Whenever you start the process of shopping for furniture, it can become time-consuming, wasting energy and effort over the simple decision of choosing pieces that match your personality and taste. If you’re in the market for a new bed, don’t fret—there are plenty of options to choose from. Generally speaking, whether or not you like a classic take or a modern one on bedroom furniture, you will probably enjoy a platform bed, a sleigh bed, or a canopy bed the most.

“http://www.eco-furniture.com/bedroom-furniture/platform-beds.php”>Platform beds are the best way to contemporize your bedroom furniture without going over your budget. These low-profile beds give off an Asian or European vibe with their sleek lines and modern chic. Because the bed is so minimal in its design, its unadorned headboard blends into its surroundings. Despite the understated sophisticated of a “http://www.eco-furniture.com/bedroom-furniture/platform-beds.php”>platform bed, they are money savers because they don’t need a box spring for your mattress. Instead, slats run across the width of the bed, effortlessly supporting the mattress.

Sleigh beds are ideal for someone who wants a touch of modern bedroom furniture while still keeping aligned with more traditional fare. Created during the Empire period, sleigh beds were originally designed with elaborate detail work and scrolling on the headboard. Newer sleigh beds are a bit more pared down, with headboards and feet with less design, making them a great match to nearly any bedroom décor.

Canopy beds exude traditional style and elegance; if you love the look of time-honored four posters, the canopy bed is the best fit for you. First used in the 1400s in Europe, the canopy bed has grown throughout the centuries into a more delicately decorative piece of bedroom furniture. Oftentimes they will come with top enclosures so you can hang your favorite fabrics on the sides. Today, canopy beds range from overly ornate to a more contemporary look.

Many people would be asking right now, how could blanket chests be a versatile type of furniture? Don’t they just belong at the end of your bed for blanket and quilt storage? Great question. If we look back to Early America, blanket chests usually held a prominent place in the home. Many hope chests were given a place of honor in the front room with the family bible placed upon the top and family treasures placed inside. This actually worked out well since many styles of Early American hope chests were fairly tall.

Many homes now show off blanket chests in their living rooms and dens as coffee tables and end tables. Others place these stylish chests in their front entryways to be used as sideboards to give it the ‘welcome home’ look. Tall blanket chests have been used in the form of buffets in the dining room. A big favorite is to use these wood chests as extra cozy seating area in front of large windows. Of course, some people still insist on placing these extremely versatile chests at the end of their beds which does give them the storage and seating they desire in their bedrooms.

Americans are buying blanket chests now not only to enhance their decors but to also add a new tradition for their families. Many people had steered away from family ties and tradition in the last couple of decades. Family traditions had ceased to be important to some or just too time consuming for other families. Now people are trying to recapture what they have been missing. Family traditions are very important since they help to hold families together. Part of this transition has included obtaining heirlooms that can be passed down to future generations. Every grandparent would love to give a cherished item to each grandchild.

Blanket chests, also known as hope chests and dowry chests, have long held sentimental value for families.These wood chests were usually given to young girls to fill with household items necessary for their future home when they married.This made a lot of sense since sewing and crocheting items by hand was very time consuming. Many of these hope chests had the name of the person who received the chest and date of presentation. This shows that families emphasized the giving of hope chests a very important event in a young girl’s life.

Some lucky families have centuries old hope chests since the wood craftsmen knew how to construct long lasting furniture. Mortise and tenon or dovetail were normally the joinery styles of choice for these beautiful hardwood chests. Both joinery styles not only have wonderful design elements, but have proven to be much stronger methods for long lasting furniture than other construction types. Used in conjunction with glue, the joints of these joinery styles have been shown to be stronger than the wood used in the construction of these wonderful wooden chests. These joinery styles are much preferred over the use of nails and screws in the box construction of blanket chests since these hardware items have a tendency to eventually loosen and fall out. Sometimes heavy damage is caused in the process.

Blanket chests come in all furniture styles, but the ones that create a nice ambiance are those that replicate the antique blanket chests. German immigrants that moved to Pennsylvania, made hope chests that were handcrafted during the 18th and 19th Centuries which have beautiful styling and joinery. These blanket chests have been the favorite among collectors. Some chests had subtle outer design elements carved on the front sides which were usually floral designs. Other wood chests had elaborate,colorful designs which included flowers, people on horseback, hex designs meant to keep away bad spirits, hearts and stars.

The New England coastal area also boasted highly sought after blanket chests which replicated many of the styles of furniture made in Europe. The Queen Anne style, which was started in England, was probably the most favored. It was given a more stylish look in America. All along the New England coast, every major city had its own particular mode of Queen Anne furniture. Each city had its own foot style and preferred leg and design construction. Most furniture experts would agree that the Queen Anne Style was at its absolute best when made by American wood craftsmen.

