I acquired this sweet full-sized antique iron bed frame from a reader/customer a few weeks ago. I have sold a few beds in the past, but they are tough to style without a mattress and don’t usually sell fast or for very much.
This year, for the Lucketts Spring Market, I decided to go all out on styling a bed to sell. (And, if it doesn’t sell, we have a perfect napping spot in the studio!)
Here’s the iron frame that started it all…
Being a “blue girl”, I actually liked the color, but the rails weren’t blue, so I decided a fresh coat of Farmhouse White paint would do nicely to unify the pieces.
We painted the frame in two coats of Farmhouse White and finished it in Tough Coat to seal it. My dad cut some bed slats for me and I ordered and assembled a 4″ foundation.
(That fabric is just pinned there until I can sew a bed skirt.)
Now, all this bed needed was a mattress. I asked around to see if anyone knew of someone who might be getting rid of a nice full-sized mattress. I really didn’t want to buy one that was used from someone unknown or make a trip to the mattress store to go through the somewhat awkward experience of laying on various mattresses to pick one that might be suitable.
Enter Leesa.
They were interested in working with me and I just happened to be in the market for a mattress!
I had honestly never heard of ordering a mattress online and having it delivered to your door in a box-that-doesn’t-look-like-it-could-hold-a-mattress until pretty recently. And, if you’re a regular reader, you know I do a lot of online buying. I’ve bought three toilets and all of the tile in my house online!
When my mom saw the box in the studio she said, “THAT’S the mattress?!”
Yep. That’s the mattress.
Unpacking it was such a quick process that I decided to capture it on video instead of stills. The actual set-up time from wheeling the box in on the dolly to flopping onto it was 3 minutes 30 seconds. I sped things up, though, so you can watch it happen in 35 seconds…
Pretty cool, isn’t it?
Then we all took turns lounging on the mattress…
(Okay, and they did the thumb’s up thing all on their own.)
So, some first impressions of the mattress…
- I like the shape and appearance of it, which might seem like a small thing, but some mattresses are so oversized these days and they overwhelm bed frames. I like that the leesa mattress is a “normal”, 10″ thickness and has nice squared off edges, so it looks tidier when the bed is made. (Sometimes pillow-tops can look really lumpy.)
- It is soft, but feels supportive. I think it’s hard to find the right blend. You sink down in this one, but not too far. It’s built with three unique layers of foam, including 2″ of memory foam on top.
- Some memory foam mattresses can be pretty stinky for the first few days, even weeks. Both my mom and I noticed that the “new mattress smell” dissipated pretty quickly.
- Since my mom and Kriste hopped on the bed together, my mom mentioned that she couldn’t feel Kriste’s weight transfer when she got on and off the mattress.
My mom actually went through the experience of buying a mattress a few months ago. They went to the mattress store and tried out a variety of options and picked one they thought would be good. Well, a few months later and the bed was already sagging and uncomfortable for them. It was a disappointment.
The truth is, you don’t really know how a mattress is going to work for you until you sleep on it for a while. To me that’s the biggest selling point of the leesa mattress – you can sleep on it for 100 nights in your own home to see how you sleep and how you feel when you wake up each morning.
I read over their return policy and, if you don’t like it, they will send a pick-up team to your door, at no additional cost to you, to take the mattress away. You don’t have to try to fit it back in the box! (It’s like trying to fit a tarp in the original package!)
As I researched the leesa company before deciding to work with them, I was also really impressed with the story of their business and their desire to support those in need. For every 10 mattresses sold, they donate one mattress to a shelter.
I’ve been in touch with a woman who works with orphanages where the children sleep on stone floors. She sent me pictures to show me. You don’t really think of the necessity of a mattress is until you see a picture like that.
What a welcome gift that mattress must be for the shelters and those who stay there.
If you’re shopping for a mattress and want to give leesa a try, the first 20 readers to use coupon code MISSMUSTARD75 will receive $75 off their purchase!
Shipping is always free and they do ship to Canada now.
I’ll share more on the bed and styling the “little girl’s room” tomorrow…
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by leesa. I received the mattress and additional compensation for this post. All words and opinions are my own. I only partner with brands I respect and would purchase from myself. Both my mom and I wished we knew about leesa when we were mattress shopping!
Can I ask what color the wall paint is and trim? thank you so much 🙂
The wall paint is Antique White by True Value. the trim is just bright white out of the can.
