Wood Sleigh Beds: A True Classic

The wood sleigh bed was a very common item found in bedrooms in the first half of the 19th Century. The frame of the bed has a solid headboard and footboard that rolls out at the top. As the name suggests, these frames resemble the frames of the horse-drawn sleighs used to taxi people to their destinations in the winter months during Victorian times. Sleigh beds afford both comfort and elegance by design. These attractive beds are an American tradition without equal. Wood sleigh beds will add a distinct and welcoming aspect to any bedroom. Fortunately, wood sleigh beds are experiencing a renaissance and have become very popular. It's a wonder they fell from popularity in the first place, given their noble look and sophisticated design.

Light or Dark Wood
When you're choosing a wood sleigh bed, you'll need to decide what wood color will go best with the rest of your bedroom. Many types of wood exist for frames and each type fits into a spectrum of colors ranging from light to dark. Obviously, if the rest of the furniture in your bedroom is a light wood you'll want to match the frame of the wood sleigh bed with that color in order to keep a uniform color pattern among the furniture. This also goes for dark wood. Light wood furniture rarely compliments a dark wood bed frame and visa versa. One thing to keep in mind when considering colors is that tree name lends its name to the color. So, if you're uncertain what type of wood was used for the frame, you need only know what color stain was used. Here are some examples of different wood colors and how they accent.

• Walnut is a beautiful darker wood that looks good with or without stain. Walnut can even go with mahogany or red oak.
• Mahogany is usually assumed to be a dark reddish color. However, mahogany is naturally light brown, but usually is stained with red mahogany stain giving it is perceived look.
• Cherry is a light wood that darkens after the years. Most often it is stained to darken it light appearance.
• Maple is the lightest color of wood, appearing almost yellow. This yellowing will persist and become more pronounced over time.
• Oak is probably the most popular color and goes well with almost any furniture. Oak is light and appears golden.