I would recommend a higher bed whether ensemble or any style of base with top mattress or pillow top. I have had serious spinal injuries since 25 (I'm now 40) I would advise any bed reaching around 70cm in height regardless off style. There are a few things that I would advise, overall height around 70cm or a little more, most important to consider is comfort. Do not worry about aesthetics when choosing bed as your sleep is more important to your overall health. So if you can afford the more comfortable bed go for it. As for putting on sheets etc, the weight off mattresses is not really a big deal as it is your sleep comfort that is important. With pillow top mattress with a fitted sheet needing a 45cm fitted sheet are easy to find and purchase from same place bed is purchased. In Australia all bed sheet supplies are available for pillow top with 45cm drop fitted. Percale last longer and are around $100 per set and 1000 thread count. Spotlight have great sales and choices as well as Pillow Talk. I have found Adair's to be quite expensive in comparison but that is up to you to decide. I hope you have many a restful nights sleep. But do not worry about weight of mattress as you need your sleep to live healthy and it is an investment for around ten years so how it looks and weight of mattress should be last on list. Designers may disagree, but our bedrooms are normally our sanctuaries and it is rather easy to make any bed style work for you and decorate to your style.

Luke, This is a hard poll Although I voted timber as we have an amazing hardwood sleigh bed that we love, iron beds can look sensational too!!! I wouldn't hesitate to choose beds for our spare rooms when my home is finished, that combine both features with solid timber and strong steel set into some sort of design!!!

4 poster beds were initially to kep out the cold in big rooms with high ceilings in big stone manor houses...usually surrouned by thick velvet or jacquard curtains with a canopy overhead and usually with intricately turned posts. The curtains were drawn back in the morning and fastened by amazingly designed 'holds' Not a fan of modern 'post' beds with plain 'frames and especially black painted skinny pine posts...however,,,if you really like the bed and the idea and, its not already a light colour, why not paint it a light colour and add, rather than the traditional heavy curtains, a light transparent curtain draped around the posts? Just a thought...I'd love a 4 poster in my natual VJ walled room with 10ft 6in high ceilings built in 1924 but it would need to be the feature of the room. When we lived in the tropics with lots of mozzies my Dad built me a 4 poster and Mum covered it with a mozzie net canopy and gathered curtains of mozzie net. The curtains were tucked in under the matress to keep the mozzies out...I was a tot and I loved it...but there can be many decorative versions of 4 poster curtains.....just a thought...might make you love the style again and find a way to make it fit your room.

That looks beautiful and so fitting in with the house. I also like the mixture of plants, well done on the job!