Captains Beds with Storage Drawers

The conventional captain’s bed is a low profile one that’s designed purely to minimize the footprint. The headboards and footboards are often done away with, making them somewhat unappealing to look at. But there are newer designs mix and match trends.

Curved sleigh sized beds, for example, are designed with the platform frame, bunk beds with integrated captain’s styled storage for the kids’ rooms and even ones with an integrated futon bed on one side and storage drawers on the other. The headboard can include open shelving that’s perfect for a bookcase or for decorative elements.

The origins of the captain’s bed can be traced to ancient maritime vessels with matchbox-sized cabins. With integrated drawers and storage compartments, these compact beds save space that would otherwise be occupied by a full-sized wardrobe.

Premade Captain’s beds conform to standard sizes like single, twin, double, queen, eastern and California king. But some manufacturers also offer custom sizes which are made to specifications. Measure the dimensions of the room and pick a size that fits in it. Check the storage volume and access.

It can either be an ottoman-styled storage, with a gas-piston fitted lid that needs to be lifted up or it can be side drawers that slide out. In the case of the latter, check for enough clearance on the sides that allows you to open the drawers completely.

Depending on the size of the bed, there can be a single multiple rows of storage drawers. Check the maximum weight rating for the drawer slide racks.

There’s nothing more elegant and durable than a captain’s bed with storage made of solid wood. It is durable and aesthetic and can last for years with minimum upkeep.

Due to the lack of a box spring in the design, some manufacturers also offer a bed made entirely of a single piece of wood with minimum joinery. These are extremely pricey though.

A cheaper alternative is to buy a bed with a solid wood frame and veneer or MDF used for the inconspicuous parts, like the drawer inserts.

If you are shopping on a shoestring budget, then MDF beds are a good option. It can be stained and colored to mimic the appearance of wood and almost matches it in terms of durability.

You can also check out beds with a metal frame that uses wood accents. It’s cheaper than solid wood and MDF beds, equally durable due and it mimics the aesthetics of solid wood.

You can pick a captain’s bed to match the other furniture in the room, to match the accent pieces or according to the color of the walls and curtains.

• Darker finishes go well with lighter colored walls and vice-a-versa. The caveat is that if you have a small room, a dark bed will only make it feel smaller.
• Lighter and neutral colors usually blend with any décor or color theme.
• If you hate to rack your brains thinking of color combinations, go with a white finish. It’s universal and will fit right into your room irrespective of the décor.