How to pick the bed of your dreams

AFTER a long day at work, there is no piece of furniture in my entire home that I love more than my bed.

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AFTER a long day at work, there is no piece of furniture in my entire home that I love more than my bed.

Even though we spend a lot of our lives snuggled up in bed, too often I see people relegate selecting a beautiful bed frame to the bottom of their decorating to-do list.peAs the focal point of your bedroom, your bed should not only be comfortable and inviting, it should be a visual treat. Transform your bedroom today with a bed frame that is beautiful and stylish. Here's how.

When you're shopping for a bed frame, it's easy to get overwhelmed; there are so many different styles and shapes and finishes. Answering these questions will make finding the perfect match a lot easier:

- What style of bed do you want?

Your bed will set the tone for your entire bedroom. Do you want the room to have a traditional look? Contemporary? Or transitional - an interesting blend of both? Not sure? Look at the style you've already established in the rest of your home. You probably don't want your bedroom to depart too much from the style you've set house-wide so that the rooms will flow seamlessly into one another.

Also, consider scale. How much room do you have in your bedroom? What other pieces of furniture must also fit in the room? If you have a larger room with taller ceilings, you could pull off a large-scale, statement bed, like a four-poster or canopy. But if your space is cozy, perhaps you'd be happier with an iron bed frame that adds texture but not a lot of visual bulk.

- What kind of feel do you want to create in your bedroom?

I think having a strong emotional attachment to your bedroom is a must. Remember: This space should be your private sanctuary, the place where you can go to be restored and refreshed. To do so, your bedroom needs to feed your senses, not just give you a place to crash for the night.

Do you want a room that's serene, appointed in whisper-soft colours and subtle textures? Or, is your ideal bedroom one that gives you a boost, filled with energy-giving colour and pattern? The bed frame will be foundational in creating the atmosphere you're hoping for.

If you're not sure what look is just right for your room, flip through decorating books and magazines. Once you've found several you love, determine what they all have in common. Don't forget to consider upholstered headboards; these stylish and versatile pieces are growing in popularity.

If your bedroom is filled with lots of wooden pieces, from dressers to bedside tables, an upholstered headboard helps break up the sea of hard surfaces and feels luxurious.

- What is your budget?

My recommendation is to go for the most luxurious and high-quality bed frame your budget will allow. When you purchase well-made pieces that will last for years, and select a timeless style you won't grow tired of, you will save money in the long run. Thankfully, you don't always have to spend a lot to get a sensational bed frame. Consider fining and refurbishing an antique bed.

Another way to get a dramatic look on a shoestring budget is to use artwork instead of a headboard. Get an inexpensive metal frame to hold your mattress and box springs. Then, place something dramatic in the spot that would be occupied by a headboard.

- How will you finish the bed with bedding?

Remember: Your bed frame is just the base of your bed design. You are going to finish it with your bedding ensemble. So you need to pick a bed frame that will support the finished bed design you want to achieve. For example, if you know you want to have lots of pillows on your bed, be sure to get a headboard that can visually support them. If you don't want many pillows, pick a headboard that is visually interesting enough to stand undressed.

If you don't want to use a dust ruffle, get a bed frame that either conceals the box springs or doesn't require one.