All about handmade wood bed frames
Solid Custom Heirlooms
Handmade wood bed frames
For thousands of years, humans have handmade wood bed frames. From simple wood structures to elaborate canopy beds fit for a Queen, wood has long been the material of choice for bedroom furniture because it is sturdy, long lasting and beautiful. But is bedroom furniture crafted by hand still the best choice for modern beds? We’re here to find out!
This article will review the most common questions people ask when shopping for a new wooden bed frame, covering the best materials, types of beds and what to look for when buying a handmade wood bed.
Lets start with the basics:
What is a handmade wood bed frame?
A bed frame is a type of furniture that supports a mattress and/or box spring, typically made from wood, metal or a variety of other materials.
Most bed frames are constructed from one of 3 basic types of wood: hardwood, the most solid and long lasting choice, softwood, economical but less sturdy, or engineered wood, a composite of wood scraps, chemical glues and veneers.
A handmade wood bed frame is constructed by hand, either by a single master craftsman, in a small factory or sometimes by a “do it yourselfer” aka a DIY wood bed frame. The quality of handmade furniture is unsurpassed by most other options, and the fact that it takes time and effort to create such pieces means that you’ll never find something exactly like it again.
What is the best wood for handmade beds?
When it comes to high quality wood bedroom furniture its important to understand the raw materials used. When choosing a new bed, look closely at the type and country of origin of the wood to make sure it is of the highest quality possible. There are three main types of wood used in furniture-making: hardwoods, softwoods and engineered woods.
What is the best wood for handmade beds?
When it comes to high quality wood bedroom furniture its important to understand the raw materials used. When choosing a new bed, look closely at the type and country of origin of the wood to make sure it is of the highest quality possible. There are three main types of wood used in furniture-making: hardwoods, softwoods and engineered woods.
White Oak is characterized by its light color and prominent rays, giving it a subtle yet attractive grain pattern. It’s also known for its strength and durability, making it an ideal choice for furniture. White Oak has been used to make furniture for centuries, and is still a popular choice today.
Compared to Red Oak, White Oak is slightly denser and thus heavier, but its light color makes it a great choice for any bedroom décor. It’s also easy to maintain since it can be sanded down and stained easily. Its natural resistance to moisture makes it a great addition to humid areas.
Red Oak is one of the most widely used species of hardwood in North America. Red Oak is similar in appearance to White Oak but has a darker color and coarser grain pattern. The heartwood of Red Oak is usually reddish-brown, while the sapwood tends to be lighter and more yellow.
Red Oak is slightly less dense than white oak but still very durable. It’s commonly used for furniture, flooring, and other woodworking projects. It takes stain easily and is also often used to make cabinets and furniture with a nice finish. Red Oak is resistant to moisture, making it suitable for high-humidity areas where other woods may be prone to rot or cracking.
Cherry wood is a type of hardwood with a reddish hue and straight, tight grain. It is typically used in furniture making, cabinetry, and flooring due to its structural strength and natural beauty. Cherry wood has a smooth finish that can be stained or left in its natural state, depending on the desired look.
Cherry’s color darkens with age and exposure to sunlight, giving it a unique patina that adds warmth and character to any space. It is also known for its strength and durability, making it a popular choice for both commercial and residential applications.
Maple is a hardwood known for its warm color and tight grain pattern. It is typically light in color, ranging from white to pale yellow with occasional red and brown streaks. Maple wood is popularly used for cabinet making, furniture, flooring, and other projects due to its strength, durability, and attractive appearance. Maple features a unique combination of strength and shock resistance, making it a popular choice for cabinets, furniture, and even some musical instruments. Maple wood is easy to work with using both hand and power tools. With its attractive grain pattern, maple wood is an excellent choice for creating quality pieces that will last for years.
Ash wood is a light to medium-brown in color with a straight or slightly wavy grain pattern. It is known for its strength and shock resistance, making it an ideal choice for sports equipment such as baseball bats, oars, and tool handles.
