How to Choose the Right Handmade Wooden Bed: Sizes, Styles and Finishes

A handmade wooden bed should do more than hold a mattress. It should feel solid, suit the room and still look right years from now. With different sizes, footboard heights, finishes and statement designs to choose from, it is worth getting the details right before you order.

This guide explains the main things to consider when choosing a handmade bed from Three Skulls Furniture.

Start with the right bed size

Begin with the mattress size you use now, or the size you plan to buy. Standard UK mattress sizes are:

• Single: 3' x 6'3" (90 x 190 cm)
• Small double: 4' x 6'3" (120 x 190 cm)
• Double: 4'6" x 6'3" (135 x 190 cm)
• Kingsize: 5' x 6'6" (150 x 200 cm)
• Superking: 6' x 6'6" (180 x 200 cm)

The overall frame will be larger than the mattress, especially on one of our chunky designs. Measure the available floor space rather than assuming that a bigger mattress will automatically fit. Leave enough room to walk around the bed, open doors and drawers, and reach sockets or radiators.

Choose a style that suits the room

Our beds share the same solid, rustic character, but each design has a different presence.

The Ranch Bed is a strong all-round choice with traditional rustic styling. If you like the Ranch design but want a more open feel at the foot of the bed, a lower footboard can make a smaller bedroom feel less enclosed and gives taller sleepers more freedom.

The Duke Bed is made for customers who want an extra-chunky statement piece. Its thick timber and substantial frame give it a heavier look that works especially well in larger bedrooms.

If height and drama are the priority, look at The Grand Four Poster Bed or the Chunky Four Poster Bed. Before ordering a four poster, check the ceiling height carefully and allow for light fittings, sloping ceilings and beams.

For something more unusual, The Tudor Bed has a bold medieval character. The Jester Bed is part of our BDSM range and includes stocks with modesty planks for when they are not in use. These designs are built to be talking points as well as practical bed frames.

High or low footboard?

A high footboard gives a bed a grander, more enclosed look and makes the frame a stronger feature in the room. A low footboard keeps the sightline open, can make the bedroom feel larger and is often more comfortable for taller people.

Think about where you will stand when entering the room. If the foot of the bed faces the doorway, a lower end can help the space feel less crowded. In a large room, a high footboard can give the bed the visual weight it needs.

Pick the right wax finish

The finish changes the character of the timber without hiding its natural grain, knots and markings.

• Light wax keeps the wood brighter and works well in airy or neutral rooms.
• Medium wax adds warmth and gives a classic rustic appearance.
• Dark supreme wax creates a deeper, richer colour and a more dramatic finish.
• Black finish is available on selected designs for a bolder, more contemporary look.

Phone and computer screens can show colours differently, and every piece of timber takes wax in its own way. Natural variation is part of the character of handmade wooden furniture.

Measure the route into the bedroom

Do not only measure the room. Check the complete delivery route, including external doors, hallways, staircases, landings and any tight turns. Tell us about difficult access before ordering so we can advise you.

For the room itself, check:

• the mattress size and the full footprint of the frame;
• skirting boards, radiators, sockets and window ledges;
• space for bedside furniture and wardrobe doors;
• drawer clearance if you plan to use under-bed storage;
• ceiling height for any four-poster design.

Expect real wood to look like real wood

Knots, grain patterns and small colour differences are not faults. They are what make each handmade piece individual. Two beds made to the same design and finish will share the same construction and character, but the timber will never look factory-identical.

Our furniture is made to order, with a usual lead time of approximately 10–12 weeks. If you need a different size or have an awkward room, speak to us before ordering and we can discuss what is possible.

Find your handmade wooden bed

Explore the full rustic wooden bed collection to compare designs, sizes, finishes and prices. Choose the bed that fits your room and your style—not simply the one that fills the space.