Buying guide for best bedroom sets
Mismatched pieces of bedroom furniture, however beautiful they might be individually, won’t work together if the styles and colors clash. In fact, they can make your room look sloppy. The right bedroom set, on the other hand, can turn your bedroom into a peaceful and relaxing sanctuary.
If you’re in the market for a new bedroom set, this is undoubtedly your goal. You want a set of bedroom furniture that matches your personality and brings a smile to your face when you see it. The bed should be cozy, the nightstands should be the right height for your lamps, and the drawers should be easy to open and close.
Don’t jump into your purchase without stopping to think things over. There are a lot of points to reflect on before making your final decision. The available features in bedroom sets vary, from color to material to finish. This is where you get down to the nitty-gritty of decision making.
Key considerations
Size
How big is your bedroom? Square footage is a huge determining factor. Perhaps a California king bed isn’t practical; perhaps a queen-size bed would fit the room better. (Sure, your bedroom might have room for a California king bed, but does it have enough additional room for a couple of nightstands and a dresser?) Measure the size of your bedroom before you start shopping so you know how much space you have to work with.
Number of pieces
Closely related to room size is the number of pieces in a bedroom set. The word “set” is pretty flexible, and what one manufacturer calls a bedroom set, another refers to as a half of a set. There must be at least two pieces for it to qualify as a set, though — usually the bed and at least one nightstand.
Style
What is your preferred style? Before you go shopping, it helps to know what’s available. You’ll want to settle on a style that will please you for years to come. A partial list of styles includes the following.
- Antique
- Sleigh
- Modern
- French
- English
- Syracuse transitional
These aren’t the only styles by a long shot. There are countless variations and options on the market. Make sure you know what you want before you buy.
Weight
Bedroom furniture can be incredibly heavy. Because of the weight, you might not be able to get it delivered to your door. In that case, you’ll have to have an alternate delivery point where you can pick it up. You’ll also need several strong friends to help you load and unload it.
Ease of assembly
Any furniture you buy online will have to be assembled by you. The weight of the furniture will play a big part in the assembly process. Heavy pieces require several pairs of hands to hold in place while bolts are driven and connections are tightened. Your age and health determine how much assembly you can do. You may decide to hire a service to assemble the furniture for you. Don’t forget to factor that additional cost into your estimate when making your plans.
Material
Hardwoods are the material of choice for many of the best bedroom sets. Softwoods are used on less-expensive items or to cut down on weight, but hardwoods dominate the market. Hardwood furniture will last a long time with few problems. It doesn’t warp nearly as easily as softwood, and it isn’t subject to splintering the way softwoods are. Common hardwoods used in bedroom set furniture include the following.
- Tropical wood
- Particle board veneer (made from hardwood or soft)
- Cherry wood
- Brown cherry wood
- Mahogany wood
- Walnut wood
- Teak wood
Color
Unless it is painted, the color of the furniture depends on the color of the wood. It will range from a light tan or almost white color (pine) to a dark, almost black color (dark walnut or mahogany). The stain and finish will enhance or diminish the color to a certain degree, but the wood itself will be the major determining factor.
Hardwood furniture is seldom painted because most people prefer the natural color of the wood. Softwood, by contrast, is frequently painted as a way to protect it from humidity in the air that could cause it to warp.
Drawer lining
The drawers in the nightstands and dressers can be bare, lined with felt, or occasionally, lined with velvet. A lining increases the price of the furniture and doesn’t substantially add to the functionality of it, except perhaps for the jewelry drawer.
Headboard padding vs. headboard shelving
If you choose a padded headboard, you won’t be able to have shelving on the headboard except in rare instances where shelves are located on the side of the headboard. For the most part, though, it’s an either/or situation. You can have one or the other but not both. If you want both, you’ll have to have it custom made.
Mirror
A dresser with a mirror adds a touch of grace and elegance to a bedroom. A mirror that attaches to the dresser instead of the wall can be rather wobbly unless it is properly anchored in place. Once secured, avoid moving the dresser as much as possible to avoid shaking the mirror and loosening the connection.
Bedroom set prices
Inexpensive: Anything below $500 is considered a low-priced bedroom set. For that money, the most you’ll likely get is a bed and nightstand. The material may not be hardwood, and it will probably include a particle board laminate. The typical style of this type of furniture is modern and minimalist.
Mid-range: A medium-priced bedroom set will range from the $500 to $1,500 or so. It will likely be a four- or five-piece set with a bed, nightstand, dresser, and mirror. Some of these sets have two nightstands instead of just one. Most bedroom sets in this price range will be heavy, robust, and made of hardwood. The style will be varied, and you might find some headboards with shelves and other amenities in this price range.
Expensive: Once you exceed $1,500 — and particularly if you spend over $2,000 — you’re in the high-end zone. There isn’t really an upper limit here. Six-piece sets are the norm: a bed, two nightstands, a mirror, a dresser, and a chest. This is where you’ll find padded and tufted headboards. Walnut and mahogany, some of the more expensive hardwoods, will be found here as well.
Tips
- Never assemble the furniture in the bedroom. The reason: you might discover you can’t get it out if you decide to move. Then you’d have to disassemble it get it out of the room.
- Don’t position the furniture flush against the wall. Leave some room behind it for cleaning and maintenance.
- Leave room for people to walk around in the room. If things are too close together, the room will be cramped and stuffy.
- Consider how you’re going to turn on the lights at night. If bedside lamps are the only light in the room, you could end up tripping and falling when trying to reach them.
FAQ
Q. How do I cover scratches and scrapes on my wood furniture?
A. You can cover some of these blemishes rather inexpensively. Most home improvement stores sell touch-up solution for wood furniture. You’ll need to purchase the solution in a shade that matches your particular bedroom set.
Q. How are king and California king box springs and mattresses supported? It doesn’t seem like a traditional bed frame would be enough.
A. You’re right. Large beds require an extra leg in the middle of the bed to support the weight. If you use king or California king bed, make sure you have a frame with this additional support.
Q. What if I have to store my furniture? How should it be done?
A. First, disassemble it. Then, seal the pieces in plastic to keep moisture out.
