6 Best Upholstered Bed Frames of 2023

Upholstered beds offer some of the best features in both the functionality and fashion departments. These beds often provide the kind of classic look that’s been popular for decades. But they can also offer the ultimate in luxury, as well as the best in modern minimalism. It all depends on what you want out of your bed frame!

There are tons of styles and materials to choose from—from polyester to silk and even leather. There are high headboards and low headboards and no headboards at all. You can even opt out of a box spring with the right bed frame style.

The Amerisleep Upholstered Bed Frame offers tons of versatility when it comes to both style and functionality. It offers a highly supportive platform slat system and a modern classic look that will go with just about any bedding and any bedroom.

Why We Recommend It

The medium-height headboard and neutral grey upholstery mean this bed frame is super versatile style-wise. It will complement just about any color and type of bedding, from fluffy duvets to patchwork quilts. It’s also neutral enough to fit in rustic or modern bedrooms and everything in between.

This is also a highly convenient bed frame. It offers fast and easy assembly that requires no tools. So those who move a lot can put it together and pull it apart in a flash. The bed frame also offers a platform-style slat system that means you don’t have to bother with the added expense and difficulty of a box spring or mattress foundation.

Inside the Frame

The Upholstered Bed Frame features a medium-height upholstered headboard done with grey polyester fabric. The grey upholstery also extends around the side and footrails to give the bed an even look.

The bed has four solid wood, espresso-colored legs that offer 5.5 inches of underbed storage. In the middle, the platform slat system provides the perfect balance of circulation and support to your mattress without the need for a box spring.

SEE ALSO: Amerisleep Mattress Review

Those who want a sleeker and more minimalist look than the Amerisleep Upholstered Bed Frame provides should check out the Zoma Mattress Foundation instead. This versatile foundation pops into place in a snap and doubles as a platform bed.

Why We Recommend It

The Zoma Mattress Foundation offers peak versatility in the function department. Its removable legs mean you can use it as either a standalone platform bed or as a mattress foundation. So whether you’re looking to build a bed from scratch or just to replace the box spring on your existing bed frame, you can use this bed base.

The Zoma Mattress Foundation also offers a minimalist style that’s perfect for those who want to showcase their bedding or create a modern/industrial bedroom. Its rails are upholstered in charcoal grey fabric. That means you can put it on just about any bed frame or stand it alone in just about any room, and it will look amazing.

Inside the Frame

The Zoma Mattress Foundation features six optional legs that can be popped on and off in a snap. The frame is upholstered in a breathable fabric that promotes airflow. And the sturdy wood frame can stand up to any mattress.

Best of all, this foundation is made to be thrown together in record time. It comes with a perfectly spaced slat pack that only needs to be unrolled onto the frame. And since the frame is four rails that fit together like puzzle pieces, this is basically an effort-free bed base to assemble.

SEE ALSO: Zoma Mattress Review

Just like the Spanish city of Valencia for which it’s named, the Saatva Valencia bed frame blends the classic and the contemporary to create an elegant bed frame that makes a bold statement in your bedroom.

Why We Recommend It

If you like a luxury look without going overboard, the Valencia may be for you. Its deep channel tufting and velvet or linen fabric (depending on which you select) provide a luxury look without being gaudy or ridiculous.

Another great thing about this bed frame is you don’t have to assemble it at all. It comes with free delivery and assembly. All you have to do is select the room you want it in. Of course, the flip side to this is you’ll have to take it down and set it up again if you move. So keep that in mind if you’re not very handy.

Inside the Frame

The Valencia is a platform bed frame. That means you don’t have to worry about a box spring or mattress foundation. It sports fortified bolts and brackets for ultimate durability and multiple support feet and center supports for ultimate sturdiness.

The Valencia bed frame also features kiln-dried hardwood for extra durability. So it won’t bulge or warp even if you live in an area with high humidity or big temperature swings. The premium wooden slats offer long-lasting and rigid support as well.

