Waterbed

Question

I have a king size waterbed with four posters and mirorrs on top and two stacked drawers in the bottom, What can i do to make this a regular bed? Tired of living in the 80's

Deborah Greenwell · Answer

I have almost the exact bed, well, minus the drawers, and I love it. Won't ever give it up for a traditional bed!!

I am planning to update mine by smoothing out the curves in the posts and top piece into a long slow curve, so that they don't look so country. Also modifying the 'bookcases' on the headboard by enclosing them and upholstering it. The some chalk paint!!! Not sure what color yet. I know, a lot of work, but I think it will look great when it's done.

On mine, I have some wood overhang at the corners and am planning to drill a 1 ' hole thru it and use some metal conduit pipe (painted) to hang some edge softening curtains, not sure what kind yet. Something feminine and oh yeah, dog friendly.

I'm kinda thinking soft gray for the bed with soft pinks. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Rita Latimer · Answer

If anyone needs a new mattress for water bed I have brand new one

Jill Valeri · Answer

I've never done this but I have some ideas. I think that if you remove the water bed 'mattress' you can then lay slats of wood across the width of the bed with no spaces between the slats and then lay a traditional mattress on the slats without a box spring. Next I would try to remove the canopy and the two posts at the foot of the bed. You could use the headboard and try to remove the shelves to reveal the beadboard behind them. Then you could paint the entire bed in a shade of white/off-white of your choosing to brighten the whole thing up. If the shelves can't come out or leaves a mess, you could get some 1/4' plywood cut to the size of the opening and cover it with upholstery foam, wrap it in cotton batting and cover it all with a fabric you like. For the foam, attach it with spray adhesive. For the batting and fabric, wrap each layer around the edges to the back and staple it to the back. You can then screw the whole thing to the original headboard.

A final touch would be to attach a bed skirt to the underside of the base of the bed. It will make the drawers harder to reach but by adding fabric to the front edge you will add visual balance to the bed and it will look more traditional.

Good luck!

E4lizerd · Answer

I still had the dresser that went with that set and recently painted it with a cream milk paint, added cute mismatched porcelain knobs and hit the drawer fronts with a bit of dark wax from Annie Sloan. It came out GREAT. I'm pretty sure you could put a latex mattress in the box where the bed is. I would consult a bed store about the appropriate replacement. In your case I would also consider removing the top and posters completely. It might be less work to scrap it and start over to be honest.

Jeanette · Answer

I put a cal.kind mattress in mine. It had 12 drawers but not the columns. I have regretted getting rid of it ever since I took pity on a friend's son, who got rid of it when he had to move. I would just paint it a soft cream, hang some lovely sheers in the corners, and be glad that I still have it!

Kelly S · Answer

I would keep the drawers but ditch the mirrored canopy and oversized headboard. You could use sheers hung on rods made from plumbing pieces or bathroom shower curtain tension rods if you still want a canopy look. We had a queen waterbed and simply got rid of the mattress and put a queen one in the frame. The new mattress is shorter by that just gives me room to tuck in blankets at the end. My husband won't let me get rid of the padded bookshelf headboard with reading lights so I changed out the light fixtures. He won't let me change the dark walnut stain either so we just put new walnut stained woodwork throughout the room and I painted the walls 2 different shade of blue with a third for the ceiling. At least I got him into the early 2000s and the shiny brass is gone. Good luck.

EH · Answer

I have a regular mattress inside the frame. One less thing that has to be done. I think will have someone cut off the columns and go from there. I can use skill saw but better let someone that is better with it then me.

Jeanette S · Answer

You have a great platform bed if you just take off everything from the bed up! That headboard can be made shorter to fit with a platform. Then get a 'Sleep Number' air bed I LOVE MINE! 'Select Comfort' was established in 1987 and I bought mine in 1989! I just replaced it after 26 years! (The non-pillow top mattress cover zips off and can be washed in a large washing machine! You don't need pillow top. The inside is just air bladders!) If you want a totally different look, take off the posts and top and make a platform bed...we have the House of Denmark teak platform. Keep the drawers for sure and modify the headboard to be a little lower to go with a platform. Or put on different posts and put up billowing side curtains with tiebacks! You are limited only by your imagination! Of course paint it! I an 80s piece I want to paint! Just might do it this winter!

Darla · Answer

Wow - it's like a room all by itself! I wonder if you could cut off the columns at the bottom and brace them to make a separate loft bed?

Mary · Answer

EH, you have a beautiful waterbed, I would go with the tension rods for sheers and a bed skirt. The mirrored canopy gives the bed an additional feature that is not offered with a regular bed or canopy bed. I would leave it in it's beautiful state, unless you want to sand it down and stain it a light wood or paint it white, with an accent color for the back board in the bookcase head board. I would not cut the bed posts, I wish I had it. I have a Cali King with a Cali King mattress inserted, and my headboard is about 5' tall and i have 8 drawers with 3 cabinets and I love it. There is no stronger bed than a water bed, the traditional beds break down easy. My grandkids jump and roll around on my bed and it's' still strong.

Tri1105981 · Answer

Slightly different question - anyone know where you can get padded rails for the sides of these type beds?

Jeanie Abbott Lewis · Answer

just saw this post what did you decide to do? I have a very similar one and i decorate it with balloon valances, sheers and velvet curtains

Rita Latimer · Answer

king

Jeanie Abbott Lewis · Answer

California king?

