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By Emily Peck and Daphne Bugler
Become the super king of your castle with GQ's top picks of the best bed frames for sleeping, sitting up reading and midnight snacking in style
Compared to the amount of time, effort and research we put into getting a new mattress, bed frames are possibly the most underrated and underappreciated part of our bedroom set-up. The stylistic centrepiece of your bedroom, a bed frame can be the difference between a chic and stylish space, or one that looks dated, drab and like you copy and pasted a student hall bedroom into your house. It's not something you should be neglecting.
Thankfully, bed frames come in many a shape and size, from bold four-poster beds that’ll make you feel like you’re 16th-century royalty when you wake up every morning to smart ottoman storage beds that can declutter and clean up your space and those chic industrial metal bed frames that’ll give off a contemporary vibe, there’s a bed frame for every kind of want and need. Just have a good think about how you want your room to look and feel, and then start narrowing down design styles, what colour or type of wood might work for you, and whether or not you want to bring any additional height to your space.
This all being said, it’s also worth remembering that your bed frame isn’t all about looks. Along with your mattress, it plays a huge role in how you sleep overnight, adding support and structure that lets your mattress really shine.
To help make the process a bit easier, we’ve tracked down our favourite bed frames at all of the best furniture stores in town, running you through what kind of space they’d suit, and including a few ideas here and there on how you can style them up with your choice of bedding. Just pop one of the best mattresses on it, and you’ll be grand.
Super convenient and easy to manoeuvre, Nectar's Ottoman Storage bed is the best way to work around a small space or bedroom. Tuck any out-of-season clothes or extra bedding in it and you're instantly saving wardrobe room, while also popping a nice, minimalistic piece into your room.
When it's on sale (which is pretty often) Emma's Wooden bed is one of the best you'll find for a sub-£1000 price tag. It's simple, available in a few different types of wood, and can be bought with or without a headboard.
Textured bed frames can do wonders for making your bedroom feel cosier, especially if you pair them with elegant white bedding. Incorporating Simba's innovative design techniques with a simple, minimalist design, it's a win for any space.
Barker & Stonehouse Sleigh Bed
Wooden bed frames, especially when they come in a darker shade, can do wonders for creating an opulent feel in the bedroom, and this one from Barker & Stonehouse is one of our favourites. In a luxurious sleigh-style design, it turns your bed instantly into a statement piece that draws in your eyes, working best in larger bedrooms that have higher ceilings and plenty of natural light.
We've listed all of our favourite bed frames below, but if you fancy a quick-fire guide to a few of them, look no further…
Skip to: What should I look for when buying a bed frame? | Which bed frames are the strongest? | How many years should a bed frame last? | Does the quality of the bed frame matter? | How we test the best bed frames
Choosing the best bed frames saw us putting some of the most loved bed frames on the market to test based on some key criteria. To make our selection, we were mainly looking at style and aesthetics, aiming to curate a guide which featured bed frames that worked for different interior design styles in order to meet the needs of different readers. We've featured a range of art-deco bed frames, velvet bed frames, and even bed frames that work well for small spaces, as well as some from our favourite furniture stores. We also took into consideration other features, like how supportive they are, the level of protection provided for customers (eg. guarantees), and how comfortable they were.
There’s no easy fix when it comes to buying a bed, as it ultimately comes down to comfort and individual choice. Choose from a range of bed frame styles including divan bases, slatted bedsteads and storage beds – each type of bed frame has its merits.
These expert tips from Jessica Alexander at the National Bed Federation (bedfed.org.uk) on what to look for when buying a bed frame should make it easier to find a design that will give you an especially good night's sleep.
One size won’t fit all when buying a bed and your support requirements will differ depending on your weight and build. The best approach is to research the options carefully, take time to try them out (as with mattresses, many have year guarantees, warranties and 100-night trial periods) if you can and choose what you personally find supportive and comfortable to lay on (side sleepers will feel differently to back sleepers, for example). Think about the height of the bed frame too and whether you can get in and out of it comfortably.
