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House Furnishing and Decorating: Beds

Beds. Iron or brass beds fitted with woven wire or other suitable wire springs are to be preferred. The iron beds in white enamel harmonize well with birch and other light-colored woods and enameled furniture; and brass beds with mahogany, walnut, and other hard woods in darker colors. The furniture should be of simple design, without carving or unnecessary decoration. The mattress should be of hair or cotton felt, of good quality, and made in two parts, for convenience in turning and airing.

The bed clothing should be light and warm, consisting of linen or cotton sheets, blankets, and a white spread.

Beds and Bedding. -The ideal bed for health and comfort is of metal, either white enameled iron or brass, with a box spiral shelf spring or woven wire spring having enough spiral springs through the middle so that it will not sag. Iron and brass beds are now so cheap that they are being rapidly substituted for wooden bedsteads in all parts of the country. In choosing enamel beds see that the brass fittings are of good quality and well put on. The brass parts are the first to show wear, especially if they are loosely adjusted; and if they come off, the loss will spoil the appearance of the bed.

Enameled beds may be renovated by going over them with white or black enamel paint; to make them look like brass use gilt enamel. Any of these can be washed with soap and water. Thus a metal bed can be easily kept in perfect sanitary condition, free from dust, dirt, or vermin. Happily, the old-fashioned slat and cord bedsteads are rapidly becoming things of the past.