Beds in Nairobi: 6 easy checks before you pay

Beds in Nairobi are rarely built to one standard, so write down the inside measurements instead of trusting the label. Fix your size, base type and budget before you travel. Then ask every seller the same questions and judge the answers side by side.

A bed is really two purchases. Most bed prices in Nairobi leave out the mattress, so treat the two as separate buys rather than letting one price cover the other.

Where to shop for beds in Nairobi

Furniture shops, carpentry workshops and second hand sellers all sell beds, and each route has a trade off. A shop gives you a receipt and a showroom model. A workshop can build to your measurement but takes longer. A second hand seller is cheapest, so inspect the joints twice as hard. Also ask whether the seller delivers, because a frame that will not fit a matatu is your problem, not theirs.

Measure the room and the delivery route

Put a tape on the floor first. Mark the length and width of the free wall, then note the door swing, the window and the socket you will use for a bedside lamp. Leave walking space along the side you get in and out of, at least an arm's length, or you will be edging past the bed every morning. Then measure the route the bed will travel. Door widths, corridor turns and the staircase decide whether a large frame reaches the room at all. For an upstairs flat, also measure the lift and the landing.

Match the bed size to the people sleeping in it

Sizes vary between makers, so write down the inside measurements of any frame you like instead of trusting its label. A seller in Nairobi can print one size on the label and another on the frame, so carry a tape with you. Common single, three quarter, double, queen and king labels do not always match the same tape numbers. If two adults share the bed, add up the width each person needs and compare that with the frame. A bed that is too narrow is the regret that cannot be fixed later, since no mattress will widen it.

Check the frame strength at the joints

Shake the frame at the headboard corner. A sound bed moves as one piece, while a loose one rocks and squeaks. Look underneath at the corner blocks, the screws and the brackets. Screws driven into particle board strip out after a few moves, so ask what the frame is made of and whether the joints are glued as well as screwed. On a slatted base, check the gap between the slats and the thickness of each one. Wide gaps and thin slats bend under weight, and a bent slat is usually the first part to fail.

Choose the base type that suits the room

Slats let air reach the mattress, which helps in a humid room. A solid board base feels firmer and suits heavy use, but it traps damp around the mattress underside. A divan base gives storage and a softer feel, while a metal frame is light to move and simple to repair. Upholstered frames look warm and collect dust, so ask how the cover is cleaned before you choose one.

Make sure the mattress fits the frame

Every frame has an inside measurement and an outside measurement. The inside one decides the mattress, because a mattress with a large gap will slide and one that is squeezed will buckle along the edge. Take the mattress with you when you shop for a frame, or carry its measurements written down. Then check the headboard height against the mattress depth, since a deep mattress can hide the headboard completely.

Ask about delivery and assembly

Confirm who carries the bed upstairs, who assembles it and what happens if a part is missing in the box. Get the delivery window in writing, then inspect the frame on arrival before you pay the balance. Ask whether the price includes assembly, because a frame that arrives flat is not a saving. Keep the screws and the assembly sheet. A bed that is taken apart for a move needs them, and a missing bracket is hard to match afterwards. If a shop refuses to replace a faulty part, file the complaint with the Competition Authority of Kenya.

Compare prices on beds in Nairobi

Ask three sellers for the same size and the same base type, then compare the totals. A low price that excludes delivery, assembly or the slats is not the same price. Also ask whether the price includes a headboard, because many quotes do not. Most beds built by Nairobi workshops are made to order, so a custom frame costs more but fits an awkward room.

If you already know the size, the base type and your budget, post a photo on the Looking For feed. Nearby sellers then reply with what they have. Explore shows the listings nearest to you. Our mattress guide for Nairobi covers the second half of the purchase, and how Twynon works explains what happens after you post.

Common questions about beds in Nairobi

Should I buy the frame and the mattress together?

Buy them separately when you can. The frame decides the size and the strength, while the mattress decides comfort, and one shop rarely offers the best of both. Measure the inside of the frame before you order the mattress.

How do I confirm a bed size without a tape?

Ask the seller to photograph a tape measure against the inside of the frame. A photo with the tape visible is harder to get wrong than a number typed into a message.

Is a wooden bed frame stronger than a metal one?

Not automatically. A well joined wooden frame carries weight quietly, while a thin metal frame can flex. Judge the joints and the thickness of the material rather than the material name.