Best bed frame: Support your mattress in style – now with BIG Black Friday discounts
Our pick of the best bed frames, from wooden to upholstered options
If you’re hoping to get a good night’s sleep, having the best bed frame to accompany your mattress is pretty much non-negotiable. You can put a great deal of time, effort and money into buying the best mattress but unless you’ve got a solid bed frame to accompany it, then that effort is just going to waste. And while no one is stopping you from simply plonking your new mattress on the floor, doing so isn’t always the best idea (for one thing, you risk voiding your mattress warranty).
The best bed frame won’t just contribute to the aesthetic value of your bedroom. It’s crucial in supporting your mattress, allowing for airflow underneath it and preventing build up of mould. It can sometimes even provide handy storage space for bedding and other bedroom miscellany you might want to get out of the way.
There’s an enormous amount of choice when it comes to bed frames, from materials to style and storage options. So, we’ve put together this guide to help you buy with confidence, as well as a roundup of some of the best bed frames that you can buy.
Best bed frames: At a glance
- Best overall bed frame: Eve Tailored Bed Frame
- Best value double bed frame: Zipcode Design Hope Bed
- Best minimalist platform bed frame: Made Kano
- Best metal bed frame: Wrought Iron And Brass Bed Co. Sophie
How to choose the best bed frame for you
What do I need to look for in a bed frame?
Type and material: The vast majority of bed frames will be made from either wood or metal, which may or may not be upholstered. Two common types of bed are bedsteads, where the mattress is supported in a frame by a series of slats, and divans: boxy-looking upholstered bases.
For the purpose of our roundup below, we will be focussing primarily on bedstead frames (although we have included an ottoman storage bed in our roundup). However, if you’re after a divan, do check out our wider roundup of the best beds to buy.
Slats: These are the brackets that will support your mattress, and will either be ‘solid’ or ‘sprung’. Solid slats are rigid, and will be made from a non-flexible material like pine or metal for a firm support. Sprung slats (made from a more flexible wood like plywood) are curved upwards and respond to the weight of your body by giving a little when you lie on them. Whatever bed frame you buy, be sure to check the product information regarding how much space there should be between slats. Most manufacturers recommend that this shouldn’t be any more than 7cm.
Headboard: Many bed frames will come with these, with the exception being the most minimalist of platform beds. If you’re someone who likes to sit up in bed to read or watch movies, then a headboard is an essential feature.
Storage: Many raised bed frames will allow for a degree of storage underneath. However, if storage options are a high priority, consider one with built-in drawers. Some beds also come with ottoman storage, revealed by opening up the top part of the frame, although this is primarily a feature of divan bed bases.
READ NEXT: The best blackout blinds for total darkness
How much should I spend on a bed frame?
Like many large items of furniture, bed frames vary widely in price. On the budget end, you can get a simple bare bones double bed frame for under £200, and in some instances under £100. However, if you’re after more extravagant styles, fancy upholstery or plenty of storage options, you can expect to pay three times as much – with the highest-end options costing up to £800 and sometimes even beyond £1,000.
Anything else I need to consider?
As well as the size of the thing, think about whether or not your bed frame is suited to your mattress. While sprung slats provide a more cushioned support, some mattresses (like the Emma Premium Hybrid) will feel more comfortable when used on a solid foundation. It’s worth checking whether your mattress manufacturer has any advice when it comes to slats.
It’s also important to think about where you live, and how easily you’ll be able to get your new bed frame into your home. Some manufacturers offer an assembly service, either included in the price or at an extra cost, but you might have to assemble it yourself. You should also let your manufacturer or retailer know if you anticipate a struggle in getting furniture into your home (for instance, around any tight corners or up narrow staircases).
READ NEXT: The best mattresses to buy for a good night’s sleep
The best bed frames to buy in 2023
1. Zipcode Design Hope Bed: Best value double bed frame
Price: £220 (double) | Buy now from Wayfair
As we mentioned in our buying guide, above, you can get a simple wooden bed frame for around £200 without too much trouble. This one from Wayfair, although it has crept up in price over the years, is an affordable option at £205 for a double. Made from solid pine, it’s sturdy and easy to assemble, and has a lovely natural wood grain finish. The 26cm of clearance below the bed should be enough for storage. However, it’s worth noting that the two central support legs might get in the way of some larger items.
You might be able to find cheaper frames available but, as with anything, be wary of bargain basement beds that skimp on quality. As an affordable option, the Hope bed frame is great value for money.