Thank you so much 🙂
I laughed out loud when you flopped on to the mattress in your quick video! I really like that you promote brands, companies, and products that we might never know about otherwise. I wish I would have known about this company when my husband and I bought our first mattress. This seems like a better option all the way around.
Yeah, I had never heard of them, either, but I think it’s a great option!
I have this same bed and plan to use it in our guest room. My problem is finding a decent foundation. Can you tell us where you found your foundation? BTW, my husband suggested that we purchase the “leesa” mattress for our guest room for all the reasons you expressed in your blog. Thank you for confirming our decision.
Vanessa
The foundation was a 4″ low profile foundation from Amazon. You do have to assemble it, but it just too Kriste and I about 15 minutes and it made the mattress the right height for the bed. A traditional boxspring would’ve made it too high.
Thanks for this info! I have 4 iron beds i rescued from a barn. Two of them live in my guest room and the box spring is so high it covers up the pretty parts of the bed. I was hoping there was a solution out there and this post came along at the right time! I can’t wait to decorate that room… after my pile of garage sale stuff has sold next month. Aren’t spare rooms great? 😉
Great, on my way to look, I was going to ask this question concerning the foundation!
Wow, they really got that mattress packed small! I guess it was vacuum packed? We have gotten a couple of IKEA mattresses that are roll packed and they were fine too.
Would you please tell me where you ordered your foundation from? Where the slats your Dad cut for you just boards cut to fit across side to side inside the frame? Sorry to sound so clueless but I have to do this all myself and they are the only things stopping me from ordering the mattress.
Yes, the foundation was a low profile 4″ foundation from Amazon. I needed a foundation instead of a boxspring, so the mattress wouldn’t be too high on the antique frame. The bed slats are just pine boards cut down to size.
I would like to see pics of the of the foundation and the slats. It looks like I’m not the only one inquiring about them. ; )
Marian,
Love your videos! I’m glad to hear they donate to those in need. I had to sleep on a concrete floor at the airport once and it is truly awful. I also wanted to tell you I respect your sponsored posts. They don’t sound like an infomercial and I believe you would only show otems you would personally buy and use. This whole room is lovely. Wish I lived closer. You all have so much fun at work!
Thanks! Yeah, I really do only accept opportunities that I think my readers would like and that I am genuinely interested in as well. I say no a lot more than I say yes!
Beautiful room! I’m looking forward to reading more about the fabric you used for the bedskirt.
I have a thing for old beds – I have the one I grew up with that was my grandmother’s, and I have an old rope bed that my grandpa tells me was brought here on a covered wagon! If I had more rooms in my house, I would keep “collecting” them!
i, too, would like to know about the 4″ foundation that you ordered and put together. I have a family member who just ordered a Leesa mattress and is still waiting on delivery so she is trying to figure out the foundation issue. Thanks for any info you can provide.
The foundation is a 4″ low profile foundation from Amazon. It was about $100 for it and is a nice option, since a traditional boxspring would’ve been too high.
I laughed too when you flopped down on the mattress. Fun video and loved the music with it! Got me dancing. I’ve never heard of this company before, so thank you!
Cool to see that the bed frame ended up sort of supporting a good cause! 🙂
No pun intended…;)
What I am going to say is to help those starting out although I am 75 and this worked for me. I have a full size bed. A friend had a guest bedroom with a nice full size she was getting rid of so because I knew them, I took them for free. In the meantime our daughter was getting rid of a very nice queen size memory foam. I already had a 4 inch form and 2 smaller ones. I first tried the full size and my forms but didn’t feel good. In the end, I put the mattress from the free one on the bottom and built up with the memory foam and then mine. Best bed I have ever slept on and the cost was about $40. Sometimes you just have to try things even if they seem like they won’t work. Everyone that lays on it says how great it is and don’t understand I didn’t even use the box springs. lol
Marian
The crocheted bedspread is so WHITE! and looks fabulous. I have several crocheted bedspreads and tablecloths made by both my husband’s and my ancestors. One of them has turned yellow. I have tried several things to get it white again and was wondering what you use. Thanks!
This one came nice and white, so I’m not sure what the person used. I’ve heard good things about OxyClean for antique linens, but I haven’t used it. I usually just wash things in Tide and see what happens!
Hi, I inherited lots of old linens and found Biz to work even better than OxyClean to get things white.
Hi Marian,
If you find yourself in need of a mattress for a bed you will be selling and don’t have time for a Leesa you can buy an air mattress. You can’t tell it’s an air mattress under the bedding.Plus, you can roll it up and use it over and over. I used to help stage homes and that’s what we did.