Look for a supportive bed, rather than a hard bed and do not assume that orthopaedic or firmer beds are the best option. Often a medium-firm mattress with proper cushioning is better. “Orthopaedic” generally just means an extra-firm bed and it’s not based on any medical or another common standard. Firmness is not determined by price, although comfort, luxury, durability and added features such as adjustability come with higher price tags.
A bigger bed will be a huge benefit to couples – especially if you suffer from back pain – and will ensure less partner disturbance as you sleep thanks to better temperature regulation than a small double. Zip and link beds are a good option if firmness preferences differ widely.
If you’re after a particularly sturdy bed frame, you’ll really want to pay close attention to the materials you’re choosing. Metals tend to be the best for this, especially steel, but a hardwood option can also be a great investment for the long run. If you’re particularly concerned there are a few things you can keep in mind as well, including the slats (the closer together they are the more strength and structure there will be to the frame), the leg positioning and having a central leg to help distribute the weight. Also make sure you place your bed on a good surface to help it stay stable for longer.
Ultimately, all good bed frames should be made to last and perform well, but the only way to be sure is to make sure you shop from brands that have good guarantees to give you that extra peace of mind that should anything go wrong, you’re covered.
There’s a lot more to choosing the right bed frame than just the design, and as much as your mattress does most of the hard work to keep you comfortable and supported, your bed frame really acts as the foundation that can either make or break it. One of the most important things to take into consideration is the structure, with your main two options normally being a slatted bed frame or a sprung bed frame. Slats can be standard or sprung themselves, normally tending to be the more affordable option with plenty of airflow and good support. The only downside is that they can sag over time if the boards are placed too far apart. Box springs, alternatively, consist of a fabric-covered structure, sometimes with springs inside, normally creating a really supportive feel and a bit of added bounce. Just keep in mind that these tend to be heavier, and you won’t have as much air circulation, and potentially less storage space underneath the bed.
While you needn't worry about replacing it as often as your mattress, bed frames do have an expiration date, simply due to the amount you use them and the amount of wear and tear they build up. Normally you’ll start to notice some signs when your bed frame needs to be replaced, whether that’s the fact it’s starting to creak, feels lopsided or is just generally feeling a bit unstable. Sometimes you can fix this just by tightening up the screws or checking on your slats, but when all of these things start to add up, it’s time to change things up, normally around every ten years or so. But naturally if you invest in something made from really high quality materials, this can be much longer.
It might seem secondary to your mattress, but bed frames make a surprising amount of difference to how comfortable and supportive your bed is overall. As mattresses have evolved to incorporate more complex and comprehensive layers, fabrics and technologies, many of them have become heavier than older pocket spring mattresses used to be. Opt for a bed frame that can't support this and you may find the mattress doesn't perform to its best ability, whether that be by dipping in the middle under the weight or just being generally unstable. The more support you have from the bed frame, the better your mattress will function, meaning it's well worth investing in a proper bed frame to really reap the benefits of your mattress investment.
