What’s the Best Bed Frame for You? The Ultimate Guide to Bed Frame Styles

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It’s one piece of furniture most people can’t live without, and it’s the one place where we spend one-third of our lives (assuming you get enough sleep, that is). So you’ll want your bed frame to be just right.

Before you lose any sleep over this subject, here’s a guide to types of bed frames, from ornate canopies to ones with handy storage underneath. Here’s what the experts say you need to keep in mind when shopping for the best bed frame for your boudoir.

Upholstered bed

Photo by Apt2B.

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Cushy headboards covered in fabric are all the rage, says interior designer Vivian Hung, owner of Global Home in New York City. “It could be due to our weekly juggle of work and family,” she says. “An upholstered bed feels like a soft refuge.”

The upholstery is typically reserved for the headboard itself, although it can extend along the frame all the way to the footboard. An upholstered headboard can be purchased free-standing or attached to the rest of the frame. The drawback to these comfy beds? They need regular upkeep to keep dirt and allergens from collecting in that cushy padding.

Sleigh bed

Photo by PF Furnishings Ltd T/as Paul Fisher.

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Just as the name implies, a sleigh bed is made to look like Santa’s favored mode of transportation. The headboard and footboard of a sleigh bed are curved or scrolled, which offers the distinctive sled appearance. Keep in mind, however, that this type of bed frame takes up more room due to its curves.

Four-poster or canopy bed

Photo by Diedre Shaw Interiors.

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If you want to feel like you’re sleeping on a “Game of Thrones” set, a four-poster bed is your best bet. Dating to medieval Europe, four-poster beds have, well, posts on each corner of the bed that extend at least 4 feet above the frame. If they’re high enough, they can support a roof structure called a canopy, from which curtains can be hung.

Platform bed

Photo by Cassie Daughtrey Realogics Sotheby’s Realty

Sometimes called a cabin bed, a platform bed has a raised frame that is crisscrossed with multiple flexible wooden slats that will support a mattress and box spring or let you forgo the box spring entirely. One big bonus? It often has ample storage drawers underneath.

Bunk bed

Photo by Robert Kaner Interior Design.

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Summer camp isn’t the only place where you can sleep high in the air! Bunk beds are typically two twin beds, one built on top of the other. Popular in children’s rooms, the elevation of the second bed above the first makes use of often unused vertical space. This allows a homeowner to save on floor space! Bunk beds can usually be split apart if necessary, creating two separate beds.

Loft bed

Photo by atmosphere kitchen and bath.

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Like a bunk bed, a loft bed is elevated to save on floor space, but instead of a second bed underneath, the area is open, again allowing more of the floor to be used. Many loft beds come with a desk or shelving unit that sits below the bed. You can even build your own; here’s how to build a loft bed in one afternoon (and on the cheap).

Daybed

Photo by Olive Juice Designs.

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A daybed sports the traditional headboard and footboard of a bed, but this bed also has a “back” board, making it look more like a sofa with a mattress than a traditional bed. That makes it the perfect double-duty bed: good for lounging during the day, and sleeping at night! Many daybeds come with a trundle bed, which can be pulled out from underneath at night for guests, and pushed back under the daybed during the day to save on floor space.

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