Ash is easily worked with both hand and power tools and can be stained or painted. It is also a great option for furniture and cabinets, as it takes finish well and gives the finished piece an attractive look.
Walnut wood is a popular hardwood option that has a rich, dark color. It is known for its strength and stability and is often used in furniture making.
Walnut has an excellent grain pattern that adds to the beauty of any finished piece. Walnut resists rot and decay better than many other types of wood, making it an ideal choice for outdoor furniture or pieces that will be exposed to moisture. Walnut is also known for its shock resistance, ensuring long-lasting durability and reliability.
Softwood is an affordable choice for DIY furniture
Typically used for residential and commercial building construction, Softwoods are cheaper and easier to work with than hardwoods and make up over 80% of all timber produced globally. Species such as such a Pine and Douglas Fir are available at low cost at most big box construction stores and lumberyards in common dimensional lumber sizes.
Most construction grade softwood is used for framing homes and commercial buildings, decks, fences and other types of general construct where the wood is not seen.
If you want to try your hand at your first “Do It Yourself (DIY)” bed or are building a piece of furniture for a place such as a college dorm where low price is more important than looks, Softwood can be an affordable choice for a wooden bed frame. The easiest to build DIY platform bed is likely made from Pine or Fir.
But, if you would like a handmade wood bed frame that will stay strong for years to come and look good there are other there are other considerations. Softwood can be prone to warping and squeaking over time due to changes in air humidity. Softwood can loose its ability to “hold” a nail or screw, again contributing to the potential for a bed made from softwood to squeak and creak as it is used. To avoid this, opt for a hardwood frame that is both strong and beautiful. Hardwoods such as Cherry, Maple and Walnut will provide lasting support and look great in the long run.
Avoid engineered wood for long lasting furniture
Engineered wood is a class of manufactured products made from a combination of hardwood and softwood mixed together with adhesives, preservatives and other chemical bonding agents. Often using waste from sawmills, the mix is heated and compressed to produce dimensional lumber.
The two most common types of engineered wood used in furniture are Particle Board and Plywood.
Particle board in furniture is often seen as a cheaper, less substantial alternative to solid wood. Commonly found at Ikea and other big box stores, particle board furniture looks very nice on the showroom floor but rarely stands the test of time because the finished surface veneer easily chips, warps and bubbles, especially when exposed to moisture. Make sure the bed frame you select is made with high-quality materials that can stand up to everyday use. Check for strong joinery and sealed edges, and make sure any moving parts are well lubricated.
Plywood furniture can be surprisingly strong – but only if well constructed. When looking for plywood furniture, look for pieces made from thicker sheets of quality plywood and check the edges to make sure they are sealed properly with glue and screws. Avoid any pieces that list “veneer” in the description; these options are usually less durable. Because of its good strength-to-weight ratio, plywood is well suited for part of furniture that is not seen on a regular basis by the user, such drawer bottoms in and cabinet backs.
Disadvantages of metal beds
While metal beds tend to be more affordable than wooden beds, metal beds and metal bed frames lack the comfort and durability of wood. Additionally, metal frames and legs are more likely to rust, squeak, break or get damaged in general than wooden ones are.
The biggest disadvantage of metal bed frames is that they’re not as aesthetically pleasing as wooden ones – in fact, many people say that metal is just plain ugly.
Types of Handmade Beds
Handmade wood bed frames come in many different shapes and sizes, from a traditional poster bed to a modern luxury bed. Each type of bed frame has its own unique features and benefits.
Platform beds are a bed frame that does not use box springs or a separate foundation. Instead, the mattress rests directly on a solid flat surface typically wooden slats. This makes platform beds great for smaller rooms since they take up less room than traditional bed frames with box springs and foundations. Platform beds come in many different styles and materials, so you can find one that fits your personal style. With a platform bed, you can enjoy a simple, modern look with plenty of comfort and support.
Canopy beds are a traditional style of bed that features four tall posts at each corner, with a canopy frame above the bed. Drapes, curtains, or other fabric are often added for extra style and to create a romantic atmosphere. Canopy beds come in a variety of different materials and styles; some are designed for more traditional settings while others feature a modern look.
