What is this piece of furniture called?

by Paul Lenkiewicz

Sleigh Bed
The average person often makes a mistakes when it comes to what the different types of furniture are called. One of the easiest ways (although not fool-proof) is to Google the name of the furniture (for example, “sideboard”), and go to the Google Images section to see the average representation in images. Just about the only downfall of this approach is you may not find the piece you were expecting and regionality. Australians and Brits may call the same piece of furniture by different names. Below you will find a shortlist of most common mistakes specifically curated by NYC moving companies.

Dresser, Chest of drawers, Armoire, Wardrobe

The most common mistake is often made when referring to the furniture holding our clothes. I have seen so many customers over the years struggle with what to specifically call their furniture when given these options.

Dresser

This typically refers to a piece of furniture with 4 or more drawers. The regular dresser is almost synonymous with “chest of drawers”. It is a single row of drawers and the piece is taller than it is wide. There is a double dresser, which is wider than it is tall and has two rows of drawers. A triple dresser is wider still and will have three rows of drawers. Double and triple dressers often have a mirror attached.

Chest of Drawers

The chest of drawers is still an often-used term, and it basically refers to a single dresser. One tall row of drawers, typically designed to hold clothes.

Armoire

The definition of the armoire and the differences between armoire and wardrobe can probably be argued about more than any other furniture name. My favorite rule of thumb is that an armoire is a large dresser that in addition to drawers, features doors. An armoire will typically have a frame around the doors, so the shell of the piece does not span the doors full length or width.

Wardrobe

In my mind, a wardrobe resembles a free-standing closet more than a dresser. The defining difference between an armoire and a wardrobe is full-length doors, spanning top to bottom of the piece. If drawers are present, they are beyond the doors, or on the sides of the doors.

The Different Types of Bedframes

When moving, the type of bed you have becomes a big factor while determining the price. Most people remember or can easily identify what size mattress they have (full, queen, king, etc.), but when asked “what kind of a bedframe do you have?” they stumble. Below is a detailed list of different types, starting with the most popular ones.

Platform bed

Used somewhat as a blanket term, it is probably the most popular type of a bedframe. The defining characteristic is that the main surface of the bed is flat enough so that you do not need a boxspring. There may or may not be a headboard in a typical platform bed, but the most common set up is a headboard + platform, which means 3 sides of the bed are lower than the mattress (ie. no footboard). The term platform bed can refer to so many different constructions that it can vary from easy to assemble to somewhat difficult (particularly if it is a true flat imported platform bed). The example shown in the picture below would be on the easy side of the spectrum.

Simple Metal Frame

This is the simplest possible setup, besides laying your mattress on the floor. It is just a metal frame meant to hold a boxspring, which will then hold up the mattress. This frame is extremely easy to disassemble as it folds right up into a long, but small metal pieces. These are very popular in NYC where people are moving often.

Sleigh Bed

This is honestly a term I have not heard until I started working in the moving industry, yet it is just about the most popular bedframe in use these days. The defining characteristic of a sleigh bed is the 4 piece construction – resembling a sled. Headboard, 2 sideboards, footboard. There is definitely an overlap between a sleigh (or sled) bed and a platform bed in terms of appearance. The main difference is the presence of a footboard that rises above the mattress level. Sleigh beds also usually require a boxspring (they are not by definition built to have a platform). Disassembly and reassembly are typically easy, to medium easy.

Storage Bed

This is a popular solution to a space problem in NYC. Storage beds are basically platform beds that have large drawers underneath the mattress. IKEA models are particularly popular among New Yorkers. The downside of the storage bed is that disassembly, particularly of the IKEA models can be difficult. Usually, you have to move the main “shell” which houses the drawers as one piece, and if you are moving into an old walk-up these often do not fit through the staircase. Once the shell is disassembled, it is difficult to put back together with the same sturdiness as the original build.

Murphy Bed

The defining characteristic of a Murphy Bed is that the headboard functions as a large wall unit or set of bookshelves. These are not very popular with New Yorkers as they require a relatively large bedroom to fit the space aesthetically. They are almost always difficult to disassemble and reassemble.

Four Post / Canopy Beds

These are the least popular type of beds in the city, but we do see them quite often in the suburbs. They feature large, decorative posts on all four corners of the bed, and can feature a canopy that goes over the top of the bed as well. They tend to be medium to difficult to disassemble and reassemble.