A traditional metal bedstead comes complete with a headboard and a footboard; it simply would not be complete without them.
This helps to fix the mattress in position better, preventing it from slipping or moving.
And just like the metal bedsteads you may have seen in old black and while movies, the headboard and footboard usually have vertical bars connecting to a main horizontal bar.
The corners of a bedstead often have large round ornamental ball shapes.
This is the bed post and something never seen on modern bed frames.
Bed designs have changed a lot over the years.
However, we always seem to come back to the simple bedstead design.
It isn't just that it's traditional, though that may account for some of our liking for the design.
It goes deeper.
This is a bed design that just simply works.
It's an integrated unit that stands alone, a sturdy design that can withstand all the ups and downs you care to throw at it.
And when you combine that with a modern mattress of superior comfort, you have a winning combination that simply can't be beat.
The headboard and footboard are integral parts of the bedstead, but they are fastened to the main frame of the bed in three basic ways.
There is the plate and hook fastener, the pin and hook fastener and the bed bolts or through bolts.
Knowing which type of fastening you have could be useful if you ever need to remove either the headboard or the footboard.
Conclusion - Metal bedsteads, especially the more ornamental brass work that suggests the 19th century, are stylish and completely appropriate for any bedroom.
They will dominate the area, giving it a splash of elegance and quality that modern bed frames fail to do.
You certainly do not have to be old-fashioned to appreciate a touch of classic old-fashioned style.