SEE ALSO: Best Queen Platform Beds

One of the best multipurpose upholstered beds on the market right now is the GhostBed All-In-One. This bed base can be a mattress foundation. It can be a platform bed. It can be a bed frame with any headboard that fits it. Whatever you want, it can do.

Why We Recommend It

The GhostBed All-In-One’s versatility is the main reason it made it onto our list. It can fit in a bed frame. It can take a headboard and stand on its own legs. It can even stand alone and still look amazing. That makes it perfect for those who love to change things up.

This is also an exceedingly sturdy platform bed frame. It’s made of heavy-duty metal and can take up to 2,000 pounds of weight. That makes it perfect for heavier mattresses and plus-size couples alike. You’ll never have to worry about exceeding this bed’s weight limit!

Inside the Frame

The All-In-One features heavy-duty metal rails and slats that can take up to 2,000 pounds. So there’s virtually no mattress on the market it can’t handle. It also comes with height-adjustable legs that allow you to take it from nine to 12 to 15 inches.

The grey removable slipcover also lets you change up the look of your bed. You can go for a traditional upholstered platform or foundation. If you want to go full-on industrial, you can also slip off the cover to get a black metal platform bed frame.

SEE ALSO: Best Mattresses for Heavy People

If you’re a hot sleeper who needs tons of extra circulation to get through the night sweat-free, check out the Purple Upholstered Bed Frame. This bed frame features metal rails and perforated slats that allow for maximum airflow without sacrificing sturdiness.

Why We Recommend It

The Purple Upholstered Bed Frame offers lots of cooling airflow to hot sleepers thanks to its perforated slats and rails made of metal bars rather than solid wood. This gets the air moving under your mattress to keep you cool.

This bed frame also offers tons of versatility when it comes to style. It has two colorways to blend with any bedroom. It also features a matching headboard that can be height-adjusted to fit whatever mattress depth you want.

Inside the Frame

The frame itself is made of wrought metal that can withstand up to 2,000 pounds. So it can take any mattress type you like. The frame attaches to nine tapered wooden legs that come in natural or walnut finishes to let you choose your bedroom style.

The removable cover also has two color options: natural grey and charcoal grey. Using the cover is optional. So those who want a more industrial look can choose to leave it off. The attachable headboard can be adjusted to whatever height you need, making this a truly versatile bed base.

SEE ALSO: Best Purple Mattress Alternatives

If you know you want a bed frame/mattress foundation combo and don’t want to bother sifting through platform beds, the Bear Foundation might be up your alley. This solid wood foundation pairs with any bed frame and is an upgrade over saggy and noisy box springs.

Why We Recommend It

This solid wood foundation is sturdy and quiet, and its wooden slat system means it can take any mattress type on the market. The slats also allow for lots of airflow to keep moisture out of your mattress.

Inside the Frame

This mattress foundation is insanely easy to assemble. It has four Canadian spruce rails and a center support bar that fit together like puzzle pieces. Unroll the slat packs over the assembled frame, and you’re done!

This simple charcoal-grey foundation won’t draw attention to itself. So it pairs well with any bed frame and any bedding you can think of. Just keep in mind it has no legs, so it is not meant to be sat on the floor.

SEE ALSO: Zoma vs. Bear – Side-by-Side Mattress Comparison

How to Choose a Bed Frame

Choosing the right bed frame for you can be simple as long as you keep a few basic things in mind, including what size and kind of bed frame you need. You’ll also want to think about your frame’s weight capacity and whether or not it requires a box spring.

Bed Frame Types

There are a few different types of bed frames that you can choose from. Some of them require box spring sets or mattress foundations, while others don’t.

Traditional Bed Frame

Traditional bed frames come with rails that are designed to support a box spring set or a mattress foundation. Traditional frames might have a center support rail and one or two slats, but they are not made to support a mattress on their own. That means you will have to pair them with a box spring or foundation.

Traditional bed frames are what you think of when you think of “classic” bed frames. They create beds with a standard height of around 24 inches. They almost always have a headboard, and they often have a footboard. They can also come in just about any kind of style you can imagine.

