Wood has been the preferred material for building beautiful beds for around a thousand years. While the elaborate yet functional wooden beds that are popular now are a more recent invention, the classic bedframe – often complete with four posts – is hundreds of years old. With that in mind, it is no wonder so many families cherish the wooden beds that have been passed down through the generations.
If you are considering investing in one of these beds for your own family, you should consider it exactly that – an investment. These pieces can last a lifetime or more, if well cared for. How long they last and the ease of that care may be down to the type of wood you choose. Wood types can offer other benefits and drawbacks as well, including beautiful colours, resilience to pests, and more.
Here are some of the most common wood types used for bedframes in the United Kingdom, along with the pros and cons of each:
Oak Beds
Oak is a lovely light-to-medium brown in colour when used in furniture making. It has a prominently visible grain pattern and can be dyed or stained to achieve a deeper colour, if desired.
Oak benefits:
- Oak is durable. This is the kind of wood that can stand up to decades or even centuries of use, if cared for properly.
- It is also versatile. Its medium colour and sturdy strength mean it can be made into almost any kind of furniture – even a heavy-use item like a bed – and match most room decor.
- Visual appeal is another benefit. Those looking for a charming piece to build a room around can benefit from the beautiful colour and wood grain of oak.
Potential drawbacks:
- Oak is heavy. While this can make for a long-lasting piece of furniture, it can also mean a piece that is difficult to move.
- Oak is also expensive. Given its popularity and durability, manufacturers are even more likely to upcharge on oak furniture, so expect to pay a higher price for beds made with this material.
Pine Beds
Pine is a budget-friendly option that is perfect for more primitive decor schemes. It is a pale wood, ranging from light yellow to brown, and often has visible knots or imperfections.
Benefits of pine:
- As mentioned previously, pine is budget-friendly. It is generally much less expensive than hardwood.
- It is light in colour and accepts paints and stains easily. This means it is simple to switch up the look of your pine bedframe, depending on the colour scheme of your room.
- It is also light in weight. Those who move frequently or like to rearrange their room again and again will enjoy this.
Potential drawbacks:
- Pine is a very soft wood. It is susceptible to bumps, scratches, and dents in a way other woods are not.
- Likewise, it is more porous than other woods. This means it can easily warp, especially in a very humid environment.
Walnut Beds
Walnut wooden beds are very popular for those with more elegant decorating tastes. The wood offers a rich, luxurious medium to deep brown colour that decorators have sought for centuries.
Benefits of walnut:
- Walnut has a rich colour that adds sophistication to any room.
- It is also strong, which makes it durable enough to stand up to years of use.
- The dark, rich colour and polished shine you can achieve with walnut make the wood a great choice for those looking for a striking piece of furniture.
Drawbacks:
- Walnut is unfortunately very expensive. This means that items made from walnut wood are even more so, making it cost-prohibitive for many people.
- Much like oak, walnut is also quite heavy. Again, this makes moving difficult.
Beech Beds
Beech is another beautiful hardwood frequently used in making furniture. Fewer people think to ask for beech, but it is a striking pale cream colour that may even lean toward pink in hue.
Benefits:
- Beech has a remarkably smooth, even texture. This gives it a polished look, especially when finished with a high-shine exterior. This can make for a truly beautiful bedframe.
- Beech also offers high strength and durability, like other hardwoods.
Potential pitfalls:
- Unfortunately, beech is very susceptible to moisture. This means that for those who live in humid areas or whose homes hold humidity, this wood may not be the right decision for a bed.
- Beech is also more expensive than similar-looking options such as pine, which provide the same light colour.
Mahogany Beds
Mahogany is one of the most sought-after woods for furniture. It offers a deep red-brown colour that can appear almost blood-red in certain lights. This offers an incredible finished appearance that has been popular in furniture for centuries.
Perks of mahogany:
- Wooden beds made with mahogany are more resistant to both wood rot and the perils of everyday use. The wood is durable and resilient, making it a great option for making bedframes.
- Likewise, it is also a beautiful choice for almost any room, giving it a luxurious upgrade with a single purchase.
Drawbacks:
- Mahogany is very expensive, making it cost-prohibitive for many families.
- Likewise, it is difficult to source, and this has led to concerns about sustainability.
Cherry Beds
Cherry wood is a beautiful, pinkish-red wood that darkens with age. This dynamic colour makes it a perfect choice for a bed that will be loved for decades or even generations.
Benefits:
- Cherry ages gracefully, looking better with age.
- It also polishes beautifully, with a smooth grain.
Drawbacks:
- Unfortunately, cherry is not as hard a wood as walnut or oak – though it is more resilient than soft wood like pine.
- It is also on the higher end of the price spectrum, so it is a more expensive wood to choose for your bedframe.
There are so many options for beautiful wooden beds in the UK – even more than these. If you still are not sure which wood type would best fit your decor, preferences, and needs, talk to your local distributor to learn more.