The Best Bed Frames for Every Home

It’s fair to say that our beds are one of the most important places in our homes. We spend a third of our lifetimes there so we need to make sure we have not only the right mattress, but the right bed frame for the job. And of course, as it’s the main piece of furniture in the bedroom, it’s important it looks good too. 

As experts in all things home-related, we’ve compiled a list of all the things you should consider before buying, along with all the best bed frames. We’ll take you through what makes a good bed frame, how to choose the right size bed for your room, the best options for children’s bedrooms and more, so you can make sure the whole family slumbers soundly in style.

What Makes a Good Bed Frame?

A good, high quality bed frame will be solid and durable with strong slats to create a reliable base for your mattress. If you’re wondering which bed frame is best, this all depends on what will best suit your needs. Here are some key things to consider before making your decision:

Type

There are many types of bed to choose from, each with its own benefits.

Bedsteads

These are the most common type of bed, so a more diverse range of styles and materials are available. They also have plenty of clearance space underneath which can be used as storage space. The Talsi Single Bed Frame and Riga Double Bed Frame are made from solid wood and are perfect if you want something classic and durable. 

Ottoman Beds

These feature handy hidden storage space underneath to neatly hide your belongings away. This Olivier Ottoman Bed has a gas-assisted lift feature for easy access and is upholstered in high-quality, luxurious velvet. 

Divan Beds 

These come with a sturdy, fabric-covered base and a mattress which reaches right to the sides of the base, making them better suited to smaller rooms. They are commonly fitted with castors so you can easily move the bed around, and often have built-in drawers. This Silentnight Mirapocket Divan comes with four handy drawers and a sumptuous pocket sprung mattress. 

Day Beds 

These are ideal for guests or a quick forty winks. You can also use them for stylish seating. This Geovana Day Bed comes with a useful trundle for a more comfortable night’s sleep for a guest. 

Bunk Beds

These are the perfect choice for kids to save space. This London Bus Bunk Bed is a fun sleeping solution for two, and even features a movable steering wheel for driving off to Bedfordshire. 

As well as the usual two-bed models, they’re also available as three-sleepers with a double bed underneath a single. These are ideal for guest rooms if you often have extended family staying over. 

Cabin or High Sleeper Beds

Similar to bunk beds, high sleepers have a single bed on top but feature either clear space below for storage, or drawers. 

Slats

Slats are the planks of wood that form a base for your mattress to sit on. There are two different types: 

Solid slats - These are often made from pine wood and run across the width of the bed frame to create a firm, supportive base. 

Sprung slats - These are usually made from a flexible wood like beech and have a slight upward arch. They create a more cushioned, springier feel. 

Style and Material

Do you like contemporary or traditional? Warm wooden charm or modern metal sophistication? Bed frames can be made from either wood or metal, while others are fabric-covered for a softer finish, and all have their unique advantages. Read more about the benefits of each style and material a little further on in our guide.

How to Choose the Right Size Bed Frame for Your Room

The size of your bed frame needs to suit both the people sleeping in it and the room. Think about what else you have in your bedroom - do you need to fit a bedside table next to it, or be able to open a nearby wardrobe door? When allowing enough space for other furniture in the room, be sure to leave around 50cm around the bed so that you can walk around easily. 

Rather than go off the traditional size of the mattress (e.g. 135 x 190cm for a double) make sure you have the exact measurements of the frame, as some may be chunky and add a fair amount of extra width and length. Divans, however, tend to be just as wide as the mattress and more compact.  

When it comes to how suitable the bed is for the sleepers, consider how tall each they are - you ideally want the bed to be 10-15cm longer than the tallest person. You’ll also want to ensure that, if there are two of you, you can comfortably sprawl out. Another thing to consider is mobility - someone may struggle to get out of a bed that’s too high for them, so bed height would be a key factor here. 

If you’re wondering how big each bed size is, we’ve listed the dimensions of each below. 

• Single - 3′ x 6'3″ (90 x 190 cm)

• Small Double - 4′ x 6'3″ (120 x 190 cm)

• Double - 4'6″ x 6'3″ (135 x 190 cm)

• King - 5′ x 6'6″ (150 x 200 cm)

How Big are Double Size Bed Frames?

A standard double bed, as we highlighted above, measures 135 x 90cm. A standard double like this is ideal for your own permanent use as they have plenty of space for two people to move around in. Small doubles, on the other hand, are best reserved for guest or teenage rooms. 

How Big is a Queen Size Bed Frame?

A Queen size bed frame (AKA small double) measures 120 x 90cm. It will fit two people but it will be snug, so they’re not ideal for every night. They’re perfect for smaller rooms, however. 

Consider the Material 

Bed frames are either made from wood or metal, and some are upholstered. Each type has something different to offer. 

Wood

Wooden bed frames are always popular due to their strength, durability and traditional charm. They don’t require much maintenance, are easy to clean and come in either natural wood or painted styles - great if you want the long-lasting durability of wood but a more modern finish. They’re ideal if you love either the Scandi or classic look. 

Metal

Sleek and sophisticated, metal bed frames are perfect if you like a minimalist, modern or more elegant style. They’re tough just like wooden beds, and less prone to damage from water, mites or fire, though they can squeak a little more than their wooden counterparts. 

Upholstered

Fabric-covered beds give a room a softer finish and are great for colour coordination as they often come in a range of different colourways. However, they’re not the most suitable type for children’s bedrooms as they’re not as easy to clean as wooden or metal frames. 

Some bed frames are upholstered in faux leather which offers a sleeker, more modern, look. If you’re wondering how to clean a faux leather bed frame, it’s easy: simply vacuum in the cracks every now and then and, for spills and marks, use some warm soapy water and a cloth. 

 The Best Bed Frames for Children’s Bedrooms

Getting a child to sleep can be difficult at the best of times, and without the right bed this can be an even trickier task! A good bed frame helps ensure your child is comfortable and getting a good night’s rest, and it can even make the bedtime routine easier, given the fun styles available. If they’re older children, a bed can be much more than just a place to sleep - they can feature desks or shelving underneath. Here are some of the different types, and the best bed frames for children:

Beds with a guard rail - Models like this Star Balloon Single Bed Frame come with handy guard rails to help stop young children falling out of bed, so you can be sure they’ll have a good night’s sleep. 

Novelty beds - With a bed in the style of something fun like a bus, car or pirate ship, your child will be ready to drive themselves off to dreamland or slumber on the seven seas. 

Bunk beds - Trusty bunk beds are ideal for siblings sharing a room and provide plenty of space for other furniture.

Sleep stations - These multi-functional beds - such as this Milo Sleep Station - are excellent space-savers. They come with a whole host of features underneath, such as a pull-out desk, shelving units and drawers. 

All in all, there’s quite a lot to think about when investing in a bed frame - the type, size, material and whether it has storage space, to name a few considerations. To help you decide, have a browse of our wide range of bed frames. Whether you’re choosing for yourself, guests or your children, you can count on us to help your whole household sleep soundly in style.