Mixed Feelings About the Ascona MAYA Bed

Hello everyone!

Let's face it: buying a bed can be a real headache. You've got to find one that's going to last, not fall apart after six months of use. I'm going to share my experience with the MAYA bed from Ascona, a well-known brand in the furniture industry.

When shopping for a bed like this, you've got to think about the space you'll have left over once it's in place. It's not ideal if the bed is going to be right up against the wall and you've got narrow pathways around it.

The bed is a double and comes with a 180x200 cm mattress. I bought the bed from the brand's official store, but the mattress wasn't included. The bed's dimensions are:

Length-width-height: 210x190x105.5 cm

The bed has a soft headboard, the upholstery is in Dorio Grey, and it's decorated with soft buttons that match the headboard. However, there aren't many of them, and I'm not sure they really add to the bed's aesthetic. It would be just as good without them. The headboard is high and soft, so you don't have to worry about banging your head against it.

The side panels of the bed base have a gap of around 2-4 cm at the bottom, which is really inconvenient. Dust is going to get stuck in there, and it's going to be a pain to clean. You won't be able to get a vacuum in there, and moving the bed to clean it is not something you'll do often.

I love that this bed has a lifting mechanism, allowing me to use the space underneath the mattress for storing stuff. It's perfect for small apartments where every inch of space counts. Plus, the bed itself takes up a lot of room, so it's great to be able to use that space for something other than just sleeping. To access the storage compartment, you need to use the lifting mechanism. It's pretty straightforward - just pull the handle on the base of the mattress.

The lifting mechanism is actually pretty cool. It's a gas lift system, so you do need to put in a bit of effort to lift and lower the base of the mattress. But I wouldn't say it's too difficult, even for someone with mobility issues.

The base of the mattress is made on a metal frame with gas springs and bent wooden slats. The slats retained their original shape, didn't deform from use, and evenly distribute the mattress's weight. The lifting mechanism looks completely normal, I didn't notice anything unusual.

The base has a fairly spacious compartment underneath. The soft padding around the base is done not only on the outside but also on the inside. If the outer fabric is of good quality, the inside material is chosen cheaper and has a different color. If the bed's outer upholstery is light gray, the inside color is somehow yellow. I also found a label inside, which is stuck on quite inaccurately and clumsily.

As for the compartment's capacity, it's fairly spacious. But there's one catch. Underneath the mattress base, the space is divided in half by a partition. This is done to keep the space in shape. However, the manufacturer has provided a shelf for things in one half, and in the other half, I see a floor. I don't understand this solution. What prevented them from making the floor the full length of the base, I don't get it. The gaps on the sides and the lack of a floor on half the bed - it's a great place for dust to accumulate.

I've got to say, the execution of the cabinet is a major letdown. The edges are completely roughed out - it's the first thing that jumps out at you, but it's not the only problem. For a brand known for its quality furniture, I wouldn't expect the internal panel edges to look so cheap.

The gaps between the partition and the cabinet base are also pretty noticeable. The partition is pretty flexible, and if you load the cabinet up too much, it can warp. And the base of the cabinet just collapses. It's a spacious cabinet, we've got paint rolls in it before a renovation and even some vacuum-packed items. But one careless move already caused the partition to warp, so you have to use the cabinet like it's super fragile.

When it comes to buying a bed, most people care about the materials it's made of. The frame is made of MDF, which is cheap and not the safest option, but it's accessible. Unfortunately, the quality of the MDF used here is pretty subpar, especially considering the price of the bed. The upholstery, on the other hand, is made of a thick and durable fabric. If you're choosing a bed with an MDF frame, make sure to check the quality of the finish and the panels themselves.

I wouldn't recommend buying this bed.