Breaking down the bevy of beds

Ask a number of people what their favorite room in their apartment or house is and you're likely to get a variety of answers. Some might enjoy the serenity of a den or reading room, while others might enjoy the isolation of a good basement. Ask those same people where they'd prefer to be most comfortable in their home, and the answers could be more uniform: their bedroom.

A good bed is a welcome sight at the end of a long day for most people, affording them the chance to rest up in absolute comfort or sleep in late on rainy mornings. Part of what makes a bed a good bed is the type you choose since not all beds are made for all people or places.

+ Platform beds. Platform beds are arguably the simplest choices, coming without a box spring and oftentimes without a heador footboard. That makes them rather easy to assemble, something that appeals to people who are moving without the help of a professional service.

What's also appealing about platform beds is that, thanks to their lack of heador footboards and box springs, they're easy to move around. Platform beds are often the ideal choice for apartment-dwellers whose quarters are more confined, as they leave more space for other amenities.

+ Sleigh Beds. Sleigh beds look exactly as their name would suggest: like an old-fashioned sleigh. Among the most aesthetically appealing types of beds, sleigh beds boast an upward curving headboard and footboard, creating a sense of style and coziness.

Thanks to their headboards and footboards, however, sleigh beds might not be the best choice for apartment dwellers or those with loft-style bedrooms that don't boast an abundance of space.

+ Upholstered beds. These are ideal for anyone who likes to read in bed before they go to sleep at night, as the headboards are upholstered with fabric that is both soft and supportive of the back. When purchasing such a bed, be sure to bring along a picture or design of your bedroom, as the color scheme of your room can be incorporated into the headboards.

+ Waterbeds. While they were more popular years ago, waterbeds still have their devotees. Much of those devotees cite the back support their waterbed provides because waterbeds are known to distribute weight and avoid pressure spots. That makes for a comfortable sleep. In addition, the vinyl mattress on waterbeds does not collect dust or mites, a significant benefit to those suffering from asthma or allergies.

Instantly, when many people hear of waterbeds thoughts of the bed bursting come into their mind. Those thoughts are often unwarranted, as puncturing a waterbed is very difficult, and even if that does happen, they come with safety liners to ensure you won't wake up atop a puddle and a shrunken mattress.

Waterbeds can be bulky and heavy, making them a less-than-ideal choice for anyone with a smaller apartment or bedroom. Those with more ample sleeping quarters, however, might want to consider a waterbed.

+ Futons. Futons have become particularly popular choices over the years for apartment dwellers or as extra guest beds. Resembling a sofabed, futons typically come with a wooden frame and a thin mattress on top. The futon's owner determines how to best use it, whether as a sofa or a bed.

One thing to look for in a futon is not just price, but how comfortable the mattress is. Whereas older futons were widely known to have paper-thin mattresses that weren't very comfortable, nowadays most still boast thin but more supportive mattresses.

+ Chest bed. Chest beds are a particular type of platform bed that offer more aesthetic appeal as well as practicality. Chest beds are so called because they have a chest of drawers or compartments built into them. In lieu of nothing but space underneath the mattress, chest beds essentially provide users with a built-in dresser, particularly valuable for people with limited space.

+ Bunk beds. Certainly not the choice for adults, bunk beds can be ideal for young children who either have limited space or just want to sleep in the same bedroom. Bunk beds can even be fun for kids, and they take up less space than having two beds in the same room. Be careful to ask about weight or age specifications for certain bunk beds, as most are made with kids of a certain age and size in mind.