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The Insider Pick:
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Your bed is not only the highlight of your bedroom, it’s the only furniture you spend 33% of your life on. The Zinus Upholstered Square Stitched Platform Bed Frame is our top pick because it’s well-crafted with strapping strength and an attractive design.
Your bed frame can make or break the look and overall feel of your bedroom. Certain bed frames make the room feel more cozy, while others add a bold and modern style that often compliments your style. Your mattress certainly matters in terms of comfort, but from a design aspect, your bed frame is the foundation of your bedroom.
Beyond design, bed frames serve additional purposes. Most elevate, or at least dictate, your sleeping position, ideally making it easier to get in and out of bed. Sometimes they make room for additional storage below your sleeping area or in the headboard. Bed frames also extend the life of your mattress by providing support and preventing weak, sagging spots.
The mattress-on-floor look instantly diminishes any style in your sleeping space and it’s not ideal for you or your mattress. Mattresses need support to stay firm and stable, and, just like humans, mattress, no matter what their make or model, need space to breathe.
Buying a bed frame may seem simple — just match frame size with mattress size — but there are more buying options than you might realize, which can make the shopping process seem overwhelming. That’s why we’ve narrowed it down to the top five bed frames you can buy on Amazon. Before we get into our top picks, here are some things to consider.
How to pick the right bed frame
- Size matters: First get the sizing right. You want a bed frame that blends into the room naturally, not one that overwhelms the room by taking up too much space. Also, note that bed frame sizes are not completely standardized. They can differ depending on the country they are made in or by the manufacturer, either of which may have their own standards and use their own terminology for sizing.
- Get a good mattress: Once you have an idea of how much space you have to work with, get the mattress size correct. Your mattress can be as large as your room allows, but the main goal is that it can hold your body comfortably, without any limbs hanging off the sides. You don’t want one that makes you feel like Will Ferrell in the movie Elf. If you’re buying a mattress for two people, you should both be able to lay down, side by side, and have your arms behind your head with your elbows out, without touching each other. From there, you can match the mattress size to the bed frame size. Check out the best mattresses you can buy here.
- Check the pricing: Bed frame pricing is all over the place. Pricing is usually dependent upon the material of the frame, with leather covered and wooden frames being the most expensive and metal frames the least.
- Figure out what style you want: Because your bed setup is the highlight of the room, the design of your bed frame certainly plays a role in your choice. It’s up to your personal preferences, other design elements in the room, and the available space you have to work with.
Bed frame types
There are various types of bed frames available, but one trick to narrow down your options is to decide if you want a platform or box spring bed. With many platform bed frames, you won’t need a boxspring. For more firmness, opt for a platform bed without a box spring, which will provide a harder and more supportive foundation. Here are the different types of bed frames:
- Platform bed frames without a box spring are usually lower to the ground, which may make them harder to get in and out of, especially if you’re ridden with back pain or other complications. On the plus side, because platform bed frames are lower, they provide a cooler sleep environment. Also, cutting the box spring out of your total bed buying costs will make your bed much cheaper.
- Box spring bed frames will lift your mattress higher off the ground, making your bed easier to get in and out of. Box springs usually do help extend the life of your mattress by preventing sagging. Box spring bed frames are the go-to pick for the traditionalist, but the box spring itself will not last forever. Overtime, box springs lose support and do not provide as many mattress-saving benefits. To get the most out of a box spring, simply turn it frequently, so the heaviest weight is not constantly placed in the same area.
- Headboards and footboards are sometimes included with the bed frame for added style. These can be made out of metal or wood, and they’re sometimes covered in fabric or leather. Other bed frames don’t include either a headboard or a footboard.
- Specialty bed frames come in a few different forms, including sleigh beds, four-poster beds, canopy beds, daybeds, and so on. These bed frames add more style and drama to your bedroom.
Wood, upholstered, and metal bed frames
If durability is a top priority, then a metal frame is your best bet. With good care, metal bed frames will look nearly new for years and the don’t get as much damage from bugs, cracks, and so forth as wooden bed frames. However, wooden bed frames are still considered highly durable and are usually a good value for the cost. They’re pretty low maintenance and may even be easier to care for than metal frames, which can fall victim to rust.
