Selecting Your Bedroom Furniture Set

Before you even start shopping for your new full bedroom furniture set, whether you are in the market for a chest of drawers, bunk beds or a TV armoire, think about what size of bed you'll need; how large a bed your bedroom can accommodate and get ready to lie down and test out a lot of different ones before you make your decision.

Your bed should be sturdy and well constructed so that it supports your weight effortlessly and doesn't wake you in the middle of the night with squeaking. Beautiful oak is the perfect material for a durable sturdy bed that will give you years of good nights' sleep.

Most people replace their mattresses about once per decade but if your mattress isn't giving you a good night's sleep, it's probably time to make a change, no matter how new your mattress may be.

Size is the first thing you'll need to think about. Other than the size of the mattress itself, make sure to allow for a little extra room for your headboard and foot-board. These alone can add anywhere from 4 inches to a foot on either end of wood beds. Comforters, blankets and quilts can add a few inches to either side, so allow for a little extra room here as well. If you're unclear about how a new bed will fit into your room, use graph paper and sketch it to see what sizes of bed will work well. You'll want to allow at least 2 feet on either side of the bed to allow for easy changing of linens and just being able to comfortably get around the room. You can measure the dimensions of a bed and lay masking tape on the floor to get an idea of how much room the bed will take up.

Standard bed sizes are: California/Western King: 72" x 84"; Eastern King: 76-78" x 80"; Queen: 60" x 80"; Double/Standard/Full Size: 54" x 75"; Extra long Twin: 38-39" x 80"; Twin: 38-39 x 75". Remember that these sizes may be slightly different from manufacturer to manufacturer.

It's a good idea to try out a mattress before buying. If you share a bed with someone, make sure that they come along to try it as well. Wear comfortable clothes and prepare to try several before you come to a decision. Give yourself enough time to really get a feel for each mattress. Try sitting and lying on the bed and try out comfortable positions which you find yourself in while reading or working in bed.

Always examine the cutaway samples and the labels to determine the construction of the mattress. Innerspring is the most commonly seen. This consists of springs covered with upholstery and layers of padding. Check how many coils are used, how many layers of padding are present and from what material they are made from. The more coils there are, the longer the mattress will stay in good shape. A double should have about 200 coils; a queen 375 and a king 450-600. These should be covered with several layers of upholstery, at least one layer of foam padding and a quilted pillow top. Mattresses used to almost universally be 9" thick. That has changed with many mattresses being as thick as 16". But thicker doesn't always mean more comfortable.

Try out different mattresses before deciding. Remember that an extra deep mattress may limit your choices of linens.

Always look for a warranty. Many manufacturers and retailers allow for a test period. If you decide the mattress isn't what you want, you can exchange for a different one. Keep in mind that delivery charges may still apply, however.

When looking at bed frames, one thing to look for is if the frame has slats which fit property into the frame and will properly support your mattress and box springs. If you want a bed which doesn't use box springs, you'll want a frame which has a solid base instead of slats.

For storage, and so that your belongings are in easy reach when you are getting ready for your day, you need a chest of drawers, night stands and depending on the size of your room possibly a TV armoire. There are also over-sized pieces in different styles that offer several storage options besides drawers such as doors or shelves. Night stands are perfect for storing personal items or items that are best at close reach because they usually sit bedside. Whatever your preference the most important parts of any of these units are the drawers. If they were constructed poorly from materials commonly used in mass-production, chances are they will break easily, especially if they are stuffed or forced closed.

Make shopping for your home furnishings & decor items a pleasant experience. Go informed and prepared.