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Reasons to buy: Simple design | Affordable
While you can buy Nectar’s classic platform bed without a headboard and pop your own on should you already have something in mind, the headboard bed frame is far more convenient if you want to make sure your whole bed comes together, fits together and works nice and cohesively. Retro-inspired in a simple dark grey design, with a buttoned headboard and pale wooden legs, it’s a really easy piece to insert into most rooms, while being a nice way to show off more minimalist bedding or white duvet covers. And thanks to the height between the legs and the bed frame base, you can easily store things underneath as well. From £329. At nectarsleep.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Affordable | Adds a pop of colour
Tapping right into a coastal feel, blue furniture has been a real interiors trend this year, especially as we head into spring and summer, bringing with it a relaxing, calming vibe that’s best suited to the bedroom. Especially when it’s in as nice a shade as Dusk’s Ascot bed frame. Soft and cosy thanks to the matte velvet fabric, the Ascot is elegant and refined in one go, while also emulating the kind of rustic and relaxed style you might get in a vacation or holiday home, turning your bedroom immediately into the retreat it should be. Pair it with some minimalist, white furniture, bedding and wooden floorboards, and you’ll be set. £219. At dusk.com
Reasons to buy: Good for storage space | Supportive design
Essentially the Apple of the sleep world, Simba is consistently innovating with each product it releases, straight from its most expensive luxury mattress down to its bedding and weighted blankets. Everything has a purpose, and everything is trying to push the boat out for how the items you sleep with can help your health and quality of sleep. And while you might think bed frames are one area that would be excluded from this (how advanced can a wooden structure really be?), they’re just as impressive.
Storage is really the name of the game when it comes to the Ottoman bed specifically, with an easy-access mechanism system that helps you lift up the mattress to store anything from extra bedding to spare clothes and pillows. But the space isn’t where the perks here end. Incorporating responsive support with a spring slat system, a padded headboard, and recycled fabric, it’s a winner on all accounts. From £929. At simbasleep.com
Reasons to buy: Unique curved headboard and footboard
Given how much space it takes up, your bed frame is a really great opportunity to get a bit creative and expressive, to really show off your interior design skills with a statement piece. Enter Soho Home’s Lawrence bed. Straight out of Soho House Rome itself, the design here has a lot of fun elements to it, with a curved headboard that’s unique enough to really attract attention, and also to make you feel like you’re living in a really aesthetic hotel. The warm tones of the wood pair nicely with the texture of the velvet upholstery, making for a great centrepiece for a cosier bedroom, especially if you pair it with other upholstered pieces like boucle furniture, or soft furnishings like rugs and throws. £2,971. At sohohome.com
Reasons to buy: Stylish | Durable
If you want to reap the benefits of Emma’s innovative designs, while also having a more traditional wooden bed frame, this is the one for you. An eco-friendly choice thanks to the sustainable sourcing of the wood and other materials, wooden bed frames are some of the most durable around, making for a strong frame with wooden slats that can withstand most things. They have a stripped back, simple look that can be styled up or down with the right bedding and accessories, and are pretty easy to integrate the rest of your bedroom furniture with thanks to the nice clean lines. Need we go on? £469. At emma-sleep.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Innovative design | Good airflow | Pressure relieving slats
If you’re working with a home full of wooden furniture or have hardwood floors, incorporating texture into your bed frame can soften things up, add contrast, and make your space feel cosier. Simba’s Atlas is one of our favourites, combining a platform bed design with an upholstered headboard to help you create a calming bed set-up. And thanks to the brand’s focus on innovation, you’ll feel the benefits too, from the air-circulating design to the pressure-relieving slats. £599.40. At simbasleep.com
Reasons to buy: Customisable options, contemporary look
The fun thing about Darlings of Chelsea, is that not only is its range of bed frames expansive, but you can also customise them extensively to make sure they fit the vibe of your home. Our current favourite is the Puddletown range, a contemporary style of bed frame that features a winged headboard and upholstered frame. It’s giving us very much the vibe of the kind of bed you’d find in a boutique hotel, and we’re certainly not complaining about that.
When it comes down to the customisable options, as Darlings of Chelsea says itself, you can blend your bed frame so that it matches your current aesthetic, or opt for something contrasting and bolder to make a statement and have it stand out. The brand thankfully has a free swatch ordering system so you can be 100 per cent sure if you want to check that the material works for you, but if you know what you’re after you can pick from a wide selection of colours across fabrics like velvet, chenille, boucle, washed linen, cotton or just the stain resistant house fabric. Get creative, why not? £1,704. At darlingsofchelsea.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Fuses a more traditional style with a boho look
If you want to feel like you’re living it up in a palace when you wake up every morning, nothing will do it for you quite like a canopy bed will. Turning your bed into your own private sanctuary, canopy beds give you the option to hang curtains or lights around the bed, adding an extra bit of texture and a pattern to your room, and giving your bed that regal, palatial feel that’ll get everyone who sees it talking. And thanks to the height of the canopy structure, your bed will only be enhanced as the centre point of the room, something that can really pay off if you have a large floor space to work with.
