We Tested (and Rated!) Every Bed Frame at Sundays — Here’s How They Stack Up

Direct-to-consumer (or DTC) furniture brands are everywhere, and it can be overwhelming to sift through them all. These brands benefit from lower prices, because they cut out the middleman and sell their products directly to the consumer, and are typically online-only. One such brand that’s growing in popularity is Sundays, which started with living room furniture before expanding to other categories, including a stellar line of platform beds.

Like other DTC brands, Sundays is mostly online-only, with three showrooms in the U.S. (New York City, Los Angeles, and Seattle) and three in Canada (Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary). That means that the majority of shoppers can’t see Sundays products in person before buying — which is where we come in.

As part of our Personal Shopper series, we’re visiting the showrooms and stores of the best home brands to see their goods in person. In this edition, we headed to the Sundays NYC showroom, where three of the brand’s bestselling bed frames were on display. Read on for our thoughts (and photos!).  

Founded in Vancouver in 2019, Sundays is a more recent addition to the furniture space. It’s known for its laidback, West Coast-inspired style and comfortable, family-friendly designs — the name “Sundays” comes from the idea that furniture shopping should be as easy as Sunday morning.

Rather than selling a large number of different pieces, the brand has a smaller, more curated selection, including sofas, beds, tables, and storage. Quality is important, and Sundays’ furniture is built with a combination of solid wood and MDF, plus finished with performance upholstery. Another great selling point? Delivery is free, including assembly.

We judged every Sundays bed frame at the brand’s New York City showroom 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?

Every Sundays bed was tested by me, Terri Pous, Apartment Therapy’s executive editor. I have worked at Apartment Therapy since 2019, and have covered everything from furniture and design to storage hacks and cleaning tips, in addition to maintaining AT’s content calendar. I spent several hours at the Sundays NYC showroom, evaluating each bed on its design, construction, assembly, and customization. 

During my visit, I was most impressed by this thoughtfully designed bed, which earns lots of points for both style and function. The biggest highlight is the storage — unlike other beds with storage drawers, this one has a hydraulic mechanism that allows you to lift the whole thing up to reveal an entire bed’s size worth of storage under the slats.

I watched in semi-awe as a store associate lifted it up in two seconds without breaking a sweat! You could easily put pillows, out-of-season linens, or clothes in there to save yourself precious storage space. This easy-to-use feature is especially convenient for small, narrow bedrooms, as you don’t have to worry about bumping into the walls with side storage drawers. 

The store associate told me that this is the most popular Sundays bed because of its storage (and because of how small New York apartments tend to be). 

The headboard design is similarly unique. It looks more like a couch than a bed, with two built-in back cushions that are held in place with Velcro, which makes it easy to pull them off for cleaning. Those cushions are perfect for lounging, not only because of their plush feel, but also because they’re made from a best-selling nubby bouclé fabric that’s soft to the touch and resistant to staining.

The fabric also gives the bed a stylish yet casual appearance, especially because it comes in cream. When I rested against them, I could easily see myself reclining on them to watch a movie in bed (and likely fall asleep while doing it, let’s be honest).

As far as construction goes, the frame is made from a combination of solid pine and MDF, which I found to feel pretty sturdy when I plopped myself down on it. Because Sundays is a smaller brand, there aren’t a whole lot of customization options — right now, the Cloud Bed comes in just three colors, all of which are made from a different material. Only the queen and king sizes are available as a storage bed, so if you want a full size you’ll need to opt for the original Cloud without storage.  

• Styles: Also available without storage 
• Sizes: Queen, king (storage); full, queen, king (no storage)
• Upholstery: 3 fabrics/colors
• Frame: Solid pine, MDF
• Box Spring: Not needed

If you live in a small space, you’ll love the Form Bed. Not only is it unexpectedly compact in size, but it also comes with four roomy side drawers (two on each side) for storing extra linens, towels, clothes, or anything else you want to tuck away. Each drawer was super smooth to pull out and had enough separation from the floor that it won’t get stuck on your rug or carpeting.

While the Form bed doesn’t have quite as much storage space as the Cloud Bed, it has a smaller footprint, thanks to the slim headboard and rounded edges. One thing I really loved was the design of the drawers, which are situated towards the front of the bed so they won’t hit a nightstand when opened. Plus, they’re hardly noticeable when shut, so it all just looks very sleek and minimalist — perfect if you like a more clean aesthetic.

Aside from the storage, this is just a really good-looking bed. It’s made from a combination of MDF, solid acacia wood, and oak veneer, which gives it a minimalist appearance and sturdy build. The headboard is great for piling on the pillows, and makes it look more distinctive than it would otherwise.

It feels solidly built, and I feel confident it’ll last for many years. It has a modern, low profile, which made it super easy for me to get on and off the bed (I’m a solid 5 feet tall).

The one downside is that it isn’t customizable at all — it’s currently only available in a white oak finish, which is versatile enough to complement many different design styles. It’s also only available in queen and king sizes, and there isn’t a storage-free option like there is for the Cloud Bed. The low headboard may also be a dealbreaker if you love to pile up three or more pillows to sleep on (me).

• Sizes: Queen, king
• Finish: 1
• Frame: MDF, solid acacia wood, oak veneer
• Box Spring: Not needed

Simple but not basic, the Lunar Bed gets major aesthetic points for its low profile, thick legs, and comfy headboard. My first impression was that it’s a real style moment — it’s nicely proportioned with slim side rails and large rounded legs, which feel very cool and mod.

As far as sizing goes, its length and width fall between the Cloud’s and Form’s, which makes it a versatile choice for both smaller and larger bedrooms. I saw the silver version in the store, and particularly liked the upholstery, which had some texture but still felt soft to the touch. It’s also available in a latte hue — both choices are performance fabrics that are stain- and moisture-repellent. 

Sundays excels at cozy, lounge-worthy furniture — and the Lunar Bed fits the bill, thanks to its cushy, padded headboard, which is tall enough to support all your bed pillows. The biggest con of this bed, however, is the lack of storage. To be fair though, few beds come with the type of built-in storage seen in the Cloud and Form Beds.

The Lunar’s low profile does leave enough room for some small under-bed storage (it has six inches of clearance, so only shallow bins would fit). And, like the other Sundays beds, the Lunar has few customizations available: Currently, it comes in two sizes (queen and king) and two colors. It’s the most affordable option of the three I saw in store, though, and I was impressed by its sturdiness.

• Sizes: Queen, king
• Upholstery: 1 fabric, 2 colors
• Frame: Solid wood, plywood, MDF
• Box Spring: Not needed