Which Bed is Best: An Upholstered Bed or a Wooden Bed?
We know buying a new bed can be confusing, especially when you have many choices. Do you go with a small bed or splurge with a bigger bed, and what about the colour? And that's not to mention that you must consider what materials you want your new bed to have.
We want to make choosing the perfect bed easier, so we’ve put together an upholstered bed vs wooden bed comparison guide. Check out the benefits of both below.
Upholstered beds vs. wooden beds: At a glance
Before we delve deeper into the benefits and drawbacks of upholstered and wooden beds, we’ve created the table below to show you the differences at a glance:
| Wooden Beds | Upholstered Beds |
|---|---|
| Timeless | Can be more trend-led, but timeless options are available |
| Easy to clean | Can be cleaned, although it’s more difficult to do than with other frames |
| Sturdy and durable | Sturdy |
| Includes multiple heavy parts, which can be more difficult to assemble | Easy to assemble |
| Usually cheaper than a fabric bed frame | Affordable but usually more expensive than a wooden bed frame (excluding solid wood options) |
| Heavy | Heavy |
| Hard wooden frame | Soft fabric finish |
Benefits of a wooden bed
As a timeless style, wooden beds have been a firm favourite in bedrooms for many years, thanks to their many benefits. Their main benefits include:
1. They’re available in timeless designs
Wooden furniture stands the test of time and has long been a popular option in UK homes thanks to its traditional yet timeless aesthetic. You can easily put a contemporary twist on a wooden bed with a lacquered option in a range of on-trend colours that will complement a range of interior designs.
If you like to change your bedroom’s decor often, a wooden bed frame is an excellent choice as it is subtle enough to complement most colour schemes and aesthetics. This means you won’t have to replace your bed frame every time you redecorate.
2. They’re easy to clean
Let’s face it; we spend a lot of time in bed, so they may get a little dusty or grubby with time - especially if you enjoy eating under the covers. And, whilst there’s not much we can do if you drop food on your duvet, cleaning a wooden bed frame couldn’t be easier.
Simply dust and run a damp cloth over the wood to renew its glory, or pull out some polish if you’d like it to shine. Learn how to care for a wooden bed in more detail and ensure it stands the test of time in our Wooden Bed & Furniture Care Guide.
3. They’re robust and sturdy
We think there’s just something about a good chunk of wood that feels naturally strong and sturdy, virtues all of us look for in a large piece of furniture. Plus, the grain can often give it an organic feel.
Team with plush bedding and a comfortable mattress for a robust wooden frame that plays to its strengths. (Though all our wooden or upholstered beds are tested to the same high level of safety standards.)
4. They’re affordable
Generally, wood bed frames tend to be more affordable than upholstered bed frames. However, this depends on the type of wooden bed you choose; a larger wooden bed frame will naturally cost more while opting for a solid wood bed will be more expensive than a bed with a wood effect finish.
5. They’re supportive
Tying into the frame’s sturdiness, choosing a wooden bed frame is a great choice if you’re looking for increased support from your bed. Usually featuring wooden slats, this bed type can make your mattress feel firmer, which may be beneficial if you need extra support.
Disadvantages of wooden beds
Depending on what you’re looking for from a wooden bed, there are some potential drawbacks, including:
1. The frames are hard
This goes without saying, but a frame made of sturdy wood will naturally be harder than an upholstered bed. This can make a wooden bed more uncomfortable if you like sitting in bed lying against the headboard. Likewise, bashing your shins or toe on a wooden bed frame is a lot more painful than an upholstered bed.
2. They’re heavy
Especially true of solid wood beds, wooden bed frames can be heavy, which makes carrying them into your bedroom and moving them around your room trickier. However, wood-effect bed frames are usually lighter, so they might be a better choice if you’re looking for a frame that can be easily moved around.
Benefits of an upholstered bed
Plush and luxurious, upholstered beds have soared in popularity recently, becoming the focal point of bedrooms across Britain. Upholstered beds offer many advantages, including:
1. They’re oh so soft
If you love a warm and soft bed you can slip into at night or lounge in during a lazy weekend, you’re sure to adore the main advantage of an upholstered bed - its soft and cosy feel.
Ideal for sitting up and leaning on, upholstered beds come with padded fabric headboards, so the comfort continues even when you come out from the covers. Imagine having a lie in catching up on your favourite shows in an upholstered TV bed- utter bliss!
2. They’re available in any colour you’d like
Want a blue bed? You can have it. Change your mind and want a grey one? No problem. That’s the beauty of an upholstered bed - they’re made in dozens of shades to suit your tastes and existing décor.
A bold upholstered bed with a large headboard is a simple yet effective way of adding a pop of colour to any bedroom and will become the centrepiece of any room. You can even customise your bed; why not check out our Build Your Own Bed tool?
3. They help regulate the temperature
Is your bedroom too hot or too cold? Well, an upholstered bed can help make it just right. A benefit of upholstered beds is their heat-retaining properties, meaning an extra layer of insulation between you and the cold bedroom wall.
Find out more in our guide on what is the best temperature for sleep?
4. They’re easy to assemble
Many upholstered beds benefit from a divan structure - the base is formed of two or more blocks, and a headboard and mattress are added later. This makes assembling the bed super quick and easy and allows you to switch out the headboard should you choose to update the décor in your room.
Disadvantages of upholstered beds
Just like with a wooden bed frame, there are some downsides to choosing an upholstered bed, including:
1. Not suitable for warmer sleepers
Because a fabric bed has insulating properties, the bed frame may not be suitable for warmer sleepers. The extra insulation could make you feel too hot, impacting the length and quality of the sleep you get.
There are ways to minimise this effect, such as choosing a cooler feel mattress or lighter duvet and bedding.
2. Might not be suitable for households with pets
If you have a pet prone to scratching the furniture, a fabric bed frame might not be the best choice. Should the fabric become scratched or, worse yet, torn, you’ll likely need to have the bed reupholstered, which can be expensive.
3. More difficult to keep clean
Should your upholstered bed become dirty, such as with spillages or general dirt, it will often be more challenging to clean than with a wood or metal bed frame, for example. After all, it’s not like you can unzip the fabric cover and stick it in the washing machine!
However, cleaning dirt from an upholstered bed frame isn’t impossible. Find out more in our fabric bed care guide.4. Could date more easily
While a benefit of choosing an upholstered bed is that you’ll have the choice of a wide range of colours, the downside is that you could choose a colour that will date more quickly. However, some trends stick around for years. You’ll also have the choice of more muted colours if you’d like something more timeless.
Decided which one is for you? Get yours delivered directly to your door and shop our range of bed frames online today.