If home is where the heart is, the bedroom, surely, must be… *checks dusty GCSE biology textbook* the ventricles.
A good space to rest and relax is crucial to your overall health and wellbeing. Somewhere to close off the world and cocoon yourself as you prepare to wind down from another day - whether you’ve been at work or play. It needs to feel and look calming, sure, but the centrepiece is undoubtedly a great bed topped with an equally great mattress to make sure you get the sleep you deserve.
We can (and have) served up mattress guides of every possible description, from cooling mattresses for hot sleepers, firm mattresses that offer a heightened level of support, customised mattresses for couples with polarising sleep preferences, and even eco-friendly mattresses that won’t harm the environment when you put it to bed.
And, if you’re going to shell out on a great mattress, it seems remiss not to place it on something that’ll do it justice.
The thing is, when it comes to bed frames, the choice is humungous. From grand velvet wrapped designs that look straight out of a five-star resort, to ottoman-style bed which open up to reveal extra storage space underneath, and rustic wooden frames to appeal to your cottagecore obsession, there’s a bed for every budget, and every taste.
It can be hard to know where to start, so we’ve created our very own ES Best little black book of beds to help narrow the selection to the very finest.
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Simba
The sleep king has long been regarded as the place to pick up a bed-in-a-box mattress, but did you know the brand offers a small but chic line of bed frames too?
There are three designs to choose from, each offered in a trio of colours, giving you nine options in total. Orion is a simple look with an upholstered linen headboard in a choice of dark grey, cream and pistachio. Next is Pegasus, all soft curves and winged headboard. It comes in cream, blush and a rich navy. And finally there’s Sirius, a decadent look with a buttoned headboard covered in a cotton twill which comes in grey, cream and teal. All are available in double, king and superking sizes, starting at £572.81.
The best part is you don’t need a toolkit to put it together - nope, not so much as an Allen key.
Simba has developed a clever no-tools-required locks and screw system, so aside from some scissors to cut through the packaging, the only other thing you’ll need is a good friend to help you put it together using nothing but your bare hands. Once all the pieces are out of their boxes, everything comes together in less than half an hour. It’s clear Simba’s designers have worked hard to come up with such a fool-proof design for its customers.
Keen to know more? Read our Simba bed frame review here.
Buy now £572.81, Simba
John Lewis
Aside from a huge range of stylish options, John Lewis’s Anyday range makes buying high-quality household essentials - like a bed - that much more affordable.
And, as well as its extensive in-house range of frames, the department store stocks heaps of other big name brands - think Laura Ashley, Swoon, Swyft, West Elm and more - all under its Never Knowingly Undersold promise on prices. Not only can you buy beds and mattresses under one roof, but you can opt for bundles that pair both together too, helping your cash go further.
Case in point is this eco mattress, which comes with a headboard and divan base which together, form a comfortable and supportive sleeping solution that’s much kinder to the environment.
Buy now £1898.00, John Lewis
MADE
A one-stop shop for the modern dweller, MADE is one website that’s packed full of stunning homewares to kit out every single room of the house.
When it comes to the bedroom, choose from a range of overwhelmingly mid century-style bed frames, as well as platform beds, designs with velvet upholstery, styles with under-bed storage and guest beds.
If you like your frame but you fancy a change of look, don’t forget to search for MADE’s collection of headboards, which can be fitted onto the wall behind your bed.
There’s also a healthy choice of sofa beds too, to create an extra bed for overnight guests. The brand often runs sales, so if you see something you like that’s slightly out of your financial reach, it’s worth checking back to see if it’s been reduced.
Pictured: MADE Delia Super King Size Bed, Marine Green Velvet - was: £875, now: £525
Buy now, MADE
Dunelm
Brilliantly priced products that often look far more expensive than their price tag, Dunelm does budget homewares beautifully.
When it comes to bed styles, choose from metal frames, wooden designs, fabric and leather beds, options with extra storage and kids beds too. The store also offers a collection of headboards to spruce up existing bed settings and there are trundle bed and daybed options for those popular folks with a conveyor belt of guests but nowhere to sleep them.
