Upholstered vs Wooden Bed Frames: Style and Comfort Compared

Our guide is designed to help you explore the benefits of both upholstered and wooden bed frames, evaluating not only their visual and aesthetic appeal but their physical comfort levels, design opportunities and practical functions too. 

Whilst a wooden bed frame is fairly self-explanatory, an upholstered bed frame can be a little more complex to describe. In most instances, an upholstered bed frame is a box spring, floating or storage bed where the entire frame is padded and upholstered with fabric all the way from the base to the headboard, such as MARTY, ACADEMY PIUMA or MAX Bed. 

By contrast, a wooden bed frame is just that – entirely made of wood, whether it be solid wood such as oak, walnut or ash, or a wood substitute like MDF or plywood. From the legs to the frame to the headboard, each element is constructed from wood, with no padding or fabric elements included. 

There are also some combination beds too, with a padded headboard and wooden frame. A great example of this is the ASPECT Wooden Bed, with a solid wood frame and legs, and a comfortable customisable upholstered headboard. 

For many people, their bed is a space designed for softness and comfort, where they relax, read, sleep and even work. It’s created to provide support and relief through a soft, pliable mattress and cosy bedding, and an upholstered frame only adds to that encompassing feeling of warmth and serenity. 

With popular fabrics such as cotton, velvet, bouclé and chenille often being selected for furniture upholstery due to their natural durability and softness, padded and upholstered bed frames typically add an extra layer of touchable and tangible comfort to your bedroom. Not only does this provide a level of padded protection for children and pets who might be running in and out of the bedroom, saving you some stubbed toes and bumped heads in the process, it also adds a new layer of opportunity and creativity when it comes to designing your space. 

Whilst both wooden and upholstered bed frames offer a lot when it comes to customisation, the material choices of padded bed frames are almost endless and can provide a solid base for further furniture and soft furnishing elements in the space. From the colour to the texture to the pattern of the fabric, you can customise your upholstered bed frame to fit your exact needs and requirements, helping it to fit perfectly into your bedroom. 

The MAX ALTO H.25 Bed from Twils, for example, offers a wide range of fabric choices for the headboard, from wool, cotton and acrylic to linen and leather, in a broad spectrum of earthy and neutral colours too. 

Alternatively, the LOGAN H.15 Box Bed provides a bolder and brighter range of colour shades to choose from, creating the perfect foundation piece to curate your bedroom furniture around. 

For those looking for a more traditional, organic feel in their sleeping space, wooden beds are a clean and classic option. Whilst still sharing the same range of styles, designs and sizes as upholstered bed frames, their naturally stripped back appearance creates a more minimalist feel in a room. 

With customisation options available, such as the choice of wood colour and finish, a wooden bed can also create a natural focal point for a stylish bedroom – especially when paired with matching or complementary furniture in a similar wood tone and style. The LYS Floating Wooden Bed, for example, is also available as part of a unique furniture range, featuring a bedside table, wardrobe and chest of drawers – a matching set to create a cohesive visual style in a space. 

Wooden beds also have a lot to offer in terms of their overall durability and longevity, as well as their easy maintenance routines. For those who enjoy a morning cup of coffee in bed, for example, a wooden bed frame might be a safer option than an upholstered one in the case of spills and stains. Easy to wipe clean and dry; wooden bed frames are a popular choice for children’s bed frames too, especially in busy family homes.

Solid wood is an investment designed to last – maintaining its structure, shine, finish and colour over many years of use. 

Knowing which bed frame is the right one for you is a very personal choice and can depend on a lot of factors – from the practicalities of your space to the colour scheme of your interiors. 

If you’re struggling to make your choice, or want some help finding the perfect bed for your home, why not pop into our showroom to chat with our friendly Milola team? Contact us to arrange an appointment.