What’s fun about this Urban Outfitters design, is that the pairing of the rattan with the feel of a four-post bed, relaxes what can otherwise feel like a stuffier, more old-fashioned design. The light colour of the rattan has a boho feel, nicely contrasting the canopy structure and keeping things still casual, while also being a statement maker. Just bear in mind that it doesn’t come with a headboard. £999. At urbanoutfitters.com
Reasons to buy: Good trial period | Designed to improve sleep | Great for airflow
Known for its bestselling mattresses, Emma has continued its mission to improve your comfort in the bedroom with its Signature Bed: a bed frame that works to improve both bodily support and sleep quality with a well-regulated airflow throughout the night. Available in a light or dark grey design that's subtle enough not to overwhelm the room, it's a quality frame that's made to last. And with a 10-year guarantee and 200-night trial, there's no reason not to take the plunge. £266. At emma-sleep.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Good storage option, convenient for small spaces
Storage beds are an absolute godsend if you live in a small space and struggle to find room for your out of season clothes or that suitcase you only pull out every few months, and this one from Nectar is a super practical ottoman style situation. While there is only one colour to choose from (we understand that charcoal gray won’t be for everyone), its definitely one of the more easy to use and convenient bed frame designs around, while the padded frame is comfortable to lean against with plenty of headboard height to focus attention in your bedroom on your bed.
As far as the ottoman system goes, all you need to do is use the side lift mechanism (which can be attached to either side of the bed), and you can access whateveryou want to put inside easily and without too much hassle. From £539. At nectarsleep.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Fun range of colours and fabrics available | Good use of texture
If you’re after something with a bit more colour or texture, or just have a very specific idea of what kind of fabric you’d like your bed frame upholstered in, Heal’s range of 62 different colour and fabric options means you can customise its Tortona bed frame to look almost exactly like what you imagined. Part of Heal’s collaboration with Says Who, a Danish design studio, the bed is nice and slimline, making it a good option for both small spaces, and for making just a nice subtle statement in a larger room without overwhelming existing statement pieces. It does come in a bit more on the luxury side, but that’s worth it if you’re willing to invest. From £1,599. At heals.com
Reasons to buy: Affordable option, comes with the option of sprung slats or solid slats
Treading the ground between both industrial and Victorian vibes, this bed frame from Dreams is one of the best metal frames we’ve found, with a sleek, simple construction that lets your bedding, and the rest of your bedroom furniture do the talking. They aren’t made to be statement pieces, and bolder, more vibrant bed frames would be a better choice if that’s what you’re after, but for a subtle, minimal vibe this is a great option.