With wooden frames, you have the option of hardwood or softwood, which, by the way, have nothing to do with the actual ‘hardness’ or ‘softness’ of the wood. You can also find bed frames that are covered in fabric, genuine leather, or faux leather for added style.
With all that in mind, check out our top picks for the best bed frames you can buy on Amazon. We’ve chosen a range of pieces in different materials and styles to suit a variety of needs and preferences.
If you’re outfitting your bedroom, check out our buying guides for the best mattresses, the best memory foam pillows, the best sheets, the best mattress toppers, the best pillows, the best comforters, the best duvet covers, the best light bulbs, the best area rugs, the best clothes hangers, the best laundry baskets and hampers, and more on Insider Picks.
Although the Zinus Upholstered Square Stitched Platform Bed Frame is our top pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Zinus 14 Inch SmartBase Platform Bed Frame, the DHP Dakota Faux Leather Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed, the DHP Rosedale Metal Canopy Bed Frame, and the Murray Platform Bed with Wooden Box Frame.
The best bed frame overall
Zinus
Why you’ll love it: The Zinus Upholstered Square Stitched Platform Bed Frame is completely squeakless and it has a classic, timeless look.
The Zinus Upholstered Square Stitched Platform Bed Frame is naturally simple with a classic design that we can’t see going out of style anytime soon. The soft square stitched dark gray upholstery adds a soft-to-the-touch design aesthetic to the already handsome piece. It’s an all around high quality, timelessly designed bed frame.
As a cost saver, the headboard, frame, and ten wood slats that support the mattress are included in the price. You also have the option to purchase a matching footboard for less than $ 20 extra. The footboard is more of a personal preference that may help your bed look more neat and tidy by allowing you to tuck in all your bedding. All purchased parts, including the frame, legs, and wooden slats conveniently fit into the headframe and are shipped that way as well. Check it out in this reviewer’s handy unboxing video review.
It’s available in twin, full, queen, and king sizes, and as an added perk, the king size frame stands 14 inches off the ground, providing extra storage space. In other sizes, the frame is 8 inches off the ground.
The Zinus Upholstered Square Stitched Platform Bed Frame is featured on MattressPicks in the article 5 Best Zinus Bed Frame Reviews 2017, where it boasts a 5 out of 5-star rating. It’s also listed in the Dekortips roundup of Find the best bed frame in 2017, where it’s ranked number one. On Amazon, the bed frame holds a 4.6-star rating based on more than 2,000 reviews.
Reviewers often comment that the bed frame is well worth the money. This reviewer writes, “You can’t find a bed like this for under $ 200 dollars at your local furniture store.” Other reviewers like that it’s sturdy, easy to setup, and noticeably quiet. Another reviewer who remarks, “I actually had a 5.0 earthquake after the first week and rode it out on the bed.”
Overall, the Zinus is a bed frame that can blend quietly into the background of a loud bedroom or hold its own as the centerpiece of an otherwise neutral room. The sturdiness and easy setup are two major plusses for this category of products in particular, and the strong mattress support and soft upholstery complement each other, creating an overall high-quality bed frame we can’t help but recommend.
Pros: Very sturdy, helps your mattress last longer, easy assembly, reasonable price, footboard option, adaptable style
Cons: Middle of the bed support may not be the best, shipping issues result in damaged parts a bit too often
Buy the Zinus Upholstered Square Stitched Platform Bed on Amazon for $ 159.99 (Twin), $ 229.00 (Full), $ 238.06 (Queen), $ 304.90 (King)
The best bed frame for under bed storage
Zinus
Why you’ll love it: Space is valuable, especially in small apartments, and this Zinus 14-inch SmartBase Platform Bed Frame lets you make the most of it.
If you don’t have bedroom space to waste, then a bed frame that provides plenty of under bed storage is the way to go. This Zinus 14-inch SmartBase Platform Bed Frame does just that, as it is raised 14 inches off the ground with 13 inches of clearance, so you can easily store medium to large plastic bins filled with the items you don’t need access to daily right under the bed.
It’s available in all regular mattress sizes and can be purchased in your choice of a standard bed frame, a bed frame with a skirt, or in a deluxe edition, which has an upgraded design for reinforced stability with t-shape leg construction and a locking system.