Meem Kaplan · Answer

I would paint it charcoal and add sheer white curtains and bed skirts. Velcro the bed skirts to the underside of the frame above the drawers so that getting in and out of the drawers doesn't become a frustration. I agree with Mary about the tension rods, as well as the accent color. Would love to see what you have done since this posting.
.

Cheyenne · Answer

Where did you get this from I used to have one minus the water mattetess.. and can't one again anywhere..

Denise H · Answer

I put a calif king mattress in it, I have a similar bed. I wouldn't paint it. I took the mirror out, either store them or find a idea to put them on the wall. My bed is numbered and have had it for over 30 years

Rita · Answer

I truely agree with Meen Kaplan with the paint color, the bedskirt, and the white curtains. I of course would use sheers in stead of a heavy curtain. Reason being the bed has a lot going on with its character. I would like to see it painted white. This will also help modernize it and cut back on some of the bulkiness. The fabric will add a little softness to the hard structure of the bed. Then add some color with pillows and a throw. When I purchased my bedroom set I opted out to take the mirrow. In my opinion that mirrow is too much old school. Then the dresses can be decorated with pretty vases or what nots.I mentioned this so that you can consider removing the hutch from the dresser. Save it for a another project in the future. There's plenty of diy projects for these items. I hope this helps with deciding what to do with your bed. I too had a waterbed for years, and love it.

Catherine Lee Hilderbrand Curran · Answer

Images I googled to give you ideas; http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1281933/thumbs/a-FOUR-POSTER-BEDS-640x468.jpg?16 http://p-fst2.pixstatic.com/51b08484fb04d609a30008ea._w.540_s.fit_.JPEG http://curtainlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/15-4-poster-bed-and-canopy-for-romantic-bed-room-56c5dff80a4e4.jpg https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5a/6f/e1/5a6fe11b8aae4591ac5ef5eaeba3535a.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3701/9632139762_7459e9f889_b.jpg https://soda-sybaris.quirk.biz/img.q?accountCode=HOME01AA&id=1380 These beds sell for 500 to 2000 today. If you hate it , it will be another's treasure. With a canopy bed there are so many things you can do to change the room to create romance and atmosphere Bollywood, Pirates, Fairies, Royalty, Pomp Colonial Manse. If you lost the magic sell it or give it away to a grandchild.

Ritjames · Answer

Mine got distroyed too.I loved that bed.Sure do miss it.

Catherine Lee Hilderbrand Curran · Answer

It seems my earlier comment was lost in cyberspace. I added the images on the 2nd post. 
These beds make great heirlooms for grandchildren. They can be dressed up in so many ways Bollywood, New Orleans, Moulin Rouge Bordeaux, Pomp Colonial Manse, any traditional century piece you choose as canopy beds have never gone out of fashion, pirate ship! dress it up like the black pearl or Fairy Lights, butterflies and flowers w/Organza for the pure Romantic , Gypsy with satin sheets in jewel toned colours, fluorescent for Austin Powers 70s ,

If the bed has lost its magic for you consider gifting it or selling it. These seem to go for as little as 500 to as much as 3000 on various online markets depending on the condition and you could sell the matching bits for extra.

But, I have one like yours purchased in MD new in 1991 with more slender columns and I love it so much I shifted it from MD , USA to Australia when I moved here in 96. I have changed it over the years into many styles. Currently I am redressing the room in vintage 70s I am eBaying fluoro blacklight posters, fluoro door beads, lava lamps and I am having a hobby doing it on a modest budget. I have bought cobalt blue organza and hung these easily from the ceiling around the bed as these are very light . Linens Gallery sells bridal satin sheets for waterbeds.

Gypsy Queen · Answer

I have a captains pedistal canopy waterbed with mirrors above.  I don't want to get rid of it.  But all my friends say it is outdated and takes up too much room in my bedroom.  What can I do to update it or repurpose it.

Gypsy Queen · Answer

If I sell my bed today, what do you think would be a fair price to ask for it?

Francienna, · Answer

Buy a king size 10  - 12  inch thick mattress,  put inside of it , it already has a base.  Make it a platform bed!

Tim14680272 · Answer

Sell me the bed and u can go buy a neither bed 207)209-0714

Lucie LePage Sinclair · Answer

I removed the waterbed mattress platform and used a California King Mattress on an adjustable base. I am replacing the canopy mirror with vintage lace.

TrishR · Answer

It's a big beautiful bed and it looks like the dresser matches it. I too would put a regular mattress in it and also paint it. Make sure you do something with the dresser also though. Since you have a set I might paint the bed in a two tone but the second color I would do as an accent color maybe on just the back of the shelves and yes remove the mirrors. With the second access color, I would use that on the dresser that way they still go together without being to matchy matchy eapecially since they're right next to each other. Maybe antique white/taupe or white/light gray? You can still distress it if you want to or not depending on how you choose to decorate. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do and please share pictures of your finished new furniture

Sandie Curtis Kojder · Answer

I have this exact same captain's bed. Bought it in 1984 at Peppers. Just bought a hybrid simmons ultra plush calif king mattress to fit it. Still trying to figure out how to update it - and I want to keep the canopy/mirrors.

Ellen L Boyer · Answer

I have the exact same bed and would like advise on what I could use in place of the mirrors? Just wanting to take the mirrors out.

Ellen L Boyer · Answer

I have this bed also, and would like to take the mirrors out of the top. What could I use in place of the mirrors?

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