Cast iron bed

Cast iron beds, sometimes described as wrought iron beds, are popular as bed frames. They combine slim and narrow components that have a high strength with a light and open appearance. They are ideal for a bedroom that wants a light free look.

One of the big advantages of the metal frame is that it can be cast or shaped into an almost unlimited variety of forms and profiles. It is also an easy material to paint and this means that it can be finished in a number of colours other than the standard black or white.

Designs

The majority of cast iron bed frames feature a head and a foot section (like the timber head board) that is made up from a lattice of ironwork. In the case of the cheaper and simpler frames the design will be constructed from vertical uprights, however more expensive frames will have more intricate detailing. Frames of this type can have patterns, curves and shapes built into the design and these can make the bed very decorative.

Cast iron bed frames come in a good variety of designs. In fact you will find more variation and different patterns of design in cast iron than you will in any other bed frame material. These designs not only affect the infill appearance of areas like the foot and head sections, but they can also be used to give these components different profiles, e.g. curves and patterns rather than a straight horizontal top edge.

Buying

Some bed frames include a mattress, however in most cases the choice of mattress is independent of the bed frame and this offers the opportunity to select from any of the numerous mattress types that are available. This means that a bed frame can have an orthopedic mattress made of springs, memory foam or any other mattress material.

One word of caution is to check the suitable maximum mattress depth for any bed frame that you purchase. All frames are designed to look and function at their best with a mattress that falls within specific minimum and maximum thicknesses. Exceeding the optimum thickness may result in the mattress sitting above the top of any head or footer detailing and this may result in the bed-mattress combination looking ill matched.

In the case of orthopedic mattresses, the depth of the mattress can be thicker than usual, so it may be necessary to buy a bed frame that can adequately accommodate a deep mattress.

Weight

Whilst the narrowness and tubular construction of many metal beds mean that they are no heavier than the frame of a timber bed or divan bed, this is not true in the case of ornate cast iron beds.

Some metal beds can have cast detailing and broad panel sections that make them very heavy. When this is the case it is important to ensure that the floor is capable of bearing the weight of the bed and mattress. It is also important to make sure that the bed frame will fit through any bedroom door frame if it does not dismantle.