Sleigh bells ringing in metal and wood
By David Perry -- Furniture Today, August 4, 2003
High Point — The gentle curves of sleigh beds are working their magic on retail floors around the country.
Consumers like the graceful, flowing lines of the wide variety of sleigh beds on the market these days. While wood sleigh beds remain staples on many retail floors, metal bed producers are increasingly getting in on the action, too.
These producers cite a variety of reasons to explain the enduring popularity of sleigh beds, chief among them their classic silhouettes and their ability to fit in flawlessly with a variety of furniture styles.
"In our opinion, the profile is a timeless style that is very flexible in design and works with most decors: Traditional, transitional or contemporary," said Kathleen Caron, marketing coordinator at Amisco Inds.
Added Stephanie McLain, a sales and marketing executive at Comfort Designs: "The design of a sleigh bed transcends popular trends and blends with most any style of case goods. The soft curves of a sleigh bed are compelling and inviting to the consumer."
And sleigh beds can help consumers pull together eclectic furniture presentations.
"The styling of sleigh beds enables them to go with mismatched bedroom pieces, like an odd chest or a dresser that the consumer doesn't want to part with," said Doug Pickard, director of marketing at Bernards.
Tracy Hamlin, merchandising manager for Hickory At Home, said the ability of sleigh beds to make a fashion statement is another key.
"We tend to think sleigh beds have always been strong sellers," she said, "but predominantly so in the southernmost states due to a very practical reason — space. The homes in these areas have much larger bedrooms than those you might find in a more heavily populated area with smaller homes or apartments.
"Sleigh beds need more room than your average bed, but they really make a statement and can transform an ordinary room into something a little more opulent. Sleigh beds are also visually appealing, romantic and are usually the focus of the bedroom."
Barbara Black, marketing manager for Fashion Bed Group, said sleigh beds are hot because they are viewed as stylish.
"The sleigh is a trend or style that people are perceiving to be stylish today," Black observed. "Today's bedrooms are larger, allowing for larger beds. Sleigh beds are competitively priced and are widely advertised by retailers, accounting for part of their popularity. And they fit well in many settings."
Here's a look at some of the best-selling metal sleigh beds (and a wood sleigh bed or two) on the market nowadays.
