Some people argue that one kind of wood is better than another for certain applications. In truth, there are woods that are better suited for some uses, such as cedar in a closet, and all types of wood have positive and negative properties. How does this affect the materials you choose when purchasing wood beds or headboards?
In most cases, the type of wood you choose for your bed is based on personal taste and opinion. It can be chosen based on color, hardness, staining properties, how well it blends in with your decor, or even the style in which you wish to decorate your bedroom. For example, cottage style bedroom furniture would most likely not be made out of dark, hard mahogany. It would be lighter and more simplistic, perhaps made from oak or cedar. At the same time, European bedroom furniture often resembles Victorian and Edwardian styles, being large and heavy and made from cherrywood or mahogany.
There are, however, other factors to consider in choosing a wooden headboard or other bedroom furniture. For instance, if you are actually allergic to any particular type of wood, even though your furniture will not be live wood producing pollen or other particles that are irritants, it might be best to stay away from furniture that incorporates that type of wood. Few people are allergic to oak, so oak bedroom furniture is usually a safe direction to go.
If you move frequently, you’ll want something that is lighter and more easily portable. While mahogany bedroom furniture is quite attractive and can make lovely decoration for a bedroom, it is not the best choice if you are quite mobile, since it is a very heavy hardwood, and it will require several individuals to lift the pieces. Instead, you can choose to have furniture made of cedar or oak, staining it the dark mahogany color, until you settle into a single location for a long period of time.
Cherry bedroom furniture is also quite nice, but this should be used in an instance when you don’t have dogs or small children. Cherry is not an extremely hard wood and can easily be scratched or otherwise caused imperfections. That means it’s also not a wise choice if you move frequently, since movers are rarely so cautious with non-breakable items. If you have platform bedroom sets that are permanently fixed in a home where you intend to live for years, and your children or grown or you don’t have children, cherry wood is a great option for bedroom furniture.
A wood and iron bed can also be an interesting choice. A modern headboard may be formed from an intricate wrought iron design, while the bed itself is made from your choice of wood product. Obviously, most of your decision criteria will be based on what you like and want, but considering the pros and cons of different woods can help you weigh your options more carefully and pick furniture that you’ll be happy with for years to come.
Ben Weissman writes about decorating with iron beds, platform beds and other contemporay bedroom furniture. Turn your bedroom into a personal oasis.
