedroom furniture buyer for Harrods, is even more specific. ‘If going for slats, we recommend that they should be sprung timber slats, not be more than 6cms apart,’ he says.

5. Supersize me

‘Opt for the largest bed size the room can accommodate’, says Black. ‘Small beds are fine when you are getting on well with whoever you share it with, but tend to seem much smaller at those other times’. The Sleep Council says a regular four foot six double bed gives two sleepers less space than the size of a baby’s cot. But, warns Toby Ash of New Heights, ‘Consider the other furniture you have in the room and ensure that you have sufficient space around the bed to make the room functional. Mark out the size of the bed you are considering on your floor to ensure it is not going to be an obstacle.’ Feather & Black’s regal-looking Highgrove bed from will ensure sweet dreams.

6. Upholstered headboard

‘Solid wooden beds will last longer than veneered ones,’ says Adam Black. ‘Buying upholstered headboards which have removable covers makes sense. You can clean and dry-clean the covers once in a while and you can always give your bedroom a facelift by updating the fabric on the headboard.’ As for the end of the bed, Toby Ash of New Heights says ‘high footboards can look great in large rooms with high ceilings but taller people may find a low footboard more comfortable and less restrictive.’

7. Keep the bed bugs away

Sensitive types should opt for a hypo-allergenic mattress like this king-size Rockingham mattress from The Conran Shop which will help asthma and breathing problems. Their anti-dust mite properties will stop you from sneezing all night long.

8. Matchmaker, matchmaker

How do you match the mattress to the base? ‘These days almost all quality mattresses perform just as well on a slatted base as they would on a sprung divan,’ says Black. However, he warns salesmen will confuse customers by linking mattress performance to a particular base to make a double sale.

9. Guest beds

Guest/folding and storage beds provide flexible solutions for overnight guests. With a small bedroom, it makes sense to use your bed as a secondary storage option. Opt for a Platinum raised inflatable aerobed from John Lewis.

10. Ready built or flat pack?

Make sure you find out from retailers whether they will deliver the bed in one piece or whether you’ll need to put it together yourself. These days there are flat pack options that extend far beyond IKEA. The Bourne double bed from Furniture123 is simple and chic.