What is a platform bed…

and will not using a a boxspring make the mattress feel firmer? In order to get a better understanding of how these beds work we’ll need to take a closer look. Modern platform beds are some of the coolest and most in style beds being offered today and are  in an assortment of styles and designs. Once only thought to be Feng shui styled and popular as Chinese furnishings these beds have branched out to the world. Many sit very low only inches off the floor while others sit a couple of feet off the ground like captains beds. Finishes and construction include vinyl ,wood, paint, or stain you name it they build platform beds in it. In most cases the platform of the bed replaces the need for a boxspring or a supporting foundation.

Do Platform beds use boxsprings?

As mentioned above no, usually not. The deck or platform of these beds is where the mattress lies and most use either a wooden or metal slat kit.  The spacing is close together and will not allow a mattress to sag down in between them. This is because the spacing is often 2 inches or less between the individual slats. Some slats are flexible most are rigid and non-giving. Others include a solid wood platform, Luan plywood or something similar which is perfect so that the mattress can lay flat upon it. NOTE: Neither requires the use of a boxspring however in the case of  platform beds that have a taller headboard, a traditional boxspring or low profile boxspring or foundation can be used. Of course putting a 4 to 9 tall boxspring or foundation between the mattress and platform will make the bed sit taller so plan accordingly.

Results of putting a Mattress on a Platform, does it make the mattress feel firmer?

The answer is no most of the time. The reason being is that most boxsprings today are not flexible and springy. They are firm and unyielding making them no different than sitting the mattress on a floor or setting plywood underneath of them.  We recommend testing your boxspring to see if it is flexible or solid. To test yours place your hands on the top of the boxspring resembling CPR and press down. If it gives you have a flexible boxspring and putting it on a platform bed may change the feel slightly. How much it changes depends on thickness of your mattress. The thicker the mattress the less difference in the feel, the thinner the mattress the more you will find the boxspring plays a part in the mattress sets over all feel. Last but not least check the warranty for the mattress when using it on  a platform bed. Some mattress manufacturers may have some stipulations you will need to follow. The important thing is like purchasing any new mattress is to make sure that you purchase the one that feels most comfortable to you. It is essential that you match it up with your new platform bed so that you have both the look and the feel you have always dreamed of.

Is is possible to use a full size frame with a queen size headboard?

Wait a minute before go throwing away that old headboard or mattress. If you thought you couldn’t utilize the old full size mattress with a queen headboard, think again. We have a couple of solutions to your problem. First lets look at the size of each item.

Queen headboard usually measures 60 inches wide while full size mattresses and bed frames only measures 54 inches wide. Although 6 inches may seem like a lot it really isn’t when you split the difference between each side. People have been fitting headboards to mattresses this way for years. It only leaves 3 inches per side a measurement most people can comfortably live with that. By the time the mattress is dressed with sheets, bed skirt, and bed spread, the eyes will not be drawn to this little bit of extra width on each size. Below are great and easy solutions to save you money by not having to purchase a smaller headboard or a larger mattress and all of the additional bedding needed to dress the mattress?

How to use a queen head board with a full size mattress

Using a set of Glideaway MODEL #8A mounting plates you can attach the old queen size headboard to a full sized bed frame. For example a person can bolt the plate to a queen headboard with a headboard that is designed to bolt up and then simply bolt it to the full size frame. The slots permit horizontal and vertical adjustments.

If the queen headboard has vertical slots where the old time hook wood or metal side frames used to slide in then you would use a Down Hook accessory. The Down hooks utilize 2 heavy-duty steel brackets with down hooks that simply hook over standard pins in the vertical slots of the headboard. You could then use a bolt on frame with a set of MODEL #8A Mounting plates as mentioned above.

Lastly some headboards need no modifications at all and simply have an additional spot to attach a headboard that is located 3 inches inside of the queen mounting position by bolting up the frame,

Lastly and not our favorite option is if there is a spot to drill through the headboard that lines up with your frame and is secure enough to attach it is possible to do so but may damage or devalue your headboard.

Still have questions on converting this bed?

If you have something other than what we have mentioned Contact Us we would be glad to help you save money with free advice.

So what is the big deal anyway – it’s only furniture?

When making your next bedroom furniture purchase you must consider many things. For instance what color, what size, and of course style are traditionally the primary concerns we think about when buying a bedroom set. These simple things determine why a set is so cheaply priced or why another cost a bit more?

In the bedroom furniture industry much of the manufacturing has left the USA . Manufacturers from China , Vietnam , India , Indonesia , and Malaysia are often the builders of both the recognizable and not so familiar brand name furniture we all buy.

What other things might I consider before purchasing my next pieces of bedroom furniture?

Consider what part you play in supporting the good, the bad, and the changing. For example maybe you are for supporting local economies, or social injustice in a region, or fighting against rainforest degradation. Consider a sustainable product built by a responsible manufacturer that is doing their part in this big ecological puzzle by doing all the above. Consider manufacturers who are doing just one piece of this incredibly complex puzzle very well.

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) hopes to educate all of us by supplying a list of questions to ask and consider the next time we buy a piece of bedroom furniture.

What questions do I need to ask?

Q: When the manufacturer built this piece of furniture where did the wood come from?
A: Managed rainforests and legally harvested wood is the most important thing to consider and will eliminate funding that sustains other non-legal methods.

Q: Does the wood carry third party certification that can monitor good performance and high standards? Examples FSC and the SFI. The Forest Steward Ship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

Q: Does this bedroom furniture manufacturer have in place a conduct or social equity code for their process?
A: Such a code is the only real way that workers are treated in a fair manner, paid a decent wage, while working in a safe environment. A written code should be provided by every manufacturer.

