Monday, June 6, 2011

Take Two: The New Bed

Photograph by Bob Smith via House to Home


You’re all going to think I’m totally crazy, but I’ve decided to sell the bed frame we bought for Grace. On Thursday night, we bought another ensemble base instead (lower than the one currently in our spare room) to go with our existing virtually new mattress. In hindsight, I think I was sucked in by the prettiness of the bed we recently bought and didn’t think about the practicalities of it or its design.

There were a few reasons for my change of heart. From a practical point of view, I decided that having a bed frame against the wall was going to make it very difficult for me to make the bed. I know many people have such beds against walls, but anything that makes my pregnant life easier these days is a positive in my books and the new ensemble base on wheels makes it super easy to tuck in blankets and sheets. The new base also has no hard edges so I have no fear of Grace hurting herself on the bed either when she sleeps or is running around in her room playing and being a good ten centimetres lower, if Grace does fall out of bed at night, it’s not of concern, especially with a few pillows placed on the floor.

From an aesthetical point of view, the ensemble bed option suits Grace’s room better. While I’ve always preferred the look of a bed base, our bedrooms are super small which means visually, it is important to minimise how imposing the furniture feels. I won’t have the effect of the carpet continuing under the bed, however the extra space we’ve gained is beneficial and most noticeably, the lack of a footboard makes the bedroom feel less ‘closed in’. When we got the pretty bed frame home, I also didn’t like the way the mattress wouldn’t sit nicely within the frame and kept sliding around. The visible slats under the mattress really bothered me.

So, those are the reasons I used to explain to Paul why I had completely changed my mind and gone down the ensemble bed path and why we now have not only our old ensemble base to sell, but also the pretty bed frame. Most importantly however, I feel at peace with my latest decision and Grace has been sleeping pretty well in her new bed since Friday night. Thank you all for the advice you gave me over my bed debacle.

Now it's time to decorate Grace's 'big girls room' and add some pretty touches like those in the image above. To satisfy my wish for a pretty bed, I am going to be on the lookout on Gumtree and Ebay for a nice headboard. For now that’s not a necessity but it will definitely finish off this corner of the room better. I am also in the planning stages of the patchwork quilt I am about to make which I will share with you as I make some progress.

Have you ever made a furniture purchase you later regretted?

13 comments:

  1. Oh dear. At least it has all worked out in the end. I kind of regret the bed frames we got the boys - they are fine but aesthetically I would've chosen something different. xx

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  2. Good on you for making a decision that is right for you and Grace.

    I surrendered to practicality over aesthetics a while ago when it came to choices for Amelie.

    I saw a canvas with the image of a bedhead placed above a bed that looked very cool. You could DIY your own :)

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  3. I completely understand you doing that Amanda! You could try to make a padded headboard for the base. There's lot of tutorials in bloggy world to show you how :)

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  4. Kerry - I've been doing a lot of 'Googling' to see my DIY options. Haven't ruled that out just yet :)

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  5. It's good to hear that Grace is sleeping well in her new bed. Like Kerry, my first thought when you mentioned bed heads was to DIY. Might be a bit tricky with a pregnant belly though!

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  6. Hi Amanda I've been trying to leave comments on your blog last week but didn't work...so frustrating...love the padded headboard idea, I think that would be nice too, glad Grace is sleeping better now :)
    Claudia
    xo

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  7. I can totally understand Amanda, it's like a mothers instinct I think, that 'I don't feel good about it' feeling that you get about things, so it's so much better to go through the dramas of buying and selling the old and new one to get that piece of mind. And a pretty headboard down the track will be just as gorgeous as the old one! I can't wait to see how the room comes together, it will be beautiful with your taste!
    I'm so glad to hear that Gracie has been sleeping so well since Friday.
    Big Hugs,
    Jxx

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  8. So glad that you have found a solution that is working for all of you! Love the idea of a DIY bed head, can't wait to see what you do. x

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  9. Ah dont feel bad - we bought some blinds recently that we thought would really work but when we got them we just werent feeling it!!
    Glad that little Grace is sleeping okay!
    Rachie xo

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  10. Oh Amanda, I have just caught up on the bed fiasco. You poor thing. The new bed sounds great. Don't worry, it's always easy to be wiser afterwards. You are very caring and I am sure Grace will soon settle into her big girl bed.

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  11. I completely understand Amanda! I was pregnant with baby #4 in 2009 and had to move both our boys into a shared room. As they both had the same beds I thought I would go back to Country Homes Furniture (I'm in Perth too) had them make a ladder and rail so my husband could make their beds into bunk beds. I hated it! Especially getting up on the top bunk to make it and try to tuck a sheet and blanket in with my pregnant belly. It was awful. After 3 weeks I had him take it all apart and go back to single beds, just losing the much needed floor space though...But I was so much happier and felt like a weight was taken off my shoulders. So out to the bulk rubbish collection went the wooden ladder and rail, a nice waste of money and a decision I regretted but hey, we as Mother's have to make our lives easier where we can, for us & our kiddies! So don't feel bad at all.x.

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  12. Alls well that ends well Amanda...it's only a bed and Grace is much more comfy and secure. That's all that really matters.

    I've bought a couple of things I've later regretted, but hey, that's what eBay's for.
    By the way, I've been checking out beds on eBay recently and have noticed some rather nice single bedheads...you might find something that takes your fancy
    Lesley
    x

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  13. Such a sweet pic of a little girl's room. Looking forward to the progress shots of your patchwork quilt...My mum surprised me by saying that she'd love to make one for the little one's room - she hasn't quilted since she made my little sister's baby quilt!
    x

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