Aesthetics aside, metal bed frames also have plenty of advantages on a practical level. To start with, they’re lightweight and tend to be easier to move than wooden frames, lasting for plenty of years thanks to the added durability of metal. There’s also the handy option to choose between solid slats or sprung slats, solid slats being better for airflow, and the sprung slats giving you more support and providing better absorption from any shock or movement. Just be sure to assemble it properly so you don’t have to deal with squeaking. £199. At dreams.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Cosy | Very chic
It may be a bit of a challenge to keep spotless, but if you fancy yourself the kind of person who rarely spills a coffee in bed, and you don’t have any pets who might get a bit messy, this bed from West Elm is one of the most aesthetically pleasing we’ve found. In an upholstered super light grey design that runs around the entire bed frame, it’s the ideal setting for many a cosy night, with soft edges and a comfortable plush headboard that you can really relax into. It’s pretty pricy at £1,700 for a king bed, but if you think you can keep it fresh and take care of it, it’s a real winner. £1,700. At westelm.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Affordable bed frame | Excellent storage | Sophisticated velvet design
Ottoman storage beds are a great way to save space in your home, especially if you have a smaller bedroom, or just want to remove clutter. Lifting up easily and seamlessly, and giving you plenty of space for just that, Dusk’s Ascot bed is an instant win in our eyes. Storage aside, the Ascot is also surprisingly affordable at just £379 in Dusk’s winter sale, meaning you needn’t make a major investment to really reap the rewards of a new bed frame. Available in two colours, the bed also has a stylish look, opting for the richer, more opulent shades of green and blue which can add a pop of colour to bring a neutral bedroom instantly to life. It really does tick off all our boxes. £299. At dusk.com
Reasons to buy: Affordable | Quick delivery
Keeping your bed frame simple can be a good strategy if you want to make other areas of the room standout, or fancy opting for some more colourful, playful bedding. This white metal bed frame from Yaheetech is utter simplicity, stripped back but with a sleek design that still looks nice and refined. If anything, the minimalistic design adds to the elegance of the bed, and the white colour is a lot easier to pair with other colour schemes you may want to run with in your room than black metal might be.
The standout feature of this bed however is really it’s affordability. It’s less than £100, which makes it ultra budget-friendly, but it still really delivers. It’s nice and stable, easy to assemble, and while it won’t have the same long-term durability as a much more luxurious frame, if you’re just looking for a win that’s easy on your wallet, it’ll do the trick. £86. At amazon.co.uk
Keeping your bed frame simple can be a good strategy if you want to make other areas of the room standout, or fancy opting for some more colourful, playful bedding. This white metal bed frame from Yaheetech is utter simplicity, stripped back but with a sleek design that still looks nice and refined. If anything, the minimalistic design adds to the elegance of the bed, and the white colour is a lot easier to pair with other colour schemes you may want to run with in your room than black metal might be.
The standout feature of this bed however is really it’s affordability. It’s less than £100, which makes it ultra budget-friendly, but it still really delivers. It’s nice and stable, easy to assemble, and while it won’t have the same long-term durability as a much more luxurious frame, if you’re just looking for a win that’s easy on your wallet, it’ll do the trick. £86. At amazon.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Warm wooden colour | Easy to pair with other pieces of furniture
When done well, and with the right type and quality of wood, wooden bed frames can be one of the most luxurious looking styles of bed around. Tapping into pretty much every design style, wooden bed frames are chic, and can give off elements of vintage, regal bedrooms, while also being super sleek, refined and contemporary. And of course, Soho Home happens to have one of our favourites. With square, sharp corners, brass detailing and a contrasting bordered style headboard, the Mercer bed frame takes inspiration from the unique design style of Soho House Amsterdam, using reclaimed French oak wood that has a beautiful natural variation to it, meaning every piece will look slightly different. And by not being too light, or too dark, the medium colour of the wood has a nice warmth to it that we’d recommend pairing with some of the brand's white bedding, or some statement accessories like rugs and lamps to really bring the look together. From £2,461. At sohohome.com
Reasons to buy: Incorporates plenty of storage space | Available in four colours