Denise
Great idea for staging, Denise – I hadn’t thought of that!
Works every time Sharon!
I offer bedroom “makeover” packages that include “everything but the mattress”- using a good $100’ormsomblow up mattress works wonderfully because they are so thick I don’t need a box spring or something like that, and getting a full/queen size allows tons of flexibility as most clients prefer that size. Fitted sheets are too shallow, so I just double up on flat sheets and tuck the bottom underneath 🙂
I would love to see that antique quilt in the bed and is that for sale?!?!
That mattress looks awesome. And it’s reasonably priced, especially with free shipping and an MMS discount!
This is also how mattresses from Ikea are packaged. We bought one for a small loft in one of our cabins and it’s quite comfy.
We bought a Sleep Number mattress 8 years ago and it is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on. My husband could sleep on a board and be happy and I need something softer. With this mattress you can create your individual comfort on both sides. It doesn’t matter where we travel too we always miss our Sleep Number mattress! They also have a very generous return policy as well.
Love the video (and the bedskirt!). 🙂 I first heard about Leesa on The Nester’s blog. I have since started researching every online mattress-in-a-box I can find, and am trying to decide which one to order. There are a lot of choices! I’m excited about not having to go through the awkward lie-on-a-mattress-while-the-salesman-waits experience again! Maybe traditional mattress stores will one day go the way of movie rental stores. 😉
I love that Kriste is barefoot while working!
Amazing mattress. What is the 4″ foundation you mentioned?
I have a bed similar to the one in picture. I have the problem of finding a mattress to fit the width of the bed. I understand that these old beds are 3/4 frame and not a full frame like sold now. So, the fulll size mattress is too big.
Yeah, mine is a full, so a standard mattress fit. I do have a 3/4 rope bed and a mattress had to be custom-made for it.
How cool is that??!! I am simply amazed at the stuff out there anymore and I did check their web site. I do have to see what size my bed is though as some aren’t traditional sizes! Plus I love and adore that little nightstand you posted about a few days ago. It would SO be mine if I could come to Luckett’s. Oh well….I will dream on thru your posts!
I have a Leesa mattress!! Love it, love it. Have had it for over a year now and am always amazed what a comfort it is to get in bed every night.
Hello~
I am new to your site and am absolutely loving it.
You mentioned you were selling this bed. Is it for sale somewhere locally? I had a similar bed and it finally broke and I would love to purchase another. Is this bed for sale online? Or if not, what location?
I love this project so much…that I just finished the first coat on a brown (and i am not a brown girl) iron bed that a friend gave me 🙂 I do have a question about the 4″ foundation piece…where did you purchase that? I also have my eye on the LEESA mattress….
What did you use for the foundation? I have an old metal bed frame that I think was my grandparents from the early 1900’s, with springs instead of a box spring, and need some ideas on how to use it without the springs, but maybe not with a traditional box spring.
Great to know about this mattress brand, Marian…I love the way the project turned out and hearing about the mission of the LEESA brand to donate to those in need! And having bought a mattress last year that indeed looks a little lumpy, I can definitely relate to mattress dilemmas! That’s a terrific little blue stool next to the bed (one of your colors??), and I’m always a huge fun of antique iron beds 🙂
Does your. Did have the “flat top” slats unlike modern beds with the L top slats for the boxspring to fit inside of? Could you PLEASe email me with a picture or two of what your dad did!? I have a flat top antique frame and am clueless how to get the box spring and mattress to stay on it!
How do you handle the rust on an old iron bed like that? Can you just paint over it and seal it? Do you have to scrape it off or apply any anti-rust type solution first?
Hello Marian. I know this is over a year after your article was posted, but I’m researching getting a new mattress for my antique iron bed and since your post popped up, thought I’d see what you did. My question to you is if you’ve ever put a new mattress on the existing old bed springs of an antique bed? If so, I’m wondering if the foam Leesa mattress would work with the old springs? I would like to keep the old bed springs as they are in pretty good shape. Thanks for your input. Nina
Was wondering if you could give an update on the mattress. Is it still comfortable and holding up?
Hi there!
Currently reviving my old iron bed (been in the fam for generations!), it’s similar to yours. I read through all of the comments and answers, thanks for the information. I do have one question! Why did you need to put wooden slats AND a 4″ foundation? Are the wooden slats your dad made you for extra support? Also, this iron bed is a full and 53″ wide and only about 70″ long! Modern full mattresses and foundations are 74-75inch’s long – did you run into that issue as well? Any way, thanks for your time!