Amish Hardwood Shaker Platform Bed

The DutchCrafters Guide to Purchasing the Bed of your Dreams

Introduction

A good night’s rest is critical to rejuvenating your mind and body, ensuring you are ready for the morning ahead.  As a fundamental part of your daily routine, your bed should reflect your personal taste and style, while providing an inviting, relaxing atmosphere that you can enjoy day in and day out.  While many factors will influence the decision for your new bed, we have put together a few tips that will help you choose the perfect bed for your individual needs, along with insights into how you can make the most of your space.

Handcrafted Beds

As the centerpiece to your entire bedroom suite, your bed with play a critical role in the overall feel and comfort of your space.  With many styles available, choosing the right bed can seem like a daunting task, but there are a few simple steps that will help you choose the perfect bed for any room in your home.

Available Sizes

With space at a premium, choosing a bed size that is properly fitted for your personal needs and available floor space will ensure you have enough room to get the rest you need, while leaving ample space for your storage décor.  Most beds are available to fit a traditionally sized mattresses, from Twin to California King.  While there are no definitive rules to mattress and bed sizes, it is important to remember that a standard mattress will fit a bed of the same size.

Twin Beds – typically crafted around 39” wide and 75” long, are made to comfortably accommodate one adult sleeper and are also perfect for a child’s room.

Full Beds – also referred to as a double bed, is the standard for most beds.  Commonly crafted at 54” wide and 75” long, a full bed can accommodate two adults sleeping side by side, offering each person 27” or so of sleeping space, and is preferred when space is limited.  The full bed is also ideal for a child/teenager’s room, or as a bed in your guest room.  * For taller adults, this may be a tighter fit from top to bottom, with the length matching a twin bed.  For these situations, the larger Queen or King size is recommended.

Queen Beds – the most popular size sold today, the Queen bed typically measures 60” side-to-side and 80” from top-to-bottom.  Queen beds are ideal for two adults to fit comfortably, or one adult that likes to stretch out, while occupying less floor space then a king size bed.

King Beds (Eastern King) – for larger rooms, or those seeking the most spacious resting place, the king size offers the same length as the queen, but is typically 16 to 18 inches wider than a queen.  If space is not an issue, couples will get the most room from a king size bed.

California King Beds – perfect for taller adults, the California King is usually 10 to 12 inches wider than a queen and anywhere from 4-6 inches longer than both the king and queen.  The California King is ideal for extra head and foot room, but the size of the room should be carefully considered to ensure proper placement and use of storage pieces, with this longer bed.

*Note that these measurements are based on standard American mattress sizes.  While these sizes are considered the norm, you can also request a custom quote for a less traditional mattress size to accommodate your unique needs.

Collection Style Options 

After you’ve narrowed down the style of furniture that you would like for your bedroom, you can begin the process of selecting a bed.  While this stage ultimately comes down to personal taste, most of our collections will offer a few different bed styles for each collection, which will pair perfectly with the case pieces offered for that suite.

Keep in mind that some bed designs may have different dimensions. Make sure the bed that you choose will not interfere with your storage options that you choose later. (A poster bed is going to take up more room vertically, whereas a sleigh bed is going to extend much further past your mattress length and a standard panel bed will be very close to your mattress dimensions.) 

Low Footboard Alternate

When considering which bed to choose, keep in mind that most vendors will offer a low footboard option that is typically the same size as the side rails, which will partially eliminate the footboard while maintaining the structural integrity. If space is limited, a low footboard will allow for easier mobility, less chance of hitting the edges in tighter spaces and extra room for drawer extension on your storage pieces that are situated in front of your bed.  It’s also perfect if you have your television in front of your bed, to avoid obstruction from a higher footboard!

Under Bed Storage Additions

Some of our bedroom collections offer a convenient under-bed storage option that will give you the perfect place to store your linens, extra bedding and comforters and give you extra, hidden storage space.  Most beds with this option will feature one or two units, with two or three drawers that are located on both sides or at the end of the bed. Once incorporated, the unit will create a flawless look that will match the rest of the bed and provide your base for your box spring and mattress support.

Amish Bed Construction and Integrity

While it’s true to say that all beds serve a very similar purpose, the same cannot be said when comparing the quality of a handmade Amish bed to an off-the-line production model from a big box retailer.  The care and time that goes into each piece assures that your new bed will last generations and still maintain its integrity and beauty. 

To ensure years of continued satisfaction, each bed features an array of woodworking techniques, to ensure integrity and longevity for each piece.  The headboard and footboard will be assembled using high quality bonding agents and mortise and tenon construction to ensure no loose pieces or wobbles when placed on a floor.  The slats are connected using various methods, from the traditional bolt up and hook rails, to a more unique through-bolt construction that provides a beautiful style with the hardware exposed on the outside of the frame.

Assembly of your new bed is straight forward and will require minimal tools to complete the task.  Pick the perfect location for your new bed and set your headboard’s location.  Attach the side rails to the headboard and then to the footboard, making a stable base for your slats.  While each slat design may be different, they generally all lay in neatly and easily.  Attach the center slat support and you’re ready to add your mattress and enjoy years of carefree comfort.