Storage beds are a great choice if you are looking for added storage capacity in the bedroom. Storage beds feature drawers, compartments, and other hidden storage areas within the frame of the bed. This is perfect for storing out-of-season clothing, blankets and sheets, or any other items that need to be tucked away discreetly.
Bunk beds are a great space-saving option for both children and adult bedrooms. These beds feature two stacked sleeping areas, usually connected by one vertical support frame and a ladder or stairs. They offer plenty of room for two people to sleep and also provide ample storage capacity underneath. Many bunk beds also come with additional features such as built-in desks and shelving units, making them even more versatile. Bunk beds are a great way to make the most of a smaller bedroom.
A loft bed is a type of bed that features an elevated sleeping area and usually provides room underneath for other uses, such as a seating area or storage. Loft beds can typically be found in children’s bedrooms, dormitories and apartments, providing extra living space to those who are limited on square footage. The elevated sleeping area provides a unique and creative solution to making the most of a limited area. Loft beds typically come with ladders or stairs to access the elevated sleeping area.
Trundle beds are a type of bed with an extra mattress frame that fits beneath a regular-sized bed. This space-saving solution is perfect for when guests come over and need additional sleeping capacity. The trundle bed can be pulled out from underneath the primary bed when needed, then pushed back in to save room when not in use. Some trundle beds also have a mechanism that raises the lower mattress to the height of the upper mattress to make one large bed.
What to look for when buying a quality handmade wood bed frame
Materials make the difference
First, look for a bed frame that is made from solid hardwood such as Oak, Cherry or Maple. Make sure the joinery (the way the pieces of wood fit together) is precise and secure; this will ensure the bed frame’s longevity and structural integrity.
Avoid any pieces with glue or nails that don’t look like part of the design. Choose hardware that is made from durable materials such as stainless steel or brass. These materials will stand up to regular use without corroding and will look better for longer.
Beds made in the USA are the best
The best handmade beds are made in the USA with strong materials that will stand the test of time. The beds are crafted with care by artisans using hardwood and quality hardware to ensure a long lasting piece of furniture.
Pay attention to wood stain
Wood stain is a liquid finish that penetrates wood to give it a translucent color. Unlike paint that stays on the top of a surface, wood stain goes deep into the pores of the wood ensuring a subtle, long lasting color.
Real hardwood can be stained to create a wide array of colors from soft and subdued to bright and bold. Each type of hardwood will take stain colors in different ways, so make sure you discuss colors with your furniture builder and/or obtain samples of the finished wood before the stain is applied.
When it comes to color, make sure that you understand exactly what you are buying. Many lower cost softwoods and engineered woods can be stained or painted to make a good copy of genuine hardwood at first glance, whereas unlike real hardwood, these colors and finishes may fade, chip, warp or crack over time.
Understanding furniture finish
Furniture Finish is the last coat of product applied before the piece is complete. Unlike stain which colors the wood, the finish coat is designed to protect wood furniture from water, sunlight and everyday use. Two types of finish are most popular in the marketplace:
Penetrating Oils, also known as Drying Oils, including Tung Oil, Boiled Linseed Oil and Danish Oil, go deep into the pores of the wood to provide a long lasting, durable finish. Oil finish is easily repaired by sanding and adding additional oil to the repair area. Penetrating oils typically produce a rich, warm color and a matte finish. A brighter gloss can be added to an oil base with high quality furniture wax.
Tung Oil is a particularly good choice as it is a 100% natural product that has been used for centuries in applications as diverse as sealing boats to stonework. Tung Oil is low VOC and non toxic.
Polyurethane is a plastic product and does not penetrate the grain of the wood when applied. Polyurethane sits on top of the finished wood surface and dries very hard. Polyurethane is most often used for a gloss finish but is also offered in semi-gloss and matte finishes. Because it is so hard, Polyurethane is excellent for high traffic surfaces such as hardwood flooring, desks and tabletops. However, if damaged Polyurethane is difficult and time intensive to repair.
