No products in the cart.
What makes a bed a captains bed? What is a captains bed? What is the difference between a captains bed and a mate bed? Why is it called a captains bed? In this blog we will explore these questions and more.
A captains bed is a storage bed with drawers on both sides, and a storage headboard. Captains beds are a type of storage bed, but not all storage beds are captains beds. A captains bed is a storage bed that is all about efficient use of space, and using all of that space for storage. While a storage bed may only have a couple of drawers, a captains bed will always have a lot of storage. Captains beds are usually in King or Queen sizes, but they can be in any size a normal bed is made with too.
A captains bed is called a captains bed because those are who slept in them: captains. In the days of the East India Company, whaling, pirates and Moby Dick, the ship’s crew greatly valued space, as any unneeded space would lessen the amount of cargo they could carry on their voyage. That is why the crew usually slept on hammocks that took up took minimal area, to make way for the cargo, whether it be spices or sperm whale oil.
However, the Captain had the class distinction of not only sleeping in a separate cabin, but also in a different type of bed. He got to sleep in an actual bed, but one that was still space conscious. His was a bed that essentially combined the functionality of a dresser and a bed into one piece of furniture, and this bed was jam-packed with drawers, cubbies and shelves for all of his belongings. Because of this functionality, the Captain’s bed took up the same footprint as a normal bed, but had the double use of sleeping and storage, making it excellent as both a class distinction and a utility. So if you find that the combination of storage and comfort is as elusive as the White Whale, a captains bed may be the solution for you!
A captains bed is a storage bed with drawers on both sides and a storage headboard. While a captains bed is a storage bed, not all storage beds are captains beds. Captains beds are all about the space used and the storage gained. A captains bed is the epitome of a storage bed, with every inch being used for utility, whereas another storage bed may only have a couple of drawers.
But what really sets a captains bed apart is its storage headboard. That’s right, this sort of bed is so much about storage that even the headboard is optimized for storage in the forms of shelves or drawers. This also distinguishes a captains bed from a mates bed, the difference being that a mates bed has no storage headboard.
A captains bed usually comes in Queen or King sizes, but it can be made in any standard mattress size. When thinking of storage space, the bigger the better is usually the case. A larger mattress will offer more space below for drawers and more room for a headboard with shelves or drawers above, so a larger mattress is usually preferable for an adult captains bed.
Captains beds in twin or smaller sizes can also be great for kids who need more space in their rooms. If your kids need more space in their rooms, a captains bed might be for them. A captains bed, or a mates bed, is a great addition or alternative to drawers and dressers in a kids room.
What is the difference between a mate bed and a captains bed? In ye times of yore, a captain did not circumnavigate the ocean blue by himself: naturally he had mates. While most of the lower ranking crew slept in hammocks below or on deck, a larger ship could have a dedicated room for the ship’s top mates, who experienced similar luxuries to the captain.
The mates got to sleep on real beds as well. If they were so fortunate, they each got to sleep on a mate bed. A mate bed is the same as a captains bed except for that a mates bed does not have a storage headboard, and a captains bed does. Today, a mate bed is great for those who want a lot of storage, but maybe not as much as a captains bed offers. If you want the functionality of a captains bed but do not want the storage headboard, a mate bed is for you.
So, are captains beds worth it? At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think that captains beds are great for your sleeping and storage needs! Our goal is to offer a wide variety of beds hand made from high quality American hardwood. If you don’t think a captains bed is for you, or don’t see what you are looking for, please contact us and we would love to help you create your dream bed, of any type!
