Types of Beds

 Adjustable bed -- a bed that can be adjusted to a number of different positions.

Air bed -- uses an air-inflated mattress(es), sometimes connected to an electric air pump and having variable, firmness controls. The portable version of an air bed can also be rolled up and packed, so is meant for travel or temporary guest use.

Airframe Air Mattress – an air mattress that has a separate air chamber around the outside perimeter which makes getting into and out of the air mattress easier.

Airframe Waterbed – a waterbed (either full motion, semi-waveless, waveless, or ultra waveless for motion) that has an air chamber around the perimeter which is the support mechanism to keep the vinyl water mattress’s rectangular shape.  This eliminates the need for the wood frame or the enclosure.

Bassinet -- a bed specifically for newborn infants. Box Bed -- a bed having the form of a large box with wooden roof, sides, and ends, opening in front with two sliding panels or shutters; often used in cottages in Scotland: sometimes also applied to a bed arranged so as to fold up into a box.

Brass bed -- constructed from brass or brass-plated metal.

Bunk -- a bed used in a confined space. Bunk beds -- two or more beds one atop the other. Captain’s bed -- (also known as a chest bed or cabin bed) is a platform bed with drawers and storage compartments built in underneath. Camp bed (also known as a cot) -- simple, temporary, portable bed used by armies and large organizations in times of crisis.

Canopy bed – is similar to a four poster bed, but the posts usually extend higher and are adorned or draped with cloth, sometimes completely enclosing the bed.

Cot bed -- a simple, temporary, portable bed used by armies and large organizations in times of crisis. Curtained bed -- a luxury bed with curtains.

Daybed -- a couch that is used as a seat by day and as a bed by night. Futon -- a traditional style of Japanese bed that is also available in a larger Western style.

Four poster bed -- a bed with four posts, one in each corner. Hammock -- a piece of suspended fabric.

Hardside waterbed – the original style waterbed.  Also known as a wood framed waterbed. This bed has four side boards that support the vinyl waterbed mattress to keep the bed’s rectangular shape. Waterbeds are therapeutic and used not only in homes but by medical facilities as a waterbed conforms to the sleeper’s body cradling it.  This helps to prevent bed soars from happening.  Waterbeds also utilize heaters which provides for a warm bed that is soothing to people who have arthritis, fibromyalgia and other rheumatoid discomforts. Components of a hardside waterbed include: pedestal, cross members, deck boards, side boards, head board, heater, safety liner, vinyl waterbed mattress (either full motion, semi-waveless, waveless, or ultra-waveless for motion).

Hideaway bed – fills the need of apartment-dwellers who need to save space, folds up into another piece of furniture, such as a shelf or desk, when not in use.

Hospital bed -- designed to facilitate convalescence, traditionally in a hospital or nursing facility, but increasingly in other settings, such as a private residence. Modern hospital beds commonly have wheels to assist in moderate relocation, but they are larger and generally more permanently placed than a gurney. The hospital bed is also a common unit of measurement for the capacity of any type of inpatient medical facility, though it is just as common to shorten the term to bed in that usage. Infant’s bed (also crib or cot) -- a small bed specifically for babies and infants. Iron bed -- constructed of iron and steel.

Manjaa -- a traditional Punjabi bed made of tied ropes bordered by a wooden frame. Murphy bed – also known as a wall bed -- a bed that can hinge into a wall or cabinet to save space.

Pallet -- a thin, lightweight mattress. Platform bed – a mattress resting on a solid, flat raised surface, either free-standing or part of the structure of the room. Roll-away bed -- a bed whose frame folds in half and rolls in order to be more easily stored and moved. Rope Bed -- a pre-modern bed whose wooden frame includes crossing rope to support the typically down-filled single mattress. Sofa bed -- a bed that is stored inside a sofa.

Softside waterbed – This bed looks just like an inner spring mattress until you un-zip the top portion of the quilted enclosure (made of mattress fabric) and look inside.  Once inside, the enclosure, you will find heavy-duty foam rails that go around the inside perimeter. These foam rails are the support mechanism that maintains the vinyl waterbed mattress’ rectangular shape. Advantages with a softside waterbed include: looks just like an inner spring mattress, can be used with furniture bought at any furniture store, uses conventional bedding. Waterbeds are therapeutic and used not only in homes but by medical facilities as a waterbed conforms to the sleeper’s body cradling it.  This helps to prevent bed soars from happening.  You can also use a low watt waterbed heater which provides for a warm bed that is soothing to people who have arthritis, fibromyalgia and other rheumatoid discomforts. Components of a softside waterbed include: a heavy duty metal bed frame (strong enough to support the weight of water), a foundation (looks like a box spring but is wood constructed with cross members to support the weight of the water), quilted enclosure, heavy duty foam rails, safety liner, vinyl waterbed mattress (either full motion, semi-waveless, waveless, or ultra-waveless for motion).

Trundle bed -- a bed usually stored beneath a twin bed also sometimes referred to as a sleepover bed.

Vibrating bed -- typically a coin-operated novelty found in a vintage motel. For a fee, the mattress vibrates for a duration of time.

Waterbed -- a bed/mattress combination where the mattress is filled with water.  

Wood Framed Waterbed – the original style waterbed.  Also known as a hardside waterbed. This bed has four side boards that support the vinyl waterbed mattress to keep the bed’s rectangular shape. Waterbeds are therapeutic and used not only in homes but by medical facilities as a waterbed conforms to the sleeper’s body cradling it.  This helps to prevent bed soars from happening.  Waterbeds also utilize heaters which provides for a warm bed that is soothing to people who have arthritis, fibromyalgia and other rheumatoid discomforts. Components of a hardside waterbed include: pedestal, cross members, deck boards, side boards, head board, heater, safety liner, vinyl waterbed mattress (either full motion, semi-waveless, waveless, or ultra-waveless for motion).