The most popular choice is the standard bed frame, which features a strong, durable steel frame and a unique folding design that makes it easy to move around as needed. Unlike some other models, it’s easy to assemble as this reviewer explains, “It comes in 2 separate pieces that are very light once you get them out of the box.”
The steel bed frame eliminates the need for a boxspring and can support spring, memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses. We like that it’s a rather standard 14-inch height, but if you want even more under bed storage, Zinus also has this very similar but not as popular 18-inch bed frame model.
There are no fancy bells or whistles to this bed frame, so you can achieve a super minimalist style, or add a headboard of your choice to jazz it up a bit. It’s even pretty basic compared to other bed frames designed to provide under bed storage, and we think that’s actually a good thing.
While other so-called storage bed frames often have drawers that can be pulled out from the sides or have a compartment under the bed you need to lift the bottom section of the frame along with your heavy mattress up to access, this Zinus 14-inch SmartBase Platform Bed Frame simply provides free space, so you are not as limited by the size of drawers under bed compartments.
The standard edition in a queen size is the Amazon number one best seller in the Bed Frames category. It’s also ranked number five on this Jon’s Guide article, Top 10 Best King Size Metal Bed Frame Reviews, and number two on this Dekor Tips article, Find the best bed frame in 2017. It has an average 4.6-star rating based on more than 17,000 reviews on Amazon, and it boasts more than 12,000 5-star reviews.
Reviewers mainly applaud the bed frame for the great value it provides for the price, that it’s easy to assemble and disassemble as needed, and how quiet the frame is. This reviewer explained that she could set it up in 10 minutes and that it “never creaks or emits annoying sounds.”
Some reviewers do mention that certain mattresses, especially memory foam models, slide off of it easily. One reviewer said she wishes “it came with something to stop the bed from moving off of it.” Many reviewers such as this one, don’t complain but do recommend buying a bed skirt to hide the under bed storage.
Pros: Tons of under bed storage, easy to assemble and disassemble, frame keeps things quiet, super affordable price point
Cons: Some mattresses may slip, no clear indication of how much weight it can hold
Buy the Zinus 14-inch SmartBase Platform Bed Frame on Amazon for $ 59.00 (Twin), $ 79.00 (Full), (Queen unavailable), $ 119.78 (King)
The best bed frame with a leather look
DHP
Why you’ll love it: No matter what mattress you choose, with this DHP Dakota Faux Leather Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed it will feel like you’re laying in luxury.
If your heart is set on a bed frame that has that standout, elegant leather look, but simply can’t justify spending thousands on a bed frame alone, this DHP Dakota Faux Leather Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed could be the solution. We love that there are so many purchase options available. You can buy it in twin, full, and queen sizes and in black, brown, or white faux leather.
The “contemporary chic” bed frame comes with a padded faux leather upholstered headboard and side rails, giving it a leather-heavy, or rich, look. Sturdy metal side rails add stability and durability, while the platform bed frame is supported with 24 wooden bed slats to provide more than adequate comfort without the need for a box spring.
The faux leather is easy to clean, and the manufacturer says the bed works well with memory foam mattresses and coil mattresses but doesn’t explicitly state other mattresses won’t do.
The bed frame just looks classy and, and it’s reasonably priced. The faux leather is detailed with button tufts and padding that gives it a stylish, yet understated design so it can scale up even the plainest of bedrooms.
The DHP Dakota Faux Leather Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed has a 4-star rating on Amazon based on 476 customer reviews. The reviews go back a few years, but there were more than from the last week at the time of writing, which indicates the product is rather popular.
Reviewers go back and forth about the assembly process, with some saying it’s on the easy side — one reviewer says it took about one to two hours — and others claiming it’s more difficult, such as this buyer whose review is entitled “not fun to assemble.” Some reviewers say the bed frame isn’t sturdy enough such as this reviewer, who recalled a rather traumatic experience with the bed frame. However, most reviewers are impressed with the look, low price, and support this frame offers.
Pros: Price, design, comes with headboard, easy to clean
Cons: May not be as sturdy as one would like, assembly can be a hassle
Buy the DHP Dakota Faux Leather Tufted Upholstered Platform Bed on Amazon for (Twin unavailable) $ 179.00 (Full — originally $ 290.00), $ 222.49 (Queen — originally $ 310.00) (No King)
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