Platform Bed Frame

A platform bed frame is a metal or wood frame with metal or wooden slats stretched across it at regular intervals. These slats should be between one and three inches apart. They should also be flat or curve slightly upward. The thing these slats have in common is they eliminate the need for a box spring or mattress foundation.

The main thing about the platform bed frame is it can stand on its own. Most platform beds come with legs, though some have a railing that goes on the floor instead. Platform beds may also have headboards or footboards. Some even have storage. The style isn’t what makes a platform bed a platform bed. The slats are.

Adjustable Bed Frame

Adjustable bed frames can alter their position to allow you to sleep with your head and legs elevated. Sleeping with your head or feet up can help you with all kinds of sleep-related problems, including sleep apnea, acid reflux, and all kinds of pain.

Adjustable bed frames do not require a foundation or box spring. In fact, you can damage the bed by putting a rigid base on top of it. Adjustable bases are also not compatible with all mattress types. Innerspring mattresses are too stiff to move with the bed. You’ll need a more flexible all-foam or hybrid mattress.

Bed Frame Pairings

If you have a traditional bed frame, you’ll need an additional base to go on top of it. That means one of two options: a box spring or a mattress foundation.

Mattress Foundation

Mattress foundations are just like platform beds without legs. They consist of a frame with metal or wooden slats stretched across it. These bed bases are compatible with all mattress types. So if you have a heavy mattress like latex or hybrid, you’ll have to get a foundation rather than a box spring.

SEE ALSO: Bed Slats vs. Box Spring

Box Spring

A box spring set is a frame with a network of coils and wires inside it. The box spring was originally designed to accommodate innerspring mattresses. That means box spring sets are not compatible with heavier mattresses like hybrids or all-foam models. These heavy mattresses will crush weak and lightweight box spring sets under their weight.

SEE ALSO: Do Memory Foam Mattresses Need Box Springs?

Bed Frame Styles

Bed frames come in an endless array of styles to suit whatever look you’re going for, whether it’s modern and industrial or classic and elegant.

Canopy

Canopy beds have four posts and an upper frame that lets you throw a canopy of fabric above your bed. Canopy beds were originally invented to conserve warmth before the advent of modern heating, and they were covered in a tent of heavy cloth.

Nowadays, canopy beds are more of a fashion statement, and their fabrics can be made of lace, canvas, or whatever other material you like.

Metal

Metal bed frames can be made of a variety of different materials, including cast iron and steel. These bed frames can offer a variety of looks, but they’re most commonly either vintage or industrial.

Antique metal beds are usually iron or brass and often have a barred headboard and a shiny finish or paint. Industrial metal beds are usually platform beds because they have slats. They may or may not have a headboard, and they’re typically low-profile and dark-colored.

Rustic

Rustic bed frames often feature visibly distressed or even unfinished wood. For example, they may have foot rails and a headboard made of slices of tree trunks rather than finished beams. Rustic frames offer a rural look that goes perfectly in farmhouse bedrooms or with antique bedding like patchwork quilts.

Storage

Storage beds offer shelving or drawer storage underneath the bed, in the headboard, or at the foot of the bed. These beds are often upholstered but don’t have to be. Most people think of storage beds as functional, but they can be stylish as well.

Upholstered

Upholstered beds come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and fabrics. You can find upholstery made of everything from velvet to leather to silk. Most upholstered beds feature polyester because it is durable and affordable. But if you want a more luxurious look, it’s easy to find a material that suits you.

Bed Frame Profile

Your bed’s height or “profile” may not be all that important to you if you’re young and healthy. But if you’re older or have mobility issues, your bed’s height may be more of a concern for you. Everyone has an ideal bed height that’s unique to them, but there is also a standard bed height. Any bed that falls below or above that height is considered low or high-profile.

Low

Low-profile beds fall around 18 inches in total height (though they can be as low as 12 inches). Low-profile beds are usually created using a platform bed, which should have a height of five to ten inches, and a mattress of average depth (between nine and 12 inches).

Low-profile beds are often the first choice of those going for a minimalist, modern bedroom look. These low beds are sleek and go well with modern furniture. They do have a downside, though.