Q: Does the manufacturer of this bedroom set currently use or have an everyday use reduction plan?
A: It is a fact that electricity is the number one and largest contributor of CO2 emissions throughout the world. Companies with an energy reduction plan are a large part of the solution.

Q: Where was the furniture produced?
A: The second largest contributor to green house bases is transportation. Buy local when possible from companies who source their raw materials locally. This not only supports local economies but cuts emissions

Q: Were pieces finished or painted with high VOC Volatile Organic Compounds used in the production of this furniture? Various types of varnishes and lacquers used on the wood finishes contain harmful V.O.C pollutants, which are released not only in the MFG process but also in your home. Please choose offering with either low or no VOC emissions.

Where is there a bedroom store that carries good quality, well built bedroom furniture in the Saint Louis metro area? STLBeds.com and The Water Works Sleep Center have the best selections around. Our family owned St. Louis based furniture store specializes in surprisingly hard to find American made furniture. That’s right you can now find bedroom furniture right here in St. Louis that is still made right here in the USA.

Furniture Traditions bench crafted pieces are assembled by a skilled craftsman. Each Furniture Traditions dresser, chest, and bed are built to last a lifetime. How do they do this? Furniture Traditions starts by using Northern Red Oak. Crafted from the highest quality solid oak wood and oak veneers. If you look to see how each piece is constructed you will see a difference between them and some of the best name brands in the furniture business. As a result of such fine quality and craftsmanship Furniture Traditions has placed themselves in a unique position among giants to offer the best warranty in the bedroom furniture business. They call it their Heirloom Warranty. Plain and simple they will fix it if there’s a defect. Even if you break it they pledge to gladly send you a replacement piece for a very reasonable cost or help in any way they can.

Furniture Traditions Bedroom Selection Includes:
· Master-piece Wall Pier Group
· Deluxe Spindle Bed
· Classic Sleigh Bed
· Nostalgia Bookcase Headboard with Beveled Mirror
· Country Treasures 4-Poster
· 2 Huge Drawer Pedestals
· Oak Headboards (Several models to choose from)
· Master-piece Armoire
· 3-Drawer Night Stand
· Master-piece Night Stand
· Entertainment Chest
· Media Lift Console
· Entertainment Console
· Bedroom TV Console/Hutch
· 7-Drawer Dresser
· Lingerie Chest
· 3-Drawer Chest
· Master-piece Dresser
· Master-piece Chest
· Master-piece Treasure Chest
· Jewelry Chest
· 5-Drawer Chest
· Hope Chest

All pieces are inventoried for quick timely delivery and the best thing is that items are rarely if every discontinued. This means that weeks, months, or even years later you should be able to find matching pieces to compliment your existing Furniture Traditions collection for Valentines Day, a birthday, or an anniversary. Contact us or call us at Toll Free at 1-888-793-8311 Ask for Dave or Doug.

Signs say it; newspaper ads print it, and any red-blooded shopper that can take to mean what an ad implies to be true believes there are great deals to be had. But just because someone says that they are only open on weekends to save us money, does that make it factual or for that matter even possible? Lets dig a little deeper.

Companies buy buildings or rent them but do they only have to pay the mortgage or rent payments on the weekends?
I think we all no that’s not true. I think it is safe to say our mortgage holders or landlords would not be so generous to forgive us of our monthly principle and interest payments just because we only lived in our residents only on the weekends. However it does sound like a sweet deal, I want that.

If selling furniture, mattresses or any item for that matter only on the weekends really saved customer’s money why doesn’t every store in every industry do the same thing?
My guess is that slow and steady beats a weekend mad rush, you know like the Tortoise and the hair. Someone once told me why isn’t Costco or Sam’s Club only open on the weekends? Aren’t those the two most successful money saving companies in the United States? If only being open on the weekend saved you more money I have to believe these two giants would lead the way.

Do companies that are only open on the weekends only incur lower costs by only being open on the weekend?

My view is I do not think so, put your current life in a weekend mode of doing everything you do, would that really save you money? If it worked we would do it, the world would do it. I think it is safe to say the answer is no.

Do companies have to still pay utilities, insurance, and advertising throughout the week?
Yes, just because their weekend store hours start on Fridays and go on thru Sundays that does not mean they stop accumulating bills Monday thru Thursday.

Is advertising stopped by weekend only type businesses during the week such as Internet, TV and radio if no why is that?
Of course not the answer is simple, no. The reason is consistency, they do not want to lose that constant steady exposure that mainstream stores who are open 7 days a week benefit from.

Is it true that stores that are open Sunday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM can also buy truckloads, close outs and one of a kinds?
Sure they can and they do. Maybe even more so than a business that is only open on the weekends because they are open all week long waiting and ready to take advantage of such great bargains and special buys.

Is customer service better from a store that is open 7 days a week as apposed to stores that are only open on weekends?
That is hard to say. My guess is that a store that is open 7 days a week vs. one that is open 2 or 3 days a week will have someone conveniently available to help you with your service needs. I suppose another thing one could do is look to organizations like the BBB or talk with people who have bought from these companies and find out how they were treated. It just seems to me that being available to your customer virtually everyday shows you are truly committed to their needs.

Conclusion:
So why would buying on the weekends only save me money? I just don’t know.

Also read: Can you Buy Mattresses and Furuniture Direct And Really Save Money?