A bed frame is the foundational support for your mattress. Bed frames are designed to lift your mattress off the floor, offering sturdy backing that frames the edges of your mattress. These lovely pieces of furniture not only help you get the best out of your mattress, they also come in beautiful styles that can transform any bedroom.
Metal
This is the most standard, affordable, and durable of bed frame types. It can be extremely basic and provide the bare necessity for a box spring and mattress set. However, there is potential for a stylish version of the metal frame – some styles incorporate curves, bright colors, and other accents, offering a strong support that complements your interior design style, ranging from shabby chic to bohemian.
Platform
These bed frames complement a modern, minimalistic style. They are very low to the ground, which makes them attractive for children and small pets that love to jump into bed and cuddle with you. This style of bed frame does not require a box spring and does not usually include a headboard or a footboard. However, you can always add these additional pieces if you prefer.
Four-poster/Low-poster
This bed frame style has four posts that extend upward from each corner of the bed and give your bedroom a more elegant, sophisticated feel. They can be high or low, depending on your preference. The higher the posts, the more your bed becomes the focal point of the bedroom. These high-poster bed frames can also be paired with canopies to add an ethereal feel to your bedroom.
Storage
This bed frame style is highly functional and includes various kinds of models so you can find the perfect flair to complement its inherent practicality. Some have built-in shelving for books and other decorative items. Some platform style beds include built-in drawers where you can keep anything from extra blankets to vacuum sealed off-season items. A fantastic solution for kids rooms and small bedrooms.
Upholstered
This style of bed frame incorporates fabric from top to bottom. Fabric types include:
In one word: snugly. Your mattress should match the size of the bed frame to ensure the best possible fit. If you have a full-size mattress, for example, and your chosen bed frame is only available in a queen size, you can expect gaps around the sides. Same for king size mattresses and California king size bed frames! The dimensions are similar, but they do differ.
This may not seem like a huge issue, but these gaps are notorious for trapping objects like phones and socks and worst of all, tiny feet and paws. To keep your bed frame and mattress matching (and safe!), always double check the dimensions prior to your final purchase.
A bed is commonly the biggest furniture item in a bedroom and can easily overpower a smaller sized room. To be sure you won’t incite a feeling of claustrophobia, place the mattress in its designated spot. Walk around the room and see how you feel.
If you don’t have any furniture in the bedroom yet, try laying down pieces of tape to get an approximate understanding of how the furniture will fit within the bedroom. If it’s too tight for your comfort, try downsizing.
Make sure you account for any pieces of the bed frame that will extend further than the mattress, as is the case with some platform style bed frames and storage bed frames with drawers that need space to fully open.
Leave at least 30 inches around each side and at the end of the bed. For a more luxurious feel, allow a minimum of 36 inches.
This is a matter of personal preference. To help you decide, we list some of the pros and cons of each style below:
Platform bed
Pros:
Cons:
Box spring bed
Pros:
Cons:
You may already have designated an interior design style and want to make sure your new bed frame matches up neatly with existing décor. Or, you may be working with a clean canvas and are unsure which bed frame style will best fit your personal preferences.
Not to worry – we’ve got you covered! Check out some of the most common interior design styles below and our suggested bed frame styles that expertly complement each.
Contemporary
This interior design style is Modern’s rebellious sister. You can obtain inspiration from a progressive theme and slide current trends in with reckless abandon. To complement a contemporary environment, choose a platform bed – with or without a headboard. Don’t shy away from curved lines or bold colors, as these features exemplify the contemporary style.
Coastal
This style brings colors reminiscent of a summer day by the beach. The color palette consists primarily of neutral, sandy beiges and light blues and greens. You have freedom with bed frame materials here althoug light wood finishes are preferred; just be sure to stay within beachy colors, like creams, beiges, and blues. A simple bed frame with slatted headboard will look marvellous in coastal aesthetic.
Bohemian
The bohemian style is unapologetic, eclectic, and colorful. As for the perfect bed frame to fit this décor? The answer is found in your heart – listen to its desires! Curved lines, platform styles, bold jewel tones, and metallic finishes are all welcome here. If this is your aesthetic, you already know full well that anything goes, so long as you love it!
Rustic
This interior design style brings the outdoors inside. Think woody tones, leather, and stone. Any bed frame with a wooden finish, clean or distressed, will fit well within a rustic environment. An upholstered, leather bed frame fits nicely into this style as well.
Shabby Chic
This style brings a feminine elegance to any room. Soft, curved, metal bed frames fit this design style well, along with upholstered styles. Think light colors like whites and pastels. If it has a vintage feel, it’ll fit in perfectly with the design elements of this style.
French Country
This style is a marriage been shabby chic elements, farmhouse elements, and antique French elements. It effortlessly communicates maturity, stability, and a clean self-assuredness. Light colors, neutrals, and antique-inspired curves complement this style well.
Minimalist
This interior design style values simplicity, refinement, and functionality. Think solid colors and clean lines. A simple platform bed frame – sans the headboard – fits the minimalist style perfectly. It’s no fuss, serves its purpose, and keeps your walls clean.
Try doubling up. A bed with a trundle offers extra space for guests and kids and is easily tucked under when not in use. If you’re furnishing for occasional guests, optimize your space. You get a couple of extra choices when shopping for a guest bed. You can choose a day bed frame, for example, to place in your office. This offers a comfortable sitting area when you don’t have guests staying over and a plush bed to offer guests a wonderful night’s sleep.
The choice of materials for a bed frame is entirely up to your personal needs and preferences:
Soft, upholstered materials will be forgiving if you have little ones who love to wake you with lively jumps on the bed – and who may just want to meet your headboard with their delicate little heads.
On the other hand, if you have a furry family member who loves to scratch, upholstered options may not be so practical. To prevent scratched up furniture, you may choose a more solid material like distressed wood or metal.
Wooden bed frames are not only practical for homes with pets, they can really class up a room. They are sturdy and beautiful, bringing warm tones into your bedroom.
If your primary concern is durability, a metal frame is an obvious choice. Metal frames often complement more modern interiors and can easily bring an elegant feel into your bedroom with the right design and color.
If you’re a leather furniture enthusiast (faux leather is great too!), keep in mind that the bed frame style may be limited. Usually, leather is used on primarily platform and sleigh style bed frames, so be sure this will fit your overall design vision.
Also, consider that real leather will require extra care. Make sure to stock up on leather cleaning products to keep your bed frame in like-new condition.
Platform beds of different varieties are designed primarily for memory foam mattresses – this is because they offer the ideal amount of support via slats. However, any kind of mattress can be placed atop a platform bed – so long as you are comfortable and sleeping soundly through the night, that’s all that matters.
Metal platform bed frames work well with standard innerspring mattresses, memory foam, and hybrid style mattresses. They are pretty versatile, allowing you to choose from multiple varieties, so long as you find comfort. If you opt for a traditional metal frame, remember to incorporate a box spring to ensure proper support and weight distribution.
Being that you spend an almost unbelievable time in bed throughout your lifetime, it is completely reasonable for you to choose a bed frame that perfectly matches your mattress style, has an aesthetically appealing and inviting quality, and makes you feel contented each time you glance over at it. No matter the existing design elements inside your home, you can pick out the most complementary and welcome bed frame to complete your bedroom.