If you fancy the grandeur of a four poster without the Jane Austen-esque kitsch, this sleek Lynton design gets the thumbs up from us.
Available in single to superking sizes, from £258.30.
Buy now, Dunelm
Bensons for Beds
From bedding to mattresses and of course, beds, creating the dreamiest sleep environment is the top priority at Bensons for Beds. As well as all the usual options - there are ottomans, upholstery and wooden frames galore, the site also offers beds with built-in TVs fitted into them for those seeking the ultimate luxury.
From Sleepmasters, this bed frame wrapped in grey upholstery comes with a 32 inch HD Ready Smart TV which glides up and out from the foot of the bed when you’re having a lazy morning or movie night.
Bensons will even give you an additional 10 per cent off the price if you purchase a mattress as well. How’s that for a good deal?
Buy now £1299.99, Bensons for Beds
Happy Beds
We all have a distinct idea of what makes the perfect sleep environment, which is why Happy Beds allows you to build your fantasy bed from the ground up. Simply create your bespoke bed choosing from Happy Beds’ wide array of options. If you need inspiration, check out the brand’s selection of ready-made beds; you may find what you’re looking for in there already.
Get ready to dive into a world of wooden, fabric, divan and ottoman beds, as well as options for the kids (including gaming pod beds made for teens which we feel should also come in an adult option), plus TV and Tech options for those who like their 40 winks with a cutting edge.
PodBed Grey and Red Gaming High Sleeper - EU Small Double - was: £1944.99, now: £949.99
Buy now £949.99, Happy Beds
Dreams
From statement frames to sleigh beds, you can find it all at Dreams. The store has bed frames to fit every mattress size, from 90 x 190cm singles right the way up to a 180 x 200cm superking, plus toddler beds for when your little one is ready for a real bed of their own.
As well as traditional beds, Dreams also stocks sofa beds and bunk beds to help you maximise every inch of space in your home. And for lovers of the great outdoors there are inflatable mattress options too, so everyone will leave a happy camper.
You can never have enough storage space, but this Sapporo winged headboard bed frame combines a few delightful surprises in one. Not only can you lift the base to stow away off-season clothes and bedding underneath, but it comes with an integrated 43 inch TV and surround speakers in the headboard to upgrade your nest into a personal cinema.
Is this love? We think so.
Buy now £2499.00, Dreams
Loaf
Sumptuous beds you’ll want to sink right into - and that's from the website photography alone - Loaf has superb beds in the bag.
There are an astounding line of frame styles to agonise over: our favourite options include the Antoinette, fit for a Queen; the Sugar Puff with an attractive boutique vibe; and the oh-so decadent Coco, as popular as she is pretty. Choose from up to 145 fabric options, and you can add a mattress and bed linen for a full bedroom overhaul if you fancy splashing out.
Prices are on the expensive side, but when it comes to your bed, it’s the wisest investment you’ll make.
Buy now, Loaf
Emma
Another bed-in-a-box brand that’s venturing out elsewhere in the bedroom department, Emma also offers a collection of bed frames to house your mattress.
If you’re into the industrial chic look, a platform or metal bed will only serve to enhance your space, and there are wooden beds fitted with drawer storage as well as divans too. If you’d rather keep the space under your bed clear, choose the sleek wooden bed made from eco-responsible timber, or get the Emma Signature Bed which offers tailor-made comfort and has the option of additonal storage if you prefer.
Emma is currently offering half off the price of bed frames, so if you’ve been dithering over a purchase, now’s the time to make your move.
Buy now, Emma
Furniture Village
With a massive choice and competitve prices, Furniture Village is an excellent port of call when searching for the bed of your dreams.
With value at the top of its priorities, it mostly offers space-making ottoman beds but if you’ve got your heart set on another style of frame, chances are you’ll find it on Furniture Village’s digital showroom. Prices start at an exceedingly reasonable £75 for a folding bed that comes with its own mattress, making a spare guest bed a viable option, even if you don’t have much space to work with. Then there’s minimalist metal frames, velvet upholstery and everything else inbetween.
The ALF Livia Bed Frame comes in king and superking sizes with backlighting on the oversized headboard to make a real statement.
Buy now £1695.00, Furniture Village
