Java Edition:Half Bed (Block)

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Beds are one of a few blocks that require multiple blocks together. The top and bottom half of a bed are always supposed to be together, otherwise the bed will break. There were and still are several methods that allow a single half of any color bed to be obtained. Any method before 17w15a(1.12 snapshot) only worked on the single type of bed that existed in those versions, though that bed will convert into a red one once updated into 17w15a or later.

Obtaining

Block Update

From when beds were first added in Beta 1.3 - Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5 and 14w03a (1.8 Snapshot) - 16w40a (1.11 Snapshot), if a bed causes an update when placed that changes the state or position of a neighboring block, and this update touches the bottom of the bed, a top half bed would be created. This method only allows you to obtain the top half of the beds. There are several simple method to get the bed to create an update, listed below.

Cactus Breaking

Placing a bed next to a cactus would result in the lower half adjacent to cactus breaking from Beta 1.3 to Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5. This bug had a comeback in 14w03a (1.8 Snapshot) - 16w40a (1.11 Snapshot) working in the exact same way^[1]

The cactus before placement of the bed.
The cactus after placement of the bed.

Farmland

Placing beds in contact with one side of a farmlands block with one block above it will create a half bed block.

Farmland before placement
Farmland after placement

Floating Torch

By placing a bed next to a floating torch it will create a half bed

A half bed created using a floating torch

Disappearing Plant

From 14w06b for mushrooms and 14w21a for crops (1.8 Snapshot) to 16w40a (1.11 Snapshot) by adding light or removing respectively and placing a bed next to them will create a half bed.^[2]

Grow crop in darkness
Place bed next to it

Observer

When observers were first added in 16w39a - 16w40a (1.11 Snapshot) placing a bed in front of it would create a half bed^[3]

Place observer with redstone behind it
Place bed in front of observer

Bed Block Item

bed blocks placed around a diamond block

A bed block item could be obtained by converting Indev cloth or found inside debug chests generated in Beta 1.6 Test Build 3. When placed, the item created the bottom half of a bed only. The item could be used until they were deleted in 13w37a (1.7 snapshot).

Tree Replacement

A tree's leaves can replace one half of a bed when a sapling grows up from Beta 1.3^[test] to Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5^[test].

Bed Replacement

Placing a bed on a replaceable plant (grass, ferns, dead bush or vines) from 14w28a (1.8 Snapshot) - 1.8.2-pre3 allows you to replace any block at the head, including either half of the bed.

Chunk Savestating

By savestating a chunk, placing a bed on its border so that one half is outside of the chunk, then reloading, a half bed of either type can be created.

Skull Replacement

From 1.7.6-pre2 to 1.7.10, skull replacement can be used to replace either half of a bed with any skull.

Exit Portal

Placing a bed half inside of the exit portal area, will remove that half when it resets.

This was first possible in 15w31a (1.9 Snapshot) and worked until 17w46a (1.13 Snapshot) where afterwards it would also destroy the bed.

Sticky Piston

In 1.13-pre6 pulling a bed with a sticky piston will destroy the half it's attached to but will leave the other half fully intact.

Intersecting Generation

When multiple structures intersect, beds can be cut off.

Village + Woodland Mansion

In the seed 5197004265, top half white beds generate at 96 121 41 and 96 121 58 and a top half white bed generates at 80 121 54 in 1.19.4 (test surrounding versions^[test]).

Update Suppression

Update suppression can be used to get either half of a bed from Beta 1.6 Test Build 3 to 25w42a (present)^[test].

Gallery

A half bed in-game.