Low-profile beds require more flexibility and muscle strength to get in and out of than standard beds do. That might not even be noticeable to someone with no health problems. But you need to be aware of it if you have mobility issues.

Standard

Standard-height beds are around 24 inches tall, give or take. This is because 24 inches is the ideal bed height for the highest number of people, as it falls right in the middle of the average human height range.

Unless you’re very short or very tall, 24 inches should be a good bed height for you, even if you have issues like joint pain or muscle weakness.

If you’re concerned this bed height might not be your ideal, you can always check. The ideal bed height for you is the height at which your feet touch the floor when you’re sitting on the edge of the bed, and your thighs are either horizontal or tilted slightly downward.

High

High-profile beds might be as high as 36 inches. These beds might be your ideal bed height if you’re very tall. But most people get them because they offer an air of luxury and elegance. Storage beds may also be high-profile to fit more underbed storage.

Like low-profile beds, high-profile beds may pose a problem for you if you have mobility issues. Climbing up into the bed or sliding out of it may be more trouble than it’s worth.

Standard Bed Frame Sizes

Of course, you’ll have to think about your bed frame size, especially if you already have a mattress. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about measurements and dimensions too much.

Standard bed frame sizes follow the standard mattress size run offered by most mattress companies.

Twin

Twin mattresses and bed frames are 38 by 75 inches. That makes twin beds perfect for single adults under six feet tall who need a space saver.

Twin XL

Twin XL mattresses are 38 by 80 inches. If you’re over six feet tall and still need a compact bed, the twin XL could be for you.

Full

Full size mattresses are 54 by 75 inches. These beds are perfect for single sleepers under six feet tall who want a little extra wiggle room over the twin.

Queen

Queen size mattresses are 60 by 80 inches. They’re perfect for single sleepers over six feet tall and couples who need to save space or money.

King

The 76 by 80-inch standard king mattress is the ideal choice for couples. It offers each partner the exact same space they would get sleeping in their own twin XL.

California King

California king mattresses are 72 by 84 inches. That makes them fantastic for filling out large bedrooms. They’re also the best choice if you’re several inches over six feet tall.

FAQs

What sizes do upholstered beds come in?

Upholstered beds can come in any size you want. Most bed frames, including upholstered beds, will come in the standard mattress size run. That means you can just get the size that corresponds to your existing mattress or the measurements you want.

Can I use an adjustable base with an upholstered bed frame?

That depends on the adjustable base. Many adjustable bases are made to fit inside standard bed frames. You might have to take the center rail out and sit the adjustable base on the floor, or you might be able to set it right on the bed just like a mattress foundation. It depends on how the base is made.

Most adjustable bases will have very clear labeling that says whether they can pair with a bed frame or not. Additionally, you probably won’t be able to pair your adjustable base with a platform bed, only a traditional bed frame.

What’s the best upholstery material?

That depends on what you’re looking for in your bed frame. Those who want low maintenance and durability should check out polyester, linen, or cotton. If you want luxury, consider silk or velvet. For true decadence, there’s always leather.

Can my antique bed frame support my mattress?

Maybe, but you have to be careful. The weight capacity of an antique wooden frame may be compromised by rot or age. And the weight capacity of a metal frame might be compromised by rust or bad bolts and screws. Remember, antique beds were also often made with a lower weight capacity than modern beds too.

There may be no way to tell if your antique bed can support a modern mattress. So you might want to test it out with weights before lying on it. You might also want to consider a lighter mattress or a new bed frame if your antique frame doesn’t look all that sturdy.

How do I know if my upholstered bed frame can hold my mattress?

When you buy a new bed frame, it will virtually always list its weight capacity in the labeling. You might reconsider purchasing it if it doesn’t. Remember, the weight capacity includes not just the mattress but the sleepers and any additional base. So keep your mattress’s weight and your own in mind while you shop.

Bottom Line

Upholstered beds can be a stylish and functional solution. They offer amazing bedroom styles, from the classic to the minimalist to the luxurious. No matter what look you’re going for, the right upholstered bed frame could be the answer!