If there is one piece of classic furniture that earns its keep every single day, it is the bed. A hand-carved bed in solid teak or sheesham sets the character of the whole room, survives decades of use, and can be passed on. It is also the most structural piece we make: it carries two people, a heavy mattress and a lot of leaning back against the headboard. Here is how to commission one well, and what to put around it.
The short answer
Choose the style for the room, not just for the photograph. Size the frame around the mattress you will actually buy, check that it will come apart to go through your doors, keep the sleeping height comfortable, and finish the bedside tables and chests in the same timber and finish so the suite reads as one.
Four classic bed styles
- Carved panel bed: a solid headboard and footboard with raised panels and carved crests. Timeless, robust and well suited to natural teak.
- Cane panel bed: a carved frame with hand-woven cane panels, light and elegant, with a softer, more relaxed look.
- Carved frame with upholstered panels: a carved or moulded timber frame around a buttoned or plain upholstered headboard, which is more comfortable to lean against.
- Four-poster: turned or carved posts at each corner, with or without a canopy. Spectacular in a large villa bedroom with the ceiling height to carry it.
Getting the size right
Start from the mattress. In the UAE the most common sizes are king (about 180 by 200 cm) and super king (about 200 by 200 cm), but sizes vary between brands, so we build to the exact mattress you will use. The frame then adds width and length, more with a deep carved footboard, so check the full footprint on the floor plan. Leave at least 60 to 75 cm to walk around the sides and foot of the bed.
Watch the headboard height too. A tall carved headboard looks magnificent in a high-ceilinged villa, but in an apartment it can crowd the ceiling or clash with an AC grille or a curtain pelmet.
Built to last, and to come apart
- Joinery: the headboard and footboard are joined with mortise-and-tenon joints and glued, not stapled or screwed together from thin sections.
- Knock-down connection: the side rails fix to the posts with bed bolts or concealed metal connectors, so the bed is delivered in pieces and assembled in the room.
- Support: king and super-king beds need a centre rail with legs to the floor, and either solid slats or a platform base sized to the mattress maker’s recommendation.
- Seasoned timber: kiln-dried to suit an air-conditioned interior so the panels do not split or the joints open later.
Sleeping height
The height of the side rails decides how high the mattress sits. Most people find a top-of-mattress height of roughly 55 to 65 cm comfortable to sit on and get out of. Tell us your mattress depth and whether you use a topper, and we will set the rails accordingly.
Bedside tables, chests and benches
- Bedside tables: keep the top within about 5 cm of the mattress top so a lamp and a glass are within easy reach. Drawers are more useful than open shelves.
- Chest of drawers or dresser: dovetailed drawers on proper runners, with carving that echoes the bed rather than copying every detail.
- Bench or ottoman: at the foot of the bed, kept lower than the footboard.
Order the whole suite together. Teak and sheesham vary from board to board, and finishing every piece in one batch is the only reliable way to make colours match.
Cane, carving and the climate
Cane panels are lovely and durable, but they are a natural material that dries out in direct sun and constant air-conditioning, so keep a cane bed out of strong sunlight and away from an AC outlet. Carved crests and deep panels collect dust; a soft brush every week keeps them crisp. Our care guide for teak and rosewood furniture covers the routine.
Finishes
A natural polish shows off teak’s golden grain or sheesham’s darker figure. Ivory lacquer with soft gilt highlights gives the lighter, French-inspired look many Gulf villas favour. Dark walnut-toned polishes suit a more traditional, heritage room. Read more about the two timbers in teak or rosewood for classic furniture.
Lead time and price
Allow around eight to ten weeks from signed drawing to delivery for a carved bed, longer for a full suite. Price is driven mainly by the amount of hand carving, then by the size and the finish, and then by the timber.
The bottom line
Pick a style that suits the room, build it around your mattress, make sure it comes apart, and finish the whole suite together. For contemporary upholstered beds, see our bespoke bed guide.
Planning a carved bed or bedroom suite?
Send us your room plan, mattress size and a few references. We will come back with drawings, timber and finish options and a programme.
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