If you’re looking for a sleek, simple bed frame that gives your bedding the opportunity to shine, Ikea’s Malm is an easy win. Nice and affordable at just under £400 for a double, the bed frame’s square lines have a nice modern feel to them, with a versatile look that can either freshen up a more traditional room or carry on the contemporary vibe when placed with similar furniture. What’s most exciting, however, is the practical elements it’s got going for it, from the four roll-out under-bed storage boxes that are incorporated on the inside of the bed to the adjustable sides that allow you to switch up the dimensions for different mattress thicknesses. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to do a bit of easy assembly here in classic Ikea fashion. £369. At ikea.com
Reasons to buy: Hidden storage helps reduce clutter | Oversized headboard for a statement piece
If there was ever a piece of furniture to challenge the sofa bed for being the most multi-tasking item in your house, a storage bed would be it. But practical as they may be, storage bed frames can be surprisingly stylish too, reducing any excess clutter and creating a smooth, streamlined look. Working with a lifting mattress mechanism rather than sliding storage drawers, Heal's Alba is an effortlessly stylish option that'll work wonders in small bedrooms where storage and space for drawers to slide out are minimal. The headboard and frame are all covered in fabric, of which there are 11 colour options, which can be easily removed and washed in order to keep everything as hygienic and clean as possible. And as for the design itself, the additional height of the oversized headboard and the bold colour options all make this into one hell of a statement piece. And what else should your bed be? £2,629. At heals.com
Reasons to buy: Simple design style | Affordable
Keeping things classic and simple, you can’t really go wrong with a metal bed frame, whatever your vibe. Giving us both an old-fashioned vintage feel and a modern industrial look in one fell swoop, Three Post’s Holland frame will add subtle style to your bedroom without being an overpowering statement piece. If you want an understated feel that really lets your bedding do the heavy aesthetic lifting, look no further. Need we mention it’s only £150? £158. At wayfair.co.uk
Reasons to buy: Elegant four poster design | High-quality walnut design
If there was ever an item of furniture to instantly give your bedroom the vibe of a regal home or a stately manor, a four-poster bed would be it. But rather than playing into that traditional, historic sense of opulence, Heal's and designer Tim Rundle have opted for contemporary and industrial style angles, lines and joins to give the bed a sense of freshness. Capturing sleek minimalism, but paying tribute to a structure that hints at classic luxury, it makes for a fun choice that has a really stylish feel. Pair it with some silk sheets or a set of our favourite white bedding and your master bedroom is truly mastered. £2,499. At heals.com
Reasons to buy: 100 per cent recyclable materials | Simple, elegant design | Unique colourways
If there was ever a brand we could rely on in the bedroom, it would have to be Simba. And while we've raved endlessly about how good its mattresses and pillows are, it's now its bed frames that are taking centre stage. Available in three shades, the pastel green being the obvious stand-out favourite, it blends a fresh colour with a traditional shape, managing to feel new and exciting without pushing the boat out too far. Technically, it also has a lot to offer as well, from the spill-resistant fabric that's a godsend if you tend to drink coffee in bed, to the pressure-relieving slat system that'll give you a bit of extra support at night. From £701. At simbasleep.com
Reasons to buy: Well constructed | Dramatic look | Makes for a real statement piece in the bedroom
Sleigh beds are exactly the ticket if you want to give your bedroom a bit of heightened drama. The sloping headboard and footboard turn what otherwise would be a standard-looking wooden bed frame into one which is an instant statement in any room, drawing eyes immediately to the bed, meaning you’ll need to make sure your duvet covers, throws and pillows are all ready to be spotlighted. The mango wood adds to the elegance and sophistication of the bed, feeling more intense than a lighter one would, but without being too overpowering thanks to the rustic finish that keeps things a bit more casual. It’s an instant favourite for us and, as long as you don’t mind a footboard at the end of the bed (something for taller people to be wary of), a winner in any bedroom. £955. At barkerandstonehouse.co.uk
Simply demure in its styling, this upholstered Lavender bed frame can be finished in a range of colours, including the vibrant Bespoke Rust (Grade 3) fabric (pictured here). The beauty of Button & Sprung’s range is that you can tailor the bed to your liking and style it in any rainbow colour and fabric. Choose from a country-style broad weave or a contemporary plain weave, a soft wool, stone wash cotton, tactile moleskin and more. This solid design has a solid wood frame with two base sections that glide together. You can also choose a pocket sprung base option or a design with storage underneath should you prefer. From £875 for a double. buttonandsprung.com
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