Sleep in style with a platform bed

The very Zen, minimalist stylings of the platform bed are becoming increasingly fashionable for modern bedrooms. They are particularly popular where space is limited, as their open sight lines make bedrooms appear more spacious.

Luke DaCosta, mattress maker for Zentai Living, says Asian-influenced platform beds tend to be streamlined and close to the ground, comprising a simple slatted base that is often wider and longer than the mattress. "They don't usually have a headboard and our beds also have inset legs which, along with the wooden border, help to emphasise a floating effect," he says.

With the bottom of the mattress sitting about 26 centimetres from the floor, a platform bed has a distinct advantage over other beds. "They are designed to promote airflow under the bed and are easy to vacuum under," Luke says. "Ensemble beds tend to collect more dust and dust mites, so platform beds are good for people with allergies or asthma."

Although any type of mattress can be used with a platform bed, if you do suffer from allergies Luke recommends a double-sided futon or latex mattress. "Anything with a cotton covering is good," he says. "You want to be able to regulate the surface moisture, and good airflow will dry out a surface better than sunlight."

There is quite a wide range of platform bed options; they can be made from wood or metal, and the more European-style versions may also include drawers. "A platform bed with drawers can be a good option if you're short on space, but again if you do have any allergies, you want to avoid clutter under the bed, so an option without the drawers may be better," says Luke.

To achieve the wooden border feature, the base is usually a size larger than the mattress, so a double-bed mattress would usually sit on a Queen-size base. If you're not interested in a border, then you should opt for a base with a matching-size mattress.

Very light in weight, platform beds are also easy to take apart and move, so are a good fit for apartment living. "With our beds there is one simple construction tool and they only take about 40 minutes to put together," says Luke.

These stylish beds are available from most bedding shops and department stores, or simple to order online for delivery to your door.