How Your Bed Frame Can Tie Together Your Bedroom Style

*This is a guest post on how your bed frame can tie together your bedroom style

Bedrooms come in all shapes and sizes. Some people love a bright and colourful place to cheer up their day – others will love a soothing calm room to unwind in. New furniture and decorations are often the easiest way to redo your room, but it can be easy to overlook the bed frame. As one of the biggest pieces of furniture in the room, the bed frame is actually a focal point and has a significant impact on the overall vibe. 

There’s so much to consider from the format (do you want a bed head as well as a base?) to the materials (wood, metal, upholstered) and smaller details, like whether your base has legs or sits on the floor. By breaking down the options, you can get your head around them in no time and pick the bed frame that’s best for you. So without further ado, let’s explore how your bed frame can tie together your bedroom style.

Identify your style

To understand just how much a bed frame can work for or against your overall style, you need to first identify what that is. There are so many design styles and each of them evokes a different atmosphere. Some of the most popular choices include:

• Traditional
• Contemporary
• Scandinavian
• Mid-century modern
• Art deco
• Boho
• Coastal
• Industrial
• Minimalist
• Rustic
• Eclectic 
• French provincial 

Where a traditional style summons a familiar, old-world feeling, the neutral colours and curved lines of contemporary design give off a calming, tranquil vibe. Meanwhile, Scandinavian design – full of light-coloured wood and muted colours – creates a welcoming, timeless feel, whereas the playful layering of textures, colours and patterns of boho style create an artistic, worldly atmosphere. 

Consider the furniture and decorations you already have in your room: do they lean towards a particular style? This could also be a chance for you to refine your style or pick a new one completely. Do some research into the styles that grab your attention; mood boards are another great way to find inspiration and collect ideas you’re drawn to. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules, and if you find that you naturally combine a few different styles, that’s perfectly fine! 

Think about material of bed frame

Once you’ve considered your style, it’s time to think about the material of your bed. Different materials exude different feelings and lend themselves better to certain styles. Sturdy and durable, wooden beds are a popular choice, with lighter-coloured wood more common in Scandinavian styles and darker wood more common in mid-century design. 

Metal bed frames are similarly long-lasting and have a sleek feel, making them popular with industrial and minimalist styles – although, more intricate wrought iron frames are right at home in a traditional design style. Upholstered beds have a cosy, comfortable feel (with the benefit that their fabric can be matched with the décor) and are popular in contemporary or art deco design.

Consider different types of beds

Bed frame vs bed base

When it comes to choosing beds, you can either opt for a bed frame (an all-in-one piece that incorporates both the base and the bedhead) or a standalone base that can either be used by itself (for a minimal approach). If your design style is big and bold, the latter option allows you to pick out a statement bedhead. 

Slatted, platform or box spring

When it comes to bases, there are a number of different constructions. A slatted bed base is great for ventilation and will prevent your mattress from sagging, while also leaving room for you to store things under the bed. This is a popular choice in Scandinavian design, which is concerned with functionality. Meanwhile, a platform base also offers good mattress ventilation and some storage area (although they are usually lower-profile), and its simple, modern appearance makes it a popular choice for minimalist design. The third option is a box spring bed base, which is great for durability (and can add some bounce) and is more aligned with a traditional design style. 

Headboard

Headboards can be great for adding an eye-catching design piece (and they can also provide good back support if you like to sit in bed reading or watching TV), although they may not suit more minimalist-oriented styles. 

If you do want to go down the headboard route, there are so many options to choose from. Do you prefer solid or slatted? Wooden or material? Again, different headboards lend themselves perfectly to different styles. Where a rattan bedhead is perfect for a coastal vibe, and a suede bed head might be great for art deco, an upholstered bedhead could work well with a traditional style.  

Height and legs

Some final factors to consider are the height of your bed (a higher bed can offer more of a regal feel whereas a lower bed can make a room feel more spacious) and how your base sits on the ground. A base that sits flat on the floor offers a simple look that is good for stability and structural integrity, while a base with legs allows for storage and is popular in contemporary, Scandinavian or mid-century modern styles. Bed bases that incorporate a footboard are generally more popular with traditional design. 

While it can feel like there are a lot of options to choose from, by first working out your design style you can easily narrow down what’s going to look best in your room. Don’t forget to have fun in the process and remember, at the end of the day, your bedroom should be a reflection of you and somewhere you feel completely at home.