So called divan beds simply means a mattress with a base covered in the same fabric or "ticking" as the mattress.
Divans have domineered the market since probably the 1940's and 1950's.
It is only since the 1990's that the bedstead has come back into its own since younger people decided that style had entered the bedroom.
The mattress support ( the divan base under the mattress) is available as a platform base/firm base or a sprung base.
A platform base/firm base means just what it says. This is a wooden frame with a hardboard top and covered with matching cloth to the mattress.
A sprung base means a wooden frame but with a layer of springs on top to give the mattress a softer feel when you lie on it, then covered with fabric to match the mattress.
Both the platform base and sprung base are available with or without storage under the mattress i.e. drawers and mounted on castors for ease of cleaning of carpets.
Incidentally, castors can be a problem on laminate flooring as they can move - if so replace with glides.

Only a few years ago you had a choice of pine or pine!
Now a vast selection of various hardwoods, softwoods, laminates and foil finishes will give you thousands of shapes, colours and grain finishes - beech, natural, honey pine, mahogany to name but a few.
The mattress support is normally pine slats or sprung pinewood stats.

Unless you are using a mattress from our dedicated mattress ection, a general pocket sprung mattress may not be suitable for a pine or metal bedstead. The spacing between the slats may distort the pocket springs as they tend to compress between the slats giving a "railway" effect when you turn the mattress over. Our experts can , of course advise you.

Metal Bedsteads have come a long way since Victorian days when they were made of very heavy wrought-iron, often trimmed with brass.

Now modern alloys give a variety of finishes and colours, from sleek polished chrome, nickel, grey, brass to black and white finishes.

They are now lightweight and easy to assemble or move.

The mattress support is normally metal bars or pinewood slats, or, on more expensive quality metal bedsteads, sprung pine slats to give the mattress a softer feel.

Ask yourself the following questions:-

Will the bed be used for adults or children?
Will the bed be used daily or for occasional guests?
Are the people using it of average weight and size or big people?
Does the person using it have any health problems?

Back Problems: Most people find a so called orthopaedic mattress or firmer feel mattress beneficial. Be guided by medical advice in extreme cases.

Asthma - check out composition of fillings for any allergies - e.g. latex, cotton, wool.

Arthritis or Rheumatism: Older people with these problems generally need good support but without a hard feel to the mattress. Look for a mattress with good support but plenty of padding so sore joints are not aggravated.

Most people over the years know their own needs best and are able to decide on simply soft, medium or firm feel to the mattress.

The Best advice is to buy as good a quality as you can possibly afford.
Quality beds and mattresses are usually getting past their best after 10 years, because springs are not as resilient due to metal fatigue, fillings become compressed so you can feel "hollows" in the mattress and health & hygiene as bacteria and dust mite build up over time. In hotter climates people change their mattresses more frequently.