Platform beds & bed frames with headboard

Headboard | Wood | $$

Awarded the title of best overall in our more general roundup of the best bed frames, it’s only right that the Lenia frame takes the top spot here too. Liza Curtiss, a partner at the design studio Le Whit, is to thank for the recommendation. She tells us that its “clean lines and warm color complement almost any style.” Available in either a walnut or white-oak stain, the bed is made with solid and veneered American white-oak wood and comes with wooden slats. Thoughtful detailing, such as the bed’s sturdy, commanding headboard against its delicately tapered legs, contribute to its overall understated elegance. And at $999 for a queen size, we think it’s very reasonable indeed (and its 45-minute assembly time isn’t bad either).

No headboard, footboard, or canopy | Wood | $

If you want to strip things right down to the basics, this wooden bed is about as simple as it gets. It comes highly recommended by Decorilla lead designer Devin Shaffer as a solid and affordable choice to suit “any budget.” The frame’s solid wood hails from Athens, Georgia, “which means it will stand the test of time,” according to Shaffer. It’s also unfinished, which adds to the bed’s overall unassuming feel (or gives you an option to make it your own with a varnish of your choice). And if you’re short on space or are anticipating a move in the near future, the frame folds up for easy storage and transportation. For under $250 for a queen, we think it’s fairly unbeatable.

Headboard | Wood | $

For high-quality, inexpensively priced pieces, we often turn to Zinus — and this wooden platform bed frame is no exception. Made of a durable solid wood, the bed features a traditional sturdy headboard in an espressolike brown stain. But the real highlight is the cost: At $335, it’s almost two-thirds less expensive than the Lenia frame, and reviewers attest that the cheaper price point doesn’t signal a sacrifice in quality. “Once assembled, the bed is sturdy. I’ve not seen any other furniture of this quality in this price range,” writes one reviewer on Amazon, meanwhile another adds, “I simply could not be happier with the product, the packaging, and ease of assembly. Get this bed!”

Headboard and footboard | Metal | $$

Although this bed’s solid iron tubing gives it a slight industrial vibe, two soft, sloping lines across the headboard and footboard provide some softness. Modsy designer Yoan Walter thinks it’s a “perfect, versatile piece of furniture that can adapt to many styles, like rustic, traditional, eclectic, or industrial.” We think it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a metal bed frame that won’t overwhelm your space. It can be used with or without a box spring, though Crate & Barrel does advise that it works better with one.

Optional headboard, footboard, and underbed storage | Wood | $$$

This adaptable bed from Detroit-based Floyd is owned (and beloved) by Strategist editor Maxine Builder. And if you shudder at the sight of a screwdriver, this frame could be for you: Its assembly requires no tools. Despite this, Builder finds that the bed is “surprisingly sturdy” and notes that she hasn’t “had to adjust it since putting it together about a year ago.” As the bed is made from three wide planks of plywood (that are secured together via nylon ratchet straps), it lends itself to easy customization. While you may start off with a basic queen, you can opt to add on a headboard or some underbed storage at a later date, and Builder finds that the pieces are “super-easy to move yourself because it’s so lightweight.”

Underbed storage | Wood | $

Strategist writer Lauren Ro first wrote about this Ikea bed when a reader asked for a dupe of Blu Dot’s Modu-licious bed. Like the Modu-licious bed, the Ikea frame includes six unassuming, wide underbed drawers with notched handles. Unlike the Modu-licious bed, it costs less than $400. Made of wood, in a smooth, acrylic white finish, the frame utilizes Ikea’s trusty wooden slats to support the mattress. Championing both form and function, we think it’s a great storage solution from a trustworthy brand.

Headboard | Upholstered | $$$

This upholstered frame has an unmistaken opulence, both from its sloping silhouette and rich emerald hue. Modsy designer Lisa Spicer attributes the frame’s “glam” to its “luxe velvet upholstery” and “little brass feet.” She also shares that it “can really elevate your bedroom retreat while also being transitional enough to switch up throughout the years.” So while the price tag is a steep initial expense, the piece is an investment with some real longevity. Interior-design publicist Molly Schoneveld also agrees that the frame is a splurge but finds the pop of green truly “refreshing” among the sea of gray frames over recent years and adds that it can “easily be accessorized in so many different ways that would make it work in a modern or traditional home.” The frame is made with sturdy metal and plush foam, and the mattress rests on plywood slats, meaning a box spring isn’t necessary.

No headboard, footboard, or canopy | Upholstered | $

If you’re not too fussed about a headboard, this powder-blue upholstered bed is an inexpensive option to consider. As well as hardwood slats to rest your mattress on, the frame features tapered wooden legs in a handsome rich brown shade. Shaffer says the frame will fit “any space and nearly all styles,” and we agree: A simple, elegant frame like this looks good in any space.

Headboard | Metal | $$$

Aimee Martinelli, a designer at Modsy, recommends this Art Deco frame that is both “on trend and timeless.” And while the swirls across the frame’s headboard and footboard provide some drama, for Martinelli, “it’s all about the subtle gold details, which really make this bed special.” Made of powder-coated iron, the bed is on the pricier side but doesn’t require a box spring, which cuts costs. It’s also this writer’s personal favorite out of every bed frame we’ve ever written about at the Strategist (which is no easy contest).

Headboard | Metal | $$$

This frame’s drama comes from its range of 16 vibrant shades, including a deep ocean blue and a striking scarlet red. It’s rated highly by Anki Spets, the founder of AREA Home, who says the “sturdy” frame will “last for a long time.” Spets insists on being brave when selecting a color — “How about orange or onyx gloss?” — but thanks to a streamlined design and an airy, raised platform, the boldness is tempered so as not to overpower the bedroom.

Headboard | Upholstered | $$$

If you typed comfy bed into an AI generator, it would probably produce a picture of this Pottery Barn bed. With a towering tufted wingback headboard and itsy wooden legs, it commands the room with an inviting air. “For those looking to channel that five-star-hotel vibe, we love this affordable-luxe tufted bed from Pottery Barn,” says Allison Whitt of DesignX Architecture + Interiors, a San Diego hospitality-design firm. “It’s a timeless statement piece that instantly adds drama and depth to a room and serves as the perfect backdrop for a decadent layering of pillows, bedding, and all things hygge.” There’s no box spring required for this frame; just set up your mountains of blankets and settle in.