Understanding veneer
Have you ever had the finish of a piece of furniture chip or crack, only to find mealy particle board underneath instead of real wood? What you are looking at is a cracked piece of veneer.
Veneer is a very thin piece of wood, plastic laminate or other manufactured material that is glued to a panel of lower cost fiberboard, particleboard or plywood to make it look like solid wood. Veneer is typically found on lower cost furniture because real wood is not used. There are several commonly used types of veneer that you should be aware of when shopping for furniture and other wood products.
Wood veneer is very thin slice of wood, usually 1/42 of an inch thick. Because real wood is used, the look and feel will be close to a piece of solid lumber. Real wood veneer create a large amount of material from the use of a single log, making them more environmentally-friendly and affordable.
The downside of wood veneer is that that thing material is fragile and prone to crack when exposed to heat, sunlight or moisture. The thin material is very hard to repair and nearly impossible to sand down to remove accidental damage to the furniture.
Plastic Laminate veneer is a lower cost product manufactured by pressing together layers of flat paper and plastic resins under high pressure and then bonded to fiberboard or plywood. The wood grain and color you see are not wood at all! Rather it is man made copy of wood. One advantage of this product is that the wood grain is “perfect” with no natural imperfections or character.
Most often found in retail stored and office furniture, High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) is constructed of multiple layers bonded together under high pressure and heat, making the product very strong. Low-pressure laminate is more widely known as Melamine. Melamine is constructed of a single layer bonded to the base material and is known to de laminate over time.
The primary downside of any type Plastic Laminate veneer is that its not a natural product. Furthermore the very thin plastic later is almost impossible to repair. Ever had a piece of Ikea furniture that couldn’t be fixed?
How thick should wood be for a bed frame?
When shopping for a new bed frame, take a close look at the quality and thickness of the material used, especially the wood used on the base frame, wood slats and headboard. Wood used for a bed frame should be at least 1.5 inches thick if not larger. This thickness ensures that the bed frame is strong enough to hold up a mattress and support your weight while still being light enough to move around as needed. Thicker wood provides more support, helps reduce squeaking and makes it easier to attach hardware if necessary.
Thick wood bed frames are also in style! The “chunky” wooden bed frame has an oversize look that makes sense with modern beds, queen size mattresses and oversized headboard.
Where can I buy a handmade wood bed frame?
Handcrafted wood bed frames can be purchased from local furniture stores, artisan craft markets, or online retailers such as Solid Custom Heirlooms. Many of these products are made with high-quality materials and offer a variety of customization options so you can get exactly what you want. If you’re looking for something truly unique and special, check out Etsy or other websites that specialize in handmade wood furniture.
Are solid wood beds better? The top 10 reasons to buy real wooden bed frames
- Authenticity: buying a bed frame made from real wood means that you will sleep soundly knowing you made the solid choice.
- Durability: handmade wood beds constructed with care and expert craftsmanship will always outlast mass-produced products.
- Quality: A handmade bed frame displays an attention to detail that can’t be found elsewhere, as each piece of wood is carefully selected, sanded, and finished to perfection.
- Customization: working with a craftsman to design and build a bed will give you a wide selection of options not available from a mass-market product.
- Custom Bed Sizing: whether you have a California King, Twin or something in-between, a custom bed frame will be sure to match your needs.
- Rock solid construction: let your kids jump with confidence!
- No Squeaks or Creaks! Rest easy in a bed that is made for you.
- Better sleep: many people report that they sleep better on on a wood bed frame.
- Longevity: hand made bed frames last for generations
- Support American craftspeople: the men and women who work hard to design, build and finish your bed thank you!
Solid wood bed frames made in the USA
At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think that handmade wood beds should be accessible to anyone. Whether you want a simple platform bed for your Queen size mattress or a elaborate California King luxury bed, we are here to help. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of beds hand made from high quality American hardwood. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or type of bed, please contact us and we would love to help you create your dream bed!
