TYPES OF BEDS & MATTRESSES | IHM 2nd Sem Notes

            IHM 2nd Sem Notes

TYPES OF BEDS & MATTRESSES

 

A guest turns up to a hotel for a comfortable stay. He spends a considerable time in the bed. When guests stay in an organization they are naturally concerned with sleeping and the comfort of the bed is of great importance. The beds must not only be comfortable but must look inviting. This will depend on the design, the materials from which they are made.

Various parts of beds-Most beds consist of the following parts:

    1.       Frame

    2.       Base board

    3.       Headboard

    4.       Footboard

1. Bed Frame or Bed steads: A bed frame is a structure including head, foot and side rails which form the framework for making a bed. This could be wood or metal. This even may have a centre rail to support rest of the structure and parts.

 

•  Platform frames/box frames

These are usually made from wood. They provide the bed springs and mattresses with a platform or box on which to rest. While platform frames are raised off the floor by feet, box frames lie tight to the floor.

•  Metal frame

These consist of four lengths of angle iron with a metal leg attached to each corner. Large beds also have two cross bars added for extra support. The metal legs may have castors or furniture glides attached to them.

 

2. Base board: The part of bed which provides a base for keeping the mattress. A base can be made of open coiled springs, wire mesh or wood to provide resilience and support.

 

Spring Base adds resiliency and durability to the bed. They are made by joining wire springs or coils together and covering them with padding.

 

3. Headboard

Most hotels now prefer headboards to be wall mounted. Headboards are not part of  beds.  The  main  objective  of  the  headboard  is  to  protect  the  wall  from developing greasy stains from a guest’s head. Height of headboard must rise up to 30- 45cm above the top of the mattress. It made of painted or varnished wood or an upholstered type.

 

4.Footboard

A footboard usually made of wood or metal and lower in height than the headboard. Footboards are usually of the same material and colour as the headboard of the bed. Most hotel beds have footboards that are at the same level or at a level slightly higher than that of the mattress.

 

Beds can be classified on the following basis

a.   On the basis of size b.   Decorative beds

c.   Space saving beds d.   Convertible beds

 

 

 

ON THE BASIS OF SIZE

 

I.     Single Bed – it is meant for a single person. Size is 3 ft x 6 ft 3 inches

II.    Double Bed – meant for 2 persons. Size is 4 ft 6 inches x 6 ft 3 inches

III.   Queen Bed – larger than the double bed is queen bed.  Size is 5 ft 6 inches x 6 ft 6 inches

IV. King Bed – available in two sizes European and California king a.   European King – 6 ft x 6 ft 6 inches

b.   California King – 6 ft x 6 ft 10 inches

 

Decorative beds

 

I.     Canopy Bed – A canopy bed is a decorative bed with suspended fabric on top. Ornate or decorative fabric is often draped from top with the help of hook on ceiling or posts (wooden pillars at four corners of the bed).

II.     Four Poster Bed – it is a bed with four posts at all four corners. This bed can have a ceiling of wood or fabric known as a tester. When it is covered with fabric in the form of curtains this is known as canopy bed.

 

Space Saving Beds

 

I.     Rollaway zed beds-Zed beds get their name from their three part folded frame resembling the letter “Z”.These can be rollaway beds on rollers or casters. They generally have a thin latex foam mattress that rests on a base of stretched springs attached to a rectangular folding frame.

II.     Baby Cot/Crib/ Bassinet – it is a bed meant for infant. The size is 2 ft 4 inches x 3 ft 3 inches

III.      Bunk Bed – it is a bed in which one bed frame is stacked on top of
another bed frame.

Allows two people to sleep comfortably by using less space.

IV.      Cabin Bed – it is a bed which has a cabin at the bottom meant for writing table, wardrobe, cabinets etc and on top a bed is present.

V.     Murphy bed or SICO bed or foldaway bed-The Murphy bed known generically as a wall bed was invented by William Murphy. Murphy beds were invented for a simple, practical reason to conserve space. The bed folds away during the day and is only unfolded when needed.

 

Convertible Beds

 

I.     Day  bed/sofa  cum  bed-  The  simplest  thing  is  probably  to  define  a  sofa  bed  as  a convertible multi-functional piece of furniture that can be used as a seat during the day and reconfigured as a bed at night. The better ones have a slatted wooden base with an interior sprung mattress.

II.     Sofa cum bunk bed -  a bed which can act as a sofa during the day and can be converted to a bunk whenever needed.

III.     Adjustable bed-An adjustable bed is a bed that can be adjusted to a number of different positions in a room. According to the guest comfortable, can adjust the bed.

 

 

IV.      Trundle bed – this single bed which another bed stored underneath. Whenever needed, bed from beneath can be taken out with the help of castors to make a double bed.

Selection of beds

➢  In hotels, the most of recommended beds are those with box sprigs or metal coil springs.

➢  With box springs, it is best to use interior sprung mattresses to bring the bed to a standard height.

➢  With metal coil springs, any kind of mattress may be used.

➢  Flat bedsprings are, however, commonly used in rollaway, since these beds are used in frequently.

➢  The better flat bedsprings have helical hooks connecting the metal strips to each other.

 

CARE AND CLEANING OF BEDS

➢  Check for loose headboards and footboard regularly.

➢  To clean open spring’s beds, dust and brush the open springs periodically   and wipe with

an oily rag.

➢  Use an underlay cloth made of felt on opening spring bed bases.

➢  The dust ruffles should be laundered as and when necessary.

➢  Remove the dust from the base of the bed using a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment.

➢  Remove any stain, dirt or grease mark from the headboard, footboard, base, and legs of the bed as well.

➢  Periodically polish the wood or metal areas.

➢  Remove fluff and dust from the castor wheels, applying a little oil when they seem to squeak or feel stiff.

 

Important: Bed-boards are flat boards which can slide between the mattress and the bed base to make a firmer / harder bed if requested by guest. Base-board is an integral part of bed attached to its frame and non – movable. It is the base on which mattresses is kept on a normal bed.

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