When considering the purchase of a bed and its frame, it's always good to learn a few facts and features of bed frames, if only to learn how very important a frame has been to the development of the kinds of beds that allow people to get the kind of quality sleep they can get these days. A frame is made to keep a mattress set secure and off the floor, at minimum, and it succeeds quite well at this.

As well, the kinds of materials that frames can be made of are fairly limitless, though they are most often constructed of either wood or metal. There are a number of different pieces that compose a frame, including head and foot rails along with standard side rails. These rails (known as "bed rails") are usually made of what metal workers call "angle iron." They serve as the platform along which the edge of the box spring can sit.

It's important to understand that as a bed gets larger (meaning wider and longer) the more support at the center of the frame is going to be needed. If the central support is missing or inadequate, the box spring and mattress will generally start sagging and will eventually fail, dropping someone onto the floor. Also, understand that most frames are made to have a headboard affixed to them.

Generally speaking -- unless the frame has been specifically designed for one -- most will not come with the ability to have footboards affixed to them. If one is desired, make sure that the frame that is being purchased will have the right kinds of fittings at the foot so that the footboards can be easily joined to it.

A wide number of bed frames are made in various kinds of metals, both traditional and popular. One such frame it's been around for years and never seems to go out of style is the brass bed (even though the rails are usually just made of good quality steel). The best of brass beds are always made of 100% brass, while lower quality beds of this type feature less brass and more steel or iron.

One very robust and sturdy kind of bed and frame has been around since about 1850. The iron bed was at one time custom-made and had a great deal of craftsmanship and effort poured into its manufacture. After World War I, however, mass production techniques saw many of the small custom foundries were these beds were created unable to keep up and went out of business.

Bed frames made before World War I are noted as being some of the most intricate and even heaviest beds around. Modern beds nowadays are made taking advantage of more modern techniques that can duplicate much of the design and craftsmanship and at a much lower price, in relative terms. As always, when buying anything like a bed it's advised that the frame be given a thorough going over before purchase.