If you've just moved in with someone you love you could make a bold statement with this top of the range Venetian Heart bed with a headboard featuring two hearts that appear to hug each other. It is made by Treviso-based Italian firm VG New Trend and costs from €8,500 through UK-based agents Marsha Shapiro. The bed featured here is backlit to create a shadow effect around the hearts that from a distance look like a cloud. vgnewtrend.it; info@vgnewtrend.it
Bed of roses
Everything is coming up roses in this Acanto king-size bed by Cantori. Handmade in Italy, its wrought-iron bedframe is finished in fine gold leaf. It costs €6,995, including slatted base from Bottom Drawer in Brown Thomas, Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The pocket spring King Koil mattress, an Irish hotel favourite that, will help spinal alignment and weight distribution. The bed is dressed in the finest percale bed linen in a Mer de Roses print by Piubelle, also Bottom Drawer. The king duvet cover costs €125. The Passifiore pure wool circular rug, by Missoni, also pictured costs €2,225. bottomdrawer.ie; kingkoil.ie
Velvet base
The flouncy valance is a thing of the past. We don't want to have to hide the bed base or do the extra laundry. Instead buy a bed that comes in a range of fashion shades to better match a contemporary decorated bedroom. Russell Pinch's Wallis bed for Heals has a headboard and a base that match and in multiple fabric options from cotton to linen, denim and velvet. Prices start from about €2,030. The deep pile Varese velvet range, which comes in a range of colours including the sky blue, pictured, costs about €2,595, ex delivery. Heals.com
Four-poster dream
Ikea's Gjora, €225, is a beguiling take on the traditional four-poster bed and delivers a light and airy design that will work well in high-ceilinged period houses and in modern settings. The pale wood frame can be waxed, oiled, stained or painted to suit your interior and needs a slatted bed base, €34, on which you place the mattress of your choice. The Swedish firm's top of the range spring style Hesseng, €565, costs more than the bed base but will deliver dreamtime sleeps. Swathe Lill net curtains, €7 per pair, around the posts to give it that tropical holiday feel. Ikea.com/ie/
Padded headboard
Designed by Studio E-ggs for Italian brand Miniforms, the Shiko Magnum king-size bed cuts a stylish shape. It has a solid wood frame and legs with a gently padded headboard available in a range of fabrics, leathers and ecoleathers. The legs and base come in six different colour options. Prices start at €2,450 from UK-based Go Modern. If you're going to opt for a fabric bed or fabric headboard Scotchguard it before you install it. This will prevent the fabric from being marked by greasy skin and head stains. You can apply it yourself and 400ml costs €14.99 through Lenehans. GoModern.co.uk; Lenehans.ie
Super storage
Under-bed storage saves on hot press space. You can also keep suitcases, extra duvets, blankets and pillows. Made's entry level styles come in smart new neutrals like the Hatton in falcon grey or the Finlay in biscuit beige, both €620, ex mattress and ex delivery. At the top end of the market is Hypnos super storage ottoman base, available at Arnotts from €2,499, ex headboard, that uses gas piston technology. The range pictured includes pillow cases from €35 each and double duvet covers from €150 and is by Paris-based brand Communaute de biens and exclusive to Smallable. Made.com; Arnotts.ie; Hypnosbeds.com; en.smallable.com
Centrepiece
This upholstered Mayfair design by UK-based And So To Bed looks good from all angles and can be set in the centre of a room. The bed frame is aged mahogany and you can choose from three different fabrics in 13 different colours including Marmalade, burnt orange wool or sage green, a restful linen. To order it in the colour of the moment, purple will cost about €6,050, ex mattress and delivery. And So To Bed also offers a range of Vispring mattresses, a top-end design, that you can buy at the same time and there are about six different types to choose from. Andsotobed.co.uk
Irish offerings
With 20 per cent of the beds on sale in Ireland manufactured here why not fly the local design flag in your bed linen decisions too? Foxford's new bed range includes the contemporary Woodcut motif duvet, €125 for a double. Designed by Helen McAlinden the 100 per cent cotton collection also offers a contrasting stripe oxford pillowcase, €40, for those that like to pile them high. A blanket adds visual texture and is great at this time of the year when the temperatures are fluctuating. Ethnic, pictured, €115, is made in Foxford using 100 per cent merino wool and comes in colourful bands of charcoal, flame and baby camel. Matching cushions range from €59 to €69. Foxfordwoollenmills.com