With so many designs and heights of blanket chests to choose from, it is no wonder that Americans are really beginning to see that versatile blanket chests can be given great placement in nearly every room of their home to add warmth and to add depth to every decor style.

Platform beds are a variation on an older concept, the loft bed. These were raised on poles, allowing the utilization of the floor space under the bed for everyday activities. As homes became larger and more comfortable, the loft bed was lowered and the platform bed took its place.

As the platform bed originated in Europe, today’s beds reflect this birthplace in cleaner, straighter lines. This style works well in many interiors. Usually, there is a headboard, the bed itself, and a mattress, although some include a footboard. This is simple and functional elegance that mixes successfully with other furniture.

Japanese platform beds are gaining in popularity, too. These have more graceful, swooping lines than their European counterparts. Additionally, the Japanese beds make use of tatami mats to isolate the sleeper from the bed frame itself. When it comes to minimalism and wise use of limited space, the Japanese are on to a good thing with their version of the platform bed.

Platform beds are usually made of either wood or metal or a combination of the two. Selection of material depends on the lifestyle of the person buying it. Metal frames provide an edgier urban feel to the bedroom, while wood frames tend to be a little warmer and homier in appeal.

If a minimalist look is desired, there’s no need for a headboard or footboard at all. For those who want a more “dressed” look, there are several styles of platform bed frames that include posts and curtains which give a canopy effect.

There are several advantages to a platform bed. The space beneath the bed can be filled with drawers, thus taking advantage of otherwise wasted space, an important consideration in today’s urban apartments. By not opting for a headboard or footboard, valuable space is saved, as well as offering more decorating options, especially if the bed has casters on its legs. It does not require the use of a box spring, which cuts down on the initial cost of the bed. Moreover, as the mattress is placed directly on the bed’s slats, a firmer sleeping surface is provided.

Mattresses are available in all the standard American sizes: twin, full, queen, king, and sometimes California king. If a European platform bed is under consideration, it’s wise to note that the European beds are a bit longer, which will make finding sheets and other bedding more challenging. Keep in mind that a platform bed will present a firmer sleeping surface. For those wanting or needing some cushioning due to back or joint problems, a featherbed on top of the mattress may provide that necessary “cuddly” effect.

Prices for platform beds range from about $200 for a barebones twin to more than $1,000 for those constructed of more expensive woods, of more ornate styles, and in larger sizes. The mid-range price is around $400 or $500.

Platform beds offer a wide range of sleeping options for those who’d rather count sheep than be one. They make sense for those who like to “think out of the box.”

http://platformbedsandmore.com has a wide selection of platform beds and the accessories that help make your living space more comfortable and enjoyable.

A tapestry exudes warmth, colour and adds an interesting design perspective in the home. Tapestries have been used in American homes for centuries and were the height of fashion in the 17th and 18th century. They suit any period home and remain a popular choice today.

Early Colonial Use

Tapestries were brought to America by European colonists who aspired to be as refined as the well heeled in their mother countries. America saw a number of fashions imported from Europe at this time to ensure the new immigrants kept up with changes in vogue. Tapestries were used as wall hangings or bed hangings and European made work was often listed among the most valued item in a householder’s inventory. At this time the best bed in the house was often decorated lavishly with tapestry art and found more often in a parlour than a bedroom.

Parlours and best rooms in the 18th and 19th century saw rich fabrics and tapestry used in the décor. Furniture covering was a more likely feature at this time than wall hangings. Indeed the industrialisation of the modern city resulted in concern that dust and smoke would destroy these lavish works of art.

Growing popularity with wealthy Americans

At the end of the 19th century America began to see unprecedented wealth from the various industrial developments that spread across the country. Families such as the Astors, Vanderbilts and others who perceived themselves as the aristocracy of America found new wealth from the industrial growth of America and built European styled palaces and homes in vogue with their newly found status. These grand homes gave rise to resurgence in popularity for tapestries. The focal point of George Washington Vanderbilt’s Biltmore were two massive tapestries of Vulcan and Venus. The imitation of the splendour and extravagance of European stately homes and palaces was a classical way in which the newly rich of America chose to display their wealth.

The Arts and Crafts Revival

Tapestry appeared in the less luxurious homes, as furniture decoration rather than lavish wall hangings. The Arts and Crafts movement led by William Morris enabled modern design to be easily reproduced in a classical way. providing colour and texture to a decorative scheme. This trend was seen both in America and Europe, however was somewhat short lived.

A second revival of tapestry art occurred in the mid 20th century when large walls found themselves decorated once again with tapestry hangings. As people moved from one area to another the flexibility a tapestry gave enabled it to be rolled up and re-homed in the new house. It became an alternative to framed paintings in a changing world and made art more accessible to the growing population.

Poplar choices for any home

Tapestries have enabled their owners to be very creative with how they are displayed in a home, be it wall hanging, furniture cover or a unique touch to a corner. They remain a focal point in the modern home and are a versatile feature in interior design.