Beds and period accessories

Whilst beds are usually the focal point of the room, you need to think about accessories as well.

If you've decided to recreate a period look in your room, you need to spend some time researching the look you're after. Whether it's the welcoming clutter of a Victorian bedroom or the sophisticated styling of a Georgian room, a little bit of research can help you get exactly the style you're looking for.

Period beds

If you can afford it, splash out on an authentic period bed. Beds from a range of periods are available from specialist dealers, but can be extremely expensive, particularly if they have needed restoration. A much more affordable way to get your period look is to buy a reproduction bed. Whether you want a four poster, a luxury sleigh, a Celtic wrought iron design or a upholstered French-style bed, you can find what you want just by going online.

Period accessories

Once you have seen the bed you want, you need to think about what else you're going to put in your room. You need to choose furniture that matches or complements the style of bed you've chosen. You may be able to mix contemporary furniture and accessories with a more traditional bed, but do it carefully and only use one or two pieces - more than that will make your room look confused. The period accessories you could consider include:

• Mirrors - every bedroom needs a mirror and there's as much choice when it comes to mirrors as there is with beds. Take a look around your local antique shops, charity shops and salvage yards to see if you can find a frame that fits with your period style.

• Bedside tables - whilst many contemporary designs have rejected the bedside table in favour of minimalist shelving, they are essential items in a period room. Bedside tables don't have to match the beds they're paired with - they don't even have to match each other, but keep the general size and shape similar so that the proportions of the furniture in your room look right.

• Lighting - you need to think carefully about lighting. Unless you're working in your bedroom, you really only need soft lighting, not overhead glare. Research the sort of lighting styles that would have been available in the period you're trying to recreate. You may not be able to get hold of original lighting, but you should be able to find good replicas in lighting shops.

Bed Next Day sells a range of traditional single, double, king and superking beds, most of which are available with next day delivery. Brands include Silentnight, the Original Bedstead Company, Sprung Land and Sealy. Take a look at the beds available on our website, www.mattressnextday.co.uk and order online today, or call 0844 3911 222 if you have any questions.