The Best Editor-Tested Bed Frames You Can Buy Right Now

While choosing a mattress (rightfully) gets the most attention when furnishing a bedroom, shopping for a bed frame is just as important. As the centerpiece of your bedroom, your bed sets the tone for the entire room — and, as anyone who’s dealt with creaky bed joints knows, can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and a bad one. 

When it comes to the best bed frames, you need to consider the quality of materials used, overall construction and stability, range of customizations offered, and, of course, style. To help make the process easier, we’ve put all of our favorite editor-tested beds in one place, including clever storage beds, sleek platform beds, and headboard-free minimalist beds. Read on for all of our top picks, plus some pro tips to keep in mind while you shop.

If you live in a small space, it makes sense to use every square inch of square footage you have — including the space under your bed. One option is to choose a bed that has a high clearance that can easily fit storage containers and suitcases. Another option is to spend a little more on a bed that has built-in storage hidden within the frame, typically in the form of drawers. You can find options that have drawers in the footboard (better for narrow rooms) or the sides (better for wide rooms). 

Beds with solid wood frames are the most durable and least likely to squeak, especially if they utilize hardware-free joinery (which is also easier to assemble). You’ll also need to decide whether you want a traditional or platform bed: A traditional bed requires a box spring, while a platform bed has slats in the frame to support the mattress without a foundation. Platform beds are less fussy and easier to move, but they tend to sit lower to the ground. 

In addition to sizing, most bed frames come with customizable features, like colors, finishes, fabrics, and headboard styles. While made-to-order beds give you much more flexibility in terms of design, they do take longer to build and ship, so they aren’t a good option if you need a bed ASAP.

We tested a wide range of bed frames and judged them on the following criteria:

• Customizability: Does it come in different varieties? How many colors, finishes, materials, or sizes is it available in? How granular can you get when customizing the bed frame? Does it require a box spring?
• Space needs: How much space does the bed frame require? Does it have a canopy or an extra-wide frame? Is it particularly bulky or does it stay close to its appointed mattress size?
• Platform height: How high off of the ground is the bed frame? Would it generally require bending down or reaching up to get into?
• Storage capacity: Does the bed frame include drawers? Does it have space underneath for under-bed storage? Does its headboard have storage capacity?
• Appearance: What style of decor does the bed frame suit best? Does its design lean warm and rustic or sleek and modern? Is it classic with upholstery and detailing or contemporary with clean lines and versatile minimalism?
• Sturdiness: Is the frame made from durable, high-quality materials? Does the bed wobble or creak when you’re on it?
• Assembly: Does the bed require tools for assembly? Can it be taken apart and put back together fairly easily?

If you’re looking for a high-quality, elegant bed that you’ll want to keep forever, we can’t recommend the Arhaus Wyller Bed enough. We first discovered this bed when we took a trip to Arhaus for our Personal Shopper series, and our editor-in-chief, Charli Penn, immediately fell in love. In fact, she ended up getting it for herself!

Everything about this bed screams luxury, from the gorgeous upholstery to the shelter headboard. It’s unusual compared with other beds because it comes in three different headboard heights; the lowest option gives it more of a modern edge, while the extra-tall version is sophisticated and more traditional. Not only that, but there are three other headboard styles to choose from as well, including an extended headboard design that really makes a statement.

The only downside to this bed is that there aren’t a lot of color and fabric customizations available — currently, there are only three. Charli opted for the Tania cashmere, a textured weave that’s versatile and fade-resistant, but you can also select a taupe velvet or a white linen-blend. Another thing to keep in mind is that a box spring is recommended for this bed. Otherwise, though, this is a truly beautiful bed that will add a cozy-meets-sophisticated vibe to your space. 

Read our full Arhaus Wyller Bed review.

Who It’s Best For: People who are willing to splurge on an elegant, versatile bed. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available with channel stitching, box tufting, and extended headboard
• Sizes: Twin, queen, king, California king
• Headboard Heights: 42, 52, 63 inches
• Underbed Clearance: 1.25 inches
• Colors: 3
• Box Spring: Recommended

If your style leans more minimalist, check out this tool-free wood bed that costs less than $1,000. Surprisingly, it comes from FlexiSpot, a brand that’s better known for its standing desks and office chairs than for bedroom furniture. It really delivered with this bed though, which is designed with Japanese joinery that fits together without using any screws. The result is a bed that’s simple, sturdy, and easy to assemble. 

Like the Wyller, the Kana Bed comes with a few different headboard options. You can opt for a matching wood headboard, a cozy pillowboard, or even no headboard at all for a truly minimalist look. If you do go with the headboard, you’ll love that it’s tilted at 96 degrees, making it ideal for reading or watching TV in bed. And although the pillowboard isn’t angled, it has a plush, responsive feel that will keep your shoulders and back supported.

“I really appreciate the headboard’s slight angle, which makes leaning back against it so comfortable,” says Sofia Rivera, our editor of Dorm Therapy and special projects. “I love the look of the chunky legs, too — the way my mattress sits, some of the joinery is exposed where the legs slot into the frame, and the way the construction doubles as a design detail is one of my favorite elements.”

Read our full FlexiSpot Kana Japanese Joinery Bed review.

Who It’s Best For: People looking for a sturdy, unfussy bed that comes with tool-free assembly.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in retro style or with headboard and pillowboard
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
• Headboard Heights: 39 inches (headboard) or 29 inches (pillowboard)
• Underbed Clearance: 10 inches
• Colors: 3
• Box Spring: Not needed

For a true statement-making bed, we recommend Crate & Barrel’s Caldwell Storage Bed, which was created in collaboration with interior designer Jake Arnold. The curved headboard and faux mohair upholstery provide a healthy dose of vintage-inspired fun, while the solid wood trim on the headboard gives it a warm and cozy vibe. And not only is it stylish, but it’s also extra functional thanks to the large storage drawer placed in the footboard. 

