Bed in the guest room: durable furnishing for changing users
A bed in a guest room is used differently from your own bed at home. The users change, bring different body weights and habits with them and do not always treat the furniture with care. In guest houses, holiday apartments and smaller hotels, frequent bed-making and cleaning are added to this. Anyone furnishing the room should therefore decide less by first impressions than by the question of what the bed has to withstand over years of operation. The following points help with selection and with planning the room.
Frame and joints
The load falls on the frame first. For Beds used by changing guests, look for a sturdy frame made of solid wood or strong board material and for bolted fittings that can be retightened. Pure plug-in joints work loose more quickly when people frequently sit down on the edge of the bed. A centre rail with an additional support leg relieves the slatted base at widths from around 160 centimetres. After the first few weeks, check whether screws need retightening and include this check in the regular room inspection. Creaking is usually the first sign that a joint has come loose.
Headboard and cover
In a guest room the headboard is used as a backrest, for example when reading or watching television. Upholstered headboards are comfortable but absorb hair care products and skin oils. Therefore choose tightly woven fabrics, faux leather or leather that can be wiped with a damp cloth, and medium to dark shades rather than light ones. Anyone using Baroque furniture with a carved and gilded frame should bear in mind that ornaments collect dust and take more time to clean. Button tufting looks refined, but dirt settles in the recesses. Smooth upholstered surfaces with a carved frame are a workable compromise.
Mattress, slatted base and protective covers
As you do not know your guests' preferences, a medium-firm mattress is generally the safest choice. A lying surface at a height of around 50 to 60 centimetres makes it easier for older guests to get up. A washable, moisture-proof mattress protector is indispensable; it is checked at every change of guest and replaced if necessary. Keep at least one spare per bed. A slatted base with fixed rather than adjustable elements has fewer parts that can shift or break. In double beds, two separate mattresses are easier to turn and to replace than one large one.
Planning the surroundings and cleaning
A durable bed is of little use if its surroundings make the work harder. Allow a passage of around 60 centimetres on both long sides so that the bed can be made without moving it. Legs with a floor clearance of around 15 centimetres allow vacuuming under the bed; alternatively, a plinth closes off the base down to the floor so that nothing accumulates underneath. Wall protection behind the headboard prevents scuff marks. Also decide where guests are to put their suitcase, otherwise it ends up on the edge of the bed and damages the cover and frame.
Related categories: Benches, Consoles, Mirrors. The full range: Baroque furniture.
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