Best Beds for Apartments: Maximising Space and Storage

Hardly a week goes past in New Zealand without us being reminded that how and where we live is changing dramatically from the traditional quarter-acre section, to modern apartment blocks and townhouses.

In Auckland 343 apartments have been completed in 2017 and a further 873 CBD units are under construction and due to be finished this year, and judging from the response to a bed-exhibitor stand at the Auckland Home Show in September, it’s clear that many Kiwis are coming to terms with some of the lifestyle changes required when you have to be more economical about your living space.

Bedpost franchisor Julia Doak says most of the interest from those who visited the Auckland Home Show was in “beds that have added functionality” – ie beds that include storage.

“This is new territory for many New Zealanders,” Julia says. “People are always nervous about the amount of storage they’re going to have when they live in an apartment, so utilising the space under the mattress makes complete sense.”

As well as choosing a bed frame with space under the mattress, as opposed to a mattress and base, the main two options for purpose-built storage when it comes to modern bed design is either in-frame draws.

Retailing for around R13000 for the queen size base, the Brooks frame is perfect for apartment living:

• It comes flat-pack so it is easy transported up stairs or via elevators to be assembled in the bedroom.
• It is aesthetically designed with built-in headboard and the perfect “hideaway” storage space to cut out the clutter.
• It is extremely compact, coming in a range of sizes which are essentially the same footprint as the mattress.
• It is extremely durable with Julia saying they’ve purposefully over-engineered its capacity so that it is able to support any style or size of mattress people choose to put on it.

The key elements to choosing a bed for apartment or townhouse living are all centred around space and access so don’t be surprised that when you come in to The Bed King store to choose a style of bed and mattress, that’s one of the main things that our sleep specialists will talk to you about.

It’s important to come fore-armed with information about the size of your bedroom so you know what size bed is suitable for the space, but, unless you’re keen to hire a crane to lift a bed in though an upstairs window, it also pays to know what size frame, base and mattress is capable of getting through all the doors, stairways, corridors and elevators usually associated with apartment blocks.

“When someone has a single level home then access is rarely a problem,” Julia says. “But even the best penthouse apartments usually have to use the same elevator as everyone else and that’s where the challenges can be.”

The main issue is with queen size bases. Sizes below that – say double beds at 188cm at its longest – usually fit, and kings and superkings come with split bases anyway. One option for a 203cm queen size is to choose a lower profile base, which makes it easier to get through doorways and into the bedroom.

“With mattresses,” says Julia, “it’s easier to manipulate them around corners but you can’t do that with a big wooden piece of furniture so it’s important to know that a bed will fit before buying it and organising delivery.”

If you are one of the growing number of people living in an apartment and you are planning to buy a new bed or mattress, you can visit The Bed King to see what would fit into your space, get expert advice on mattress sizes, double beds on offer and more.

Article source: https://www.bedpost.co.nz/Hot-Tips/best-beds-for-apartments-maximising-space-and-storage/

How to Buy a Bed for a Child

Let's face it there are some pretty outstanding beds out there for the more adventurous parents wanting their kids' rooms to stand out from the crowd.

But as well as fulfilling a dream of a fairytale castle, a dinosaur's lair or even the world's largest nest, it's vital for parents to know their children are getting the greatest night's sleep possible, the healthiest mattresses and pillows and the best value for money.

If you are moving your child out of a crib and buying kids beds for the first time, your first step is to head into a Bedpost showroom to get an expert opinion on what's best for your child, your budget and your home.

The key questions you need to ask are:

1) Do I need an interim toddler's bed or should I invest in a bed which will last until they're a teen? The height of the bed, or choosing a bed which can work as a bunk and then uncouple to a regular bed may be considerations to help your investment last longer.

2) Is the bed going to be sturdy enough to deal with the type of heavy-duty monkeying around that children are sure to give it? There's no avoiding the fact that a bed will double as a trampoline for a few years at least!

3) Is the mattress hard-wearing? You're going to have to research mattress protectors and make sure your choice of bed is easy to clean. Bed-wetting is often a difficult subject to tackle but the right choice of bed and mattress can help both you and your child deal with it.

4) Is this bed value for money? If you're buying for a slightly older kid - say from seven or eight into their teens - then you should look for options which offer storage, durability and which help your money go a little further. After all, this is the time when your growing children are costing you most in terms of clothes, food and outings so you need to make sure you're making a practical purchase.

5) Is this bed right for my child's room? There's a foot and a half difference in width between a single (92cm) a king single (107cm) and a double (135cm) mattress so it's vital you know your room's dimensions and also consider that growing children may be more comfortable in the wider option if space allows.

6) Is this bed right for my child? This is the most important consideration and you can't make it without actually having your child in tow when you go to buy their new bed. Get them to test-rest any mattress in the same way you would for your own new bed and ask any Bedpost expert to help.

Whether you're buying baby's first bed, making that move to "big-kid status" or coping with the practicalities of a growing teenager, making the right choice relies on being properly informed of your options. And once you've asked for expert advice from The Bed King on kids beds, then you can get about organising how to decorate for your princess, dinosaur hunter or baby bird! Visit The Bed King for more information, advice and ideas for kids beds.

Article source: https://www.bedpost.co.nz/Hot-Tips/how-to-buy-a-bed-for-a-child/