We Tested (and Rated!) Every Bed at Crate & Barrel

If your bed frame has seen better days, it might be time for an upgrade. After all, your bed is the focal point of your room and where you rest and recharge (and your mattress deserves a home worthy of its importance!). And while there are plenty of budget bed frames that get the job done, it’s never a bad idea to splurge on something with a bit more style than your typical frame that can stand the test of time.

Crate & Barrel might be better known for its seating and decor, but its bedroom furniture options are worth checking out, too. In particular, its beds are ideal if you’re shooting for a minimal, elevated look that combines comfort and style.

As part of our Personal Shopper series, we decided to check out Crate & Barrel’s beds in person at the brand’s Manhattan storefront, where there were five beds on display. We took a close look at each bed’s upholstery, frame, and style — check out all of our thoughts and opinions below.

Crate & Barrel is one of the most popular home furniture brands around, with over 100 stores nationwide. It’s known for its clean aesthetic, which utilizes mostly neutral colors and simple yet timeless designs. It’s considered a middle-tier retailer: more expensive than big budget brands, but more affordable than true designer stores.

Furniture is its biggest seller, especially seating, but it’s also well-known for its rugs, dinnerware, bedding, bath, and decor. We’ve covered Crate & Barrel extensively through the years, including product reviews and buzzy designer collaborations.

We judged every Crate & Barrel bed frame based 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?

Each Crate & Barrel bed in this article was tested by editors Emma Dangel and Cullen Ormond. Emma is the Style Editor at Apartment Therapy, where she has been covering design, trends, and up-and-coming brands since 2022. As the Associate Home Editor, Cullen covers House Tours, Before & Afters, and smart home products. She’s been at Apartment Therapy since 2023, and was previously an editor at Vox.

Cullen’s thoughts: Right off the bat, my eyes gravitated toward the Lafayette’s curved, winged headboard. In my opinion, it’s more visually interesting than the others without being too out of the ordinary. In fact, I think this bed could work with a variety of decor styles — especially if you play around with the bedding colors and patterns. 

I do wish it came in more colors — at the moment, it’s only available in three neutrals (mist grey, charcoal, and natural beige). The upholstery felt really luxe and had some texture to it, unlike the fabric on the Keane, which was completely smooth. The bed in the store was upholstered in the natural beige option, and it’s a good neutral hue, although I suspect it might show dirt pretty easily. If that’s a concern for you, then I definitely recommend choosing one of the darker colors.

Height-wise, the Lafayette is perfect for me (I’m 5’4”). There are seven inches of under-bed clearance, which is more than enough space for typical under-bed storage containers but probably not enough for suitcases. If you do want storage, this bed is also available in a storage option, which I didn’t see in person but comes with three drawers in the base. I did notice some minor wobbling compared to the other beds, but it was barely noticeable.

This bed is the most affordable option of the batch we saw in store, and I think it’s a super-versatile pick that most people could be happy with. While it doesn’t have the customizations offered by other Crate & Barrel beds, it does come with the most sizing options, plus can be purchased as a storage bed or as a headboard only.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available as a storage bed or with headboard only 
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king
• Material: Hardwood & plywood
• Box Spring: Not needed

Emma’s thoughts: If you prefer the look of an all-wood bed, the Linea is a winner. The modern silhouette and clean lines offset the classic wood construction, which results in a look that’s contemporary and not at all boring.

And unlike other wood beds, the Linea is made from teak, which is more typical for outdoor furniture because of its durability and resistance to warping and moisture. That’s good news if you want a bed that will last for a long time — unlike the other Crate & Barrel beds I saw, this one is made entirely from teak (not engineered or plywood), so it’s definitely a solid choice.

The wood looked luxe and distinctive in person, with a nice satin finish and medium tone. I think it could go well with both warm- and cool-toned wood floors. Just keep in mind, though, that there are only two finishes available: natural and black. Aside from that choice, this isn’t a customizable bed at all — there are no storage or headboard options, and the style is only available in wood, not fabric or leather. Plus, there are only three standard sizes to choose from. 

