Sleigh beds are the coziest sleeping arrangement. The head and foot boards extend above the surface of the mattress, and the sides are usually also extended up to cover most of the box springs and mattress sides. You sleep in a wonderful wooden box that encloses you in warmth and security. The beautiful wood of the four sides of the bed enrich the room is it in, and the smooth curves of the tops of the head and foot boards provide a circular rhythm to the four-square room.

Sleigh bed are made to resemble, and are named for, the horse-drawn sleighs of earlier eras. In those days, traveling in winter was made somewhat better by enclosing the body of the cabin to some extent, and by providing the occupants with warm robes to keep the wind off of the body and heated bricks or small charcoal heaters by the feet. The warmth and coziness of this romantic form of transportation was then adapted into a bed which recreates the closed in and bundled up feeling. Sleigh beds are wonderful havens from the outside weather in the winter, especially in northern climates.

Sleigh beds are available in all the regular sizes of mattress/box-springs sets: twin, full, queen and king. There may be sleigh beds in the California King size as well. This would be a very large bed, almost creating a room within a room. Most of the sleigh beds I have seen are made from beautiful wood, as the curves and expanses of wood are beautiful and show off the characteristics of wood to its fullest advantage. There are, however, sleigh beds made from other materials, including leather covered bed frames, wicker/rattan beds and beds made from wrought iron as well as other metals. You can buy a sleigh bed as part of a complete bedroom set, or as an individual piece of furniture.

I should mention that any size sleigh bed over full is going to take a larger room. The beautiful wood also creates a heaviness in the decor that is best offset by a big room or higher than average ceilings. If you have a large bedroom and want furniture to fit the size of the room, a king or queen sized sleigh bed might be just the thing. If you get the bedroom set made from a darker wood and with the taller head and foot boards, it is sure to fill the room. Add linens and a complementary paint color on the walls, and your room is complete.

If you are a woodworker, or know one, your sleight bed can be built especially for you. Plans for sleigh beds are available, and then you can choose the kind of wood you want for your bedroom. Is it also possible to get a sleight bed made from pine, which you could stain to the color you want. This you can match bedroom furniture you already have at the cost of a new bed only.

Sleigh beds are romantic and cozy places to spend your sleeping hours. The next time you redecorate your bedroom, consider this option for a bed that makes a statement.

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