Oak is a particularly lovely wood to use in furniture. It is solid, with a density of about 0.75g per square cm, which makes it very hard and strong. The grain markings are characteristically beautiful too, particularly in the quarter-cut. Oak furniture is not only beautiful, but has the potential to last for generations.

Furnishing with oak ensures a warm, rich feeling in the room, accompanied by the comforting feeling of permanence and well being. Oak beds do not necessarily have to be constructed of solid oak to achieve that ambience. Wooden sleigh beds, for example, are very popular in oak, with a host of design variations.

The matching head-and-foot boards, gently sloping, curved or curled – or conservatively rectangular – may be of solid oak, either smooth or with intricate carvings. However, they could also be fashioned with vertical or horizontal oak slats, ornate design strips or even oak-framed leather, or other padding.

Another wonderful design in oak beds is in the range of high sleepers. There are sets available in a multitude of designs, such as the oak bunk supported by a frame of oak wardrobes with chests of drawers in the centre. Another design may be a wardrobe frame facing room-wards, with a desk, chair and shelves – or working station – situated under the bunk.

Whereas these designs in other materials, like metal or pine, look cheerful and fun, oak sets retain those features, but add the element of elegance and the sense of stability. The hardiness of oak is well-suited to such a room of high activity levels!