“In terms of the built-in drawer, I was impressed by how concealed it was in the footboard — you can hardly tell it’s there!” says Apartment Therapy’s executive home director, Danielle Blundell. “It’s certainly not a huge amount of storage, but it’s just right for me (I’m not depending on this compartment for storage the way a small-space dweller might be). I just wanted a little extra room for my sweaters (which is what I keep there), and it’s perfect for that.”

Although Crate & Barrel is known for its range of upholstery options, this bed unfortunately doesn’t come with any customizations beyond sizing. Still, Danielle says that’s not a bad thing: “I’m not going to lie: I’m an aesthetics-first person (sometimes to a fault), so the look of this bed is what first drew my attention to it. … It’s fairly minimal in terms of styling, which means you can allow your bedding to take center stage if you’d like — and it goes with so many different styles of textiles, too, so you can always update its look.” 

Read our full Crate & Barrel Caldwell Storage Bed review.

Who It’s Best For: People looking for a design-forward bed that’s equally functionally thanks to the hidden storage.

Specifications: 

• Sizes: Queen, king
• Headboard Height: 50 inches
• Underbed Clearance: 1 inch
• Colors: 1
• Box Spring: Not needed

You’ve probably seen storage beds with hidden drawers built into the frame, but have you ever seen a bed that completely lifts up to reveal storage underneath the slats? That’s what makes the Sundays Dream Bed stand out: It uses a hydraulic lift mechanism that allows for easy access to a bed-size storage space, which you can fill with extra bedding, out-of-season clothing, and anything else that you want to keep out of sight.

“The Dream Bed’s hydraulic lift system opens with almost zero effort — even with our thick mattress and full bedding on top,” says Charli, who placed this bed in her guest room. “Underneath, the compartment is impressively deep and roomy. My husband, who’s 5’10”, and I actually joked that he could fit inside. And honestly, he could.”

Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to use: “The mechanism feels smooth and sturdy, never clunky or stiff, and it closes with a soft, controlled motion. Sundays also included thoughtful touches like fabric flaps that keep dust out and protect the frame. Those small details make daily use feel seamless instead of fussy.”

Even without the storage, the Dream Bed is, well, a dream. It has a plush padded headboard that makes reading or watching TV in bed extra cozy, and the textured bouclé fabric feels soft and inviting. (It’s also available in a darker bouclé fabric and a smooth polyester.) The lack of drawers makes it especially suitable for small spaces, since it doesn’t require any extra square footage to access the storage.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that tall mattresses might make it more difficult to lift. With that in mind, we recommend pairing it with a mattress that’s no taller than 12 inches.

Read our full Sundays Dream Bed With Storage review.

Who It’s Best For: People in need of easily accessible bedroom storage; people looking for a cozy, comfy bed.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available without storage
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
• Headboard Height: 38 inches
• Underbed Clearance: 2 inches
• Colors: 3
• Box Spring: Not needed

A solid wood bed will never go out of style, and the Avocado City Bed is the one we love the most. You may already be familiar with Avocado’s organic mattresses, but the brand’s bedroom furniture is just as notable — and made with the same exacting standards. The City Bed is built using solid North American timber (either blonde woods or walnut) from FSC-certified sources, and requires zero tools for assembly to prevent any night-time squeaking.

“What really sold me was the option to choose whether or not to have a headboard (I opted out!),” says Cullen Ormond, Apartment Therapy’s house tours editor. “The frame definitely leans toward a minimalist or Scandinavian style, but that’s the beauty of it. It can work in several different styles, and the blonde color (which I chose) instantly warmed up my room without competing with the blue walls.” 

There’s even a few inches of clearance space underneath, which Cullen used with cloth storage bins for her out-of-season clothes. As far as design goes, the City Bed is pretty minimalist in style, with rounded corners and a low profile. It’s unfussy and versatile, so you can really let your bedding and decor shine. Although it doesn’t come with many customization offerings, its sleek style is sure to complement a variety of spaces.     

Read our full Avocado City Bed review.

Who It’s Best For: People looking for a solidly built wood bed that has a clean, minimal design.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Available with or without headboard
• Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king
• Headboard Height: 39 inches
• Underbed Clearance: 5 inches
• Colors: 2
• Box Spring: Not needed

For those who have a very particular vision in mind for their bedroom, The Inside’s Camelback Bed comes in a whopping 140 color and fabric combinations to please even the most discerning shoppers. Plus, you also get to choose from nine different leg styles ranging from sleek and modern to detailed and traditional. Even better? You can opt for a traditional frame that requires a box spring, or go with a more contemporary platform style.

“I gravitated toward a navy striped upholstery because it’s a classic look that I can easily style around — even if my design tastes evolve,” says former Apartment Therapy style editor Blair Donovan, who was inspired by a Parisian hotel’s beds. “The Inside has something for basically every aesthetic, though, whether you’re looking for a traditional wingback bed in a simple light-toned linen fabric or a graphic floral print paired with a modern platform bed.”

The color options cover the whole rainbow, while the patterns include maximalist animal and floral motifs, bold geometric shapes, and minimalist stripes. If you don’t love the Camelback style, you can choose from 10 other silhouettes that are equally customizable, including a more traditional tufted wingback and casual slipcovered bed. 

Read our full The Inside Camelback Bed review.

Who It’s Best For: People looking for a statement bed that they have total control of designing.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in platform style
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king
• Headboard Height: 49 inches
• Underbed Clearance: 5 inches
• Colors: 140
• Box Spring: Required

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