Key features – Sizes available: Small double, double; Slat type: Solid; Colours: 1; Delivery time: Unspecified; Assembly service offered? No; Warranty: Unspecified
2. Emma Platform Bed: Best minimalist platform bed
Price: £522 (double) | Buy now from Emma
UPDATE: Since publishing our review, Expert Reviews has noticed a recent influx of negative customer reviews for Emma Sleep on Trustpilot, with many customers complaining of delays to shipping and a lack of communication over when deliveries will happen. According to Emma Sleep, these delays have been caused by factors “not under [the brand’s] control”, and a spokesperson said that the process of transitioning “order management and fulfilment platforms” has led to these issues. We’ve also been told that resolving these issues is a top priority for Emma Sleep and the company is expecting to resolve the issues in the coming weeks. We will be sure to bring you more information as we receive it.
If you’re short on space, you’ll want a bed frame that won’t make the space feel uncomfortably cramped. The Platform Bed from bed-in-a-box brand Emma is a minimalist frame that’s ideal for small flats or loft rooms, and is easy to assemble. You don’t get a headboard, not even as an optional extra, so you’ll have to put it up against the wall if you like to sit up in bed.
What you do get, however, is a two-year guarantee as well as Emma’s 200-night trial period (the same that’s offered with its mattresses): this means that, after trying it out for 200 nights, you can simply return it for a full refund if you’re not happy.
For what it is, the Emma Platform Bed is quite pricey. But taking into account the regular promotional sales Emma runs, you’ll rarely have to pay full price.
Key features – Sizes available: Single, small double, double, king; Slat type: Sprung; Colours: 1; Delivery time: 1-3 working days; Assembly service offered? No; Warranty: 2 years (with a 200-night trial period)
3. Best metal bed frame: Wrought Iron And Brass Bed Co. Sophie
Price: £895 (double) | Buy now from John Lewis
The Sophie bed frame from the Wrought Iron And Brass Bed Co. is crafted from (you guessed it) solid wrought iron, which comes in a choice of two colours: black or cream, and has been given a powder coated finish for high-quality protection. The bed’s solid slats, meanwhile, are made from Scandinavian pine.
A solid bed frame with a traditional, yet modern look, the Sophie will help to bring a little Victorian chic to your bedroom without looking too old fashioned. It’s quite expensive, at £895 for a double, although it will be assembled upon delivery by the supplier at no extra cost, which is something you’ll be glad of given the bed’s weight.
Key features – Sizes available: Day bed, double, king, super king; Slat type: Solid; Colours: 2; Delivery time: 8 weeks; Assembly service offered? Yes (included in price); Warranty: Unspecified
4. Dunelm End Opening Ottoman Bed: Best value ottoman bed
Price: £599 (double) | Buy now from Dunelm
As we hinted at in our buying guide, ottoman beds are a great option if you’re looking for a tidy storage solution. Lift the hinged mattress base of this Dunelm bed and you’ll find plenty of storage space with two compartments for spare bedding or any other miscellaneous knick-knacks you want out of the way.
It comes in a choice of two neutral colours: grey and “natural” (the latter of which we prefer to describe as beige). And at £599 for a double, it’s not horrendously expensive either. That said, the product image is a little misleading: the bed doesn’t come with a headboard, so you’ll have to buy one separately.
For more bedroom storage options, check out our wider roundup of the best ottoman beds.
Key features – Sizes available: Single, double, king, super king; Slat type: N/A; Colours: 2; Delivery time: From 3 days; Assembly service offered? No; Warranty: 1 year
5. Eve Tailored Bed Frame: Best upholstered bed frame
Price: £549 (double) | Buy now from Eve
We’ve reviewed a number of Eve mattresses at Expert Reviews (with the Premium Hybrid being the brand’s best, in our opinion). But like many bed-in-a-box brands, Eve also manufactures a number of bed frames.
The Tailored Bed Frame is a smart Scandi-style bed, made from MDF and pine with solid pine feet, upholstered in either grey or oat coloured woven fabric. The upholstery creates soft, rounded curves and edges, and the headboard is padded for extra comfort when sitting up in bed. Plus, with 19cm of clearance underneath the bed, you’ve got some storage space too.
Key features – Sizes available: Double, king, super king; Slat type: Sprung; Colours: 2; Delivery time: 3 working days; Assembly service offered? No; Warranty: 5 years
Also consider: Eve Storage Bed Frame
If 19cm of under-bed storage space isn’t enough, Eve also manufactures this bed frame with spacious ottoman storage, starting at £1,049 for a double. The Storage Bed Frame is designed in a similar fashion to Eve’s Tailored Bed Frame, with a woven polyester upholstery curved at the edges, although the feet are made from solid ash rather than pine. The bed opens with help from a piston-powered mechanism and can be lifted up (without having to remove the mattress) using a handy fabric strap.
