Sleeping bed
A sleeping bed is a piece of furniture to sleep on. Along with a dresser, they are often in a private room in a house called a bedroom that used by one or a few people and the average person will spend approximately one-third their life laying on one. Traditional beds are made of a wooden frame, that supports a platform called a box spring, which supports a mattress. The mattress is covered in linen which is regularly washed to clean. An affordable and portable alternative to a sleeping bed, designed for limited use, is a hammock.
Various standard sizes are available. The bed should be positioned with a minimum of 30" of clearance at both sides and the foot of the bed, or 36" for a more luxurious feel, except for cribs, singles, and doubles which only need clearance on one side.[1]
| Size | Width | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Crib | 27" | 52" |
| Twin Single | 39" | 75" |
| Single XL | 39" | 80" |
| Double Full | 54" | 75" |
| Double Full XL | 54" | 80" |
| Queen | 60" | 80" |
| King | 76" | 80" |
| California King | 72" | 84" |
Comparison of bed frames
- Wooden frame
Pros:
- Can be made from sustainable sources
Cons:
- Bulky frame is difficult to move and clean around and under
- Wood provides a habitat for bed bugs
- Metal frame
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Does not provide a habitat for sleeping bugs
- Can support a mattress without needing a box spring
- Made of recyclable material
Cons:
- Not locally produced
Murphy bed
A Murphy bed is a type of sleeping bed that is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall when not in use. The bed hides inside a closet or cabinet. Murphy beds allow a space to be utilized for multiple purposes and can help expose more thermal mass for passive solar gain during the day.