It had the right amount of lift for me (not too high, not too low for a 5’4” person), but my feet didn’t touch the ground when I sat on the edge. It’s similar in height to the Lafayette with eight inches of under-bed clearance, so there’s room for storage bins — although I recommend opting for cuter bins, as the bed’s streamlined look won’t hide anything. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: No others
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
• Material: Teak
• Box Spring: Not needed

Cullen’s thoughts: The Milano is a perfect choice for mid-century modern bedroom style. I love its dark wood frame paired with the bouclé headboard — it makes the overall look more inviting and cozy while still keeping the aesthetic design-forward. Plus, the rounded wood corners are both practical and stylish (no knee banging on sharp edges!) and pair well with the low height. This bed sits directly on the ground, with zero space underneath for storage. 

Like I said, I’m a huge fan of the walnut finish. Not only is it classic (especially if you’re going for a mid-century modern look), but it’s also super versatile. I like that the bouclé adds a pop of texture, but I will say that I find bouclé hard to clean, and I don’t think it’s a timeless choice. While it’s certainly in style now, I’m not convinced that it will stay that way. Still, it does soften the overall look of the bed and makes it feel cozier than an all-wood bed would be.

One feature that’s really special is the option to add attached nightstands. While I didn’t see that specific bed in person, I love the design, which features low, curved nightstands that have the same wood and bouclé composition as the bed.

The bed plus nightstands choice is even more mid-century-inspired, and is a good choice if you have a big bedroom and need visually heavy furniture to fill it. Just keep in mind, though, that that is the only style choice you can make, as the Milano only comes in one wood finish and one bouclé fabric.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available with attached nightstands 
• Sizes: Queen, king
• Material: Mahogany & engineered wood
• Box Spring: Not needed

Cullen’s thoughts: For a more natural bedroom look, the Keane is an obvious choice. I saw the wood and linen option in store, but it’s also available in three all-wood finishes and a wood and leather style, so you have some options.

I really like the combination of the wood and linen upholstery — it looks high-end, and offers a bit more visual interest than an all-wood or all-fabric bed does. Both materials are light in color, so the bed itself is neutral and would work well in a calming minimalist bedroom.

The upholstery is a combination of polyester and linen, so it isn’t soft like velvet or bouclé but still looks and feels luxe. The wood, on the other hand, looks a little over-processed and fake to me. It’s made from a combination of mahogany, veneer, and engineered wood, so that’s probably why. I don’t think everyone will dislike that look, though — it’s certainly sleek and smooth, but I prefer wood that’s more natural in appearance.

This is the tallest bed I saw at Crate & Barrel, with a full 10 inches of under-bed clearance. If you need storage under the bed, the Keane will do just fine, although it won’t hide anything. My feet don’t touch the ground when I sit on it (I’m 5’4”), so it’s easy to get in and out of. If you really want to make a statement, the Keane is also available in a canopy design, although only for the all-wood options. 

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available in all wood, leather, and canopy styles 
• Sizes: Full, queen, king
• Material: Mahogany & engineered wood
• Box Spring: Not needed

Cullen’s thoughts: This is the last bed we viewed at Crate & Barrel, and it’s our favorite. First off, it leaves a dramatic first impression, thanks to the tall, winged headboard, which is connected to the matching base. The design is simple, but the proportions make it super stylish and eye-catching. And even better: It has built-in storage, so it perfectly combines function and design. If you’re looking for a bed that does it all, this is it.

It comes with three storage drawers (one on each side and one in the footboard) that are nice and roomy at six inches deep. There’s plenty of room to store out-of-season clothes, extra linens, or whatever else you don’t have room for in your closet. Because of the drawers, the bed sits flush to the ground, but it doesn’t feel quite as low as the Milano. Instead, it has some height, which is good news for people who want a storage bed but a super-low-profile look.

Like the Lafayette, the Arden is completely upholstered — but unlike the Lafayette, it comes in nearly 300 fabric options. The one we saw in the store was outfitted in the doux fabric, which is a vintage-inspired chenille that’s softly textured and luxe in appearance. If that’s not your style, there are dozens of other choices, including velvet, bouclé, linen, and twill. Considering the lack of options available for the other beds, the range of fabrics for the Arden is a huge selling point.

If you love the look of this bed but don’t want storage, you can alternatively buy just the headboard and attach it to the frame of your choice. For that uniform look, though, we recommend sticking with the entire bed. Either way, the Arden is a winner on all fronts, whether you need extra storage or just want a little extra drama in your space.

Specifications: 

• Styles: Also available with headboard only 
• Sizes: Queen, king
• Material: Pine & engineered wood
• Box Spring: Not needed