The Joys of the Folding Bed.

The folding bed, a design piece not many of us know too much about was first designed by Sarah E Goode, an African American lady born into slavery in the year 1850. At the end of the American Civil War in 1865 Sarah was freed from slavery and moved to Chicago where she began her career as an entrepreneur with her own furniture business. Sarah listened to the troubles of her neighbours and friends struggling to find solutions to the limited size of their living quarters. With sometimes multiple family generations under one roof it was a constant struggle to live in such close proximity with one another. Any possible way to create room in the home was necessary. Sarah took it upon her self to design a durable, multi-purpose piece of furniture that benefitted her communities strife. She designed the Folding Bed Cabinet, a wooden bed with hinged sections that folded up into a useful cabinet with enclosed mattress that also served as a desk, an extended table top surface including a roll top cover and compartments to store stationary. Her applaudable invention allowed her to become the first African American lady to be patented by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1885.

The folding bed is still around today thanks to Sarah's innovative thought, and if you are looking for the key to your storage problems then the folding bed may be the answer. No longer a cabinet and quite simply a folding bed, this compact, easy to transport item is not only economical but also so simple to fold out and have ready to go it is the perfect option for you to research. Gone are the days of struggling with the agonizing frustration we have all endured with the family sofa bed before bed time. These beds not only look great but don't stand in the way of day to day life either. They give a genuine good nights rest to their users and can be hidden away out of sight in the cupboard . It also makes it possible for you to transport your bed else where if you are in need of a place to crash too!

Which Garden bench should I buy

Where would your garden be without a garden bench? The majority of us probably have one and may have inherited it, if the garden bench was of good quality. Speaking personally, my grandmother had a garden bench in her garden and I can remember it as a small child. At least 50 years later, this garden bench, made of oak, is still in use in the garden, and although it does look a little “tired”, it’s still functioning as a garden bench and is still sturdy! This is just one small example of how good quality garden benches will last for years, so this may sway you decision. Indeed, if it is longevity you are looking for, choose a garden bench which is fully assembled when you purchase it, with no nuts, bolts or screws to rust, because they will be the parts which will deteriorate first on your garden bench.

If someone asked you to conjure up an image in your mind of a garden bench, you would probably think of a wooden one, and most likely the type of garden bench you find in public places, like parks. These are normally 3 or 4 seater garden benches, probably straight and probably Teak or oak. They would normally be allowed to weather naturally so that they appear grey in colour, which is quite natural for hardwood in those conditions. Long lasting garden benches will usually be made fro a recognized hardwood and Teak or Oak are the most common (and the most expensive). Wooden garden benches have the option of being treated or not. Teak oil or Linseed oil are the most common form of treatment for your garden bench and if you do decide to go down this route, you will need to continue the treatment every six months, to keep your garden bench looking the same.

Of course, there are other materials available for your garden bench and one that I particularly like is cast aluminium. A garden bench made in this way will also have a long life, as cast aluminium does not rust. These are obviously hand made from molten metal poured into a mould, and any shape or size can be produced. Colours are also an option. In Victorian times, garden benches were made from Cast Iron, and some still are, but it was heavy and brittle, and prone to rust. Cast aluminium uses similar production methods and more garden benches are made in this way nowadays.

Other materials for your garden bench include steel and resin (Plastic) and there is a huge market for both of these. Most garden centres will carry a range of garden benches, as we do here at Gardencast, and there is nothing like sitting on your potential garden bench purchase before you buy.

So in essence, spending more money on your garden bench should give better value in the long term and with a little TLC, you may have a family heirloom. Hardwood and cast aluminium garden benches will last the longest but if you look after any garden bench, particularly in the winter, you should get rewarded with years of enjoyment!