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Antique Bed Restoration & Repair
Give a treasured antique bed a new lease of life with specialist restoration from Victorian Dreams.
From careful repairs and refinishing to reupholstery, brass polishing and widening older bedsteads for modern mattress sizes, our experienced Hampshire workshop can restore antique and vintage beds while preserving the character that makes them special.
Specialist Antique Bed Restoration
Victorian Dreams has been restoring antique and vintage beds for more than 35 years. Whether you have inherited a family bedstead, found a piece that needs attention or simply want to make an existing antique bed more practical for modern use, we can advise on the best approach.
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Our restoration work ranges from small repairs to complete renovations and can include structural work, replacement parts, refinishing, upholstery and alterations to the size of the bed.
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Send us a few photographs of your bed and we can advise on what may be possible.
What we restore
Metal Bed Restoration
Victorian brass, iron and cast iron beds can often be transformed through careful restoration while retaining their original character.
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Our metal bed restoration service can include:
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Sandblasting and preparation of iron frames
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Painting in your chosen colour and finish
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Brass polishing
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Repairs to damaged frames
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Replacement or repair of side rails
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Replacement brass fittings, castors and other missing parts
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Widening or alteration of the bed frame
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New mattresses and bed bases made to fit
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Wooden Bed Restoration
From French and Victorian bedsteads to beautifully made oak, mahogany and walnut beds, older wooden frames often respond particularly well to careful restoration.
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Depending on the condition of your bed, we can:
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Repair damaged or loose wooden frames
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Restore and repolish the existing finish
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Repair, replace or lengthen side rails
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Make structural repairs where required
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Adapt selected beds to suit modern mattress sizes
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Supply a suitable mattress and bed base
Our aim is not to make an antique bed look new, but to preserve its age, character and patina while making it practical to enjoy again.
Upholstered Bed Restoration
Antique French and upholstered beds can be completely refreshed while preserving the original frame beneath.
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We can strip away old fabric, repair and prepare the frame, then reupholster your bed in a fabric that suits your room. Choose from our extensive fabric library or supply your own material.
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Restoration can include:
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Repair and preparation of the bed frame
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Repainting or refinishing
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Complete reupholstery
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Traditional detailing and finishing
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Alterations to the dimensions where possible
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Bespoke bed bases and mattresses
Cane Bed Restoration
Damaged cane does not necessarily mean the end of a beautiful antique bed.
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Our workshop can repair or replace damaged cane work as part of a wider restoration, alongside repairs to the wooden frame and refinishing where required.
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Services can include:
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Cane repair and replacement
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Frame repairs
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Repainting or repolishing
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Side rail repairs or alterations
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Mattresses and bed bases made to suit the finished bed
Antique Bed Widening & Alterations
Older bedsteads were not always made to today's standard mattress dimensions. Rather than replacing a bed you love, it may be possible to adapt it.
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Victorian Dreams can widen selected antique beds to create a larger sleeping area, as well as repair or alter side rails and make other changes where the construction of the bed allows.
This is particularly useful for antique beds that have been inherited or purchased in an unusual size but need to work comfortably in a modern bedroom.
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We can also make a bespoke mattress and bed base to fit the finished dimensions of your bed.
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How our Bed Restoration Service Works
1. Send us photographs
Start by sending clear photographs of the complete bed as well as any damaged areas, fittings or details you would like us to look at.
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2. We assess the bed
We will look at its construction and condition and advise on the restoration work that may be required.
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3. Choose the finish
Depending on the bed, this might include paint colours, polished finishes, upholstery fabrics or changes to the dimensions.
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4. Restoration in our Hampshire workshop
The bed is carefully restored in our workshop, with the work tailored to the individual piece rather than following a one-size-fits-all process.
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5. Ready to enjoy again
Once complete, we can also provide the correct bed base and mattress, including bespoke sizes where required.
Restoring Antique Beds Since 1990
Victorian Dreams has specialised in antique beds since 1990.
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From our workshop in Headley, Hampshire, we restore the antique beds in our own collection as well as treasured bedsteads belonging to customers throughout the UK.
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Working with antique beds every day gives us an understanding of the different materials, fittings and construction methods found in Victorian, Edwardian and French bedsteads, from brass and iron frames to upholstered, wooden and cane beds.
A More Sustainable Way to Furnish Your Home
Restoring an existing bed allows a well-made piece of furniture to continue being used rather than replaced.
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It also preserves the materials, details and history of a bed that may already have lasted for generations. For many of our customers, that is an important part of the appeal: keeping a beautiful piece in use while adapting it sensitively for a modern home.
Antique Bed Restoration FAQs
Can you restore a bed that wasn't bought from Victorian Dreams?
Yes. We restore customers' own antique and vintage beds as well as the bedsteads we sell.
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Can an antique bed be made wider?
Often, yes. Depending on its construction, some antique beds can be widened or otherwise altered to accommodate a larger or more modern mattress size. Send us photographs and the current dimensions and we can advise.
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Do you restore brass and iron beds?
Yes. Restoration can include frame repairs, sandblasting, repainting, brass polishing and the replacement of missing fittings or side rails.
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Can you reupholster an antique bed?
Yes. We can remove existing upholstery and reupholster antique bedsteads in a new fabric. You can choose from our fabric library or discuss supplying your own material. See our upholstered beds.
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Can you repair damaged cane?
Yes. Damaged cane can often be repaired or replaced as part of the restoration of a cane bed.
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Can you make a mattress for an unusual antique bed?
Yes. We supply handmade mattresses and bed bases, including bespoke sizes for antique beds with unusual dimensions.
Would You Like Us to Restore Your Antique Bed?
Every antique bed is different, so the best place to start is to show us what you have.
Send us photographs of your bed, along with its dimensions and a brief description of the work you think it needs. We can then advise on the restoration options and provide a personalised quotation.