Bedroom blues easy to avoid
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — You spend a third of your life in bed, so it's important to find the sturdiest frame you can. You don't want a wobbly bed that wakes you up when you turn over.
Beds make up a big part of furniture complaints nationally and locally. A frequent grievance is about how massive beds have become. A bed that looks fine in a giant furniture showroom can be downright overbearing in your much-smaller bedroom.
Consumers also commonly complain that finishes on new wood bed frames look too distressed. The marks are often scratches resulting from the long trip from Asia, where most bedroom furniture is made. And the different climate in the United States can cause splits in the wood.
Once in a while the distressing is something else. This year a Liberty, Mo., woman thought there were too many "distress spots" on her new headboard.
"The spots turned out to be beetles," says Cherie Reese, vice president of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Kansas City. She advises buyers to get in writing who is responsible if new furniture is infested shortly after it's delivered.
If you shop smart, it's easy to avoid other potential problems with bedroom furniture.
A classic wooden sleigh bed and a solid wrought-metal bed are good choices, says interior designer Caroline McCallister of Kansas City, Mo. Overly large beds, flimsy metal beds or ornately detailed bed frames will go out of style.Upholstered beds fall in and out of favor, though they're hot right now. But you might not want to choose a heavily patterned fabric or fancy details. For example, ruched fabric headboard edges scream `80s. A neutral fabric can go with more types of bedding and is less likely to look dated.When it comes to children's beds, you can save money by skipping child-sized furniture in favor of classic wooden or metal beds. Look for styles that will work in a 3-year-old's bedroom and an 18-year-old's room. You can always add bumpers to the bed if needed.If you're not ready to commit to a bed frame that includes a headboard and footboard, you can always get by with a basic metal frame for your mattress set. It looks plain, but it can be comfortable and sturdy.
Don't be afraid of getting on the floor to look underneath beds to evaluate their construction, says Jim Santilli, owner of Kansas City Upholstery. It's good if the horizontal cross-support slats are thick and made of high-quality wood, not particleboard. The center-support legs under the bed should look and feel sturdy — they prevent the mattress from caving in the center. Don't assume that just because a bed has a big price tag that it is sturdy. Occasionally you'll see center-support legs that have broken off, even on designer beds that cost more than $1,500.And don't be shy about shaking the bed at the footboard and headboard, says furniture designer Albert de Leon of Kansas City, Kan. You want as little motion as possible, because any motion wears out joints, taking years off a bed's lifetime. A well-made bed will feel as if all the parts are locked together in a single piece.
Even though you'll buy a mattress separately, you should lie on top of the bed a few times. Pay attention to how easy or difficult it is to get up. A platform bed might sit too low to the floor for your comfort, and a poster bed might be too high.Walk around the bed. Some have edges that rub against your shins, something you'll want to avoid because it's common to bump into your bed as you're rising or changing the sheets.
When you shop for a bed, take along:Pictures of styles you like.Your life partner. You share a bed so both of you need to feel comfortable.Bedroom measurements, including ceiling height.A tape measure. You want to measure the width of the headboard to make sure it will fit in the room. They're often wider than the mattress.Fabrics you want to use in the room. Some look better with metal, others with wood. Maybe you want to coordinate with an upholstered headboard.Patience. Visit lots of showrooms and look at lots of beds before you make up your mind.
The wrong shipment. Make sure you're home on delivery day to prevent the wrong bed from getting into your home.The wrong scale. Some beds and mattresses are too tall, especially for a room with low ceilings.Peeling wood veneers. It's common to find bed rails with 90-degree angles that have veneer lifting and chipping around the edges.Buying a bed or mattress online. If you can't see a bed in person to look underneath and shake it to see how stable it is, you're taking a risk.
Read manufacturers' warranties closely before buying. Question the store to learn how your actions or the options you choose might void the warranty.Wood surfaces: Watch out for disclaimers saying checks (tiny splits) or cracks are normal. Ask what voids a "lifetime" warranty; for example, a move.Metal surfaces: Rust and tarnishing from scratches aren't covered.Fabric surface: Staining and fading are not covered. Customer- or retailer-applied stain protection treatments often void the warranty.Mattresses: Stains typically void the warranty. Comfort level and sagging up to 1½ inches aren't covered. Ask who pays for shipping if there is a problem. Don't remove the satin brand tag or the care label; doing so will void the warranty.
Get the store's policies in writing. Ask about returns and what happens if you cancel an order. Most stores won't let you return custom furniture.Ask about your rights and recourses for furniture you've purchased if the store goes out of business. In recent years a lot of furniture stores (both nationally and locally owned) have permanently closed.When you order custom pieces, never pay the full amount up front. Half is enough.Use a credit card instead of cash or check. It makes canceling a purchase or returning furniture easier.Keep your sales receipt, any construction specifications or drawings and warranty information. These will be your allies if you have a problem.Care for the furniture as recommended. The warranty could be voided if you don't.
For well-made bedroom furniture, you should expect to pay at least:$1,200 for a queen wood or metal bed; $1,400 for a king.$50 for a queen-sized basic metal frame and $60 for a king.$400 for a wooden nightstand with drawers.$800 for a queen innerspring mattress and box springs; $1,000 for a king. You don't want to pay much more than these prices, either, unless plush mattress fabrics are important to you.$1,250 for a queen latex mattress and box springs; $1,650 for a king.$1,400 for a queen visco-elastic foam mattress and box springs; $1,800 for a king
North American or European made. Wooden beds made in Asia are often made of tropical woods that haven't been properly kiln-dried. The drier climate in the United States can cause them to warp and crack.Solidity. Sturdy materials and good construction can last a lifetime.Good finishes. The wood, metal, fabric or leather on the bed should be high quality and pleasing to the touch.Details you can appreciate such as carved wood or nailhead trim.
