We Tested (and Rated!) All the Bed Frames at West Elm — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
Even if you prioritize home cooking or taking bubble baths to de-stress, there will never be a more personal part of the home than your bed. It’s where you go to escape after a long day, and it might even be where you work and lounge, too. That’s why it’s so important to invest in a good frame. You’ll want something sturdy that’s made of high-quality materials and that suits your aesthetic, too. With so many low-budget picks available online, it’s easy to grab something cheap. But if you’re a frequent mover or want something that’ll last for years, the chances that you’ll find your next family heirloom for a couple hundred bucks are slim. This is all to say that you don’t want to skimp on what’s arguably the most important piece of furniture in your home.
But when you can’t view a particular frame before dropping a significant chunk of money, bed shopping gets a lot more complicated. The good news is that you have our Personal Shopper series, in which we visit the showrooms and stores of your favorite home retailers and put their furniture to the test. This time, we’re revisiting West Elm, whose sofas, dining tables, and coffee tables we’ve also reviewed. Below, you’ll see the list of every bed frame we viewed in-store, along with details on what space and lifestyle each suits best.
The Beds
Most Customizable: Andes Bed
Best Coastal Style: Haven Slipcover Bed
Best for Small Spaces: Mid-Century Bed
Best Bed with Storage: Emmett Tufted Side Storage Bed
Best Minimalist Style: Hargrove Bed
Best Farmhouse Style: Anton Solid Wood Bed
Best Statement-Maker: Lana Upholstered Bed
Best Cozy Style: Shelter Low Profile Bed
Why West Elm?
West Elm is an editor- and reader-favorite for all things home and kitchen, including, of course, beds. The impressive selection not only looks good but the products can also be delivered directly to your home with white-glove delivery. West Elm offers free furniture customization and design guidance, if needed, as well as complimentary swatches from a plethora of upholstery options to help you find your ideal materials and colors. Below are the exact beds we tested — both store bestsellers and newer models we were excited to finally see in person.
The Criteria
We judged every West Elm bed frame in-store based on the following five criteria, giving each category an average rating between 1 and 5. These scores helped us determine whom the bed suits best, from the style maven to the small-space apartment dweller.
Customizability: Does it come in different varieties? How many colors, finishes, materials, or sizes is it available in? How granular can you get when customizing the bed frame?
Space needs: How much space does the bed frame require? Does it have a canopy or need high ceilings? Is it particularly bulky or does it stay close to its appointed mattress size?
Platform height: How high off the ground is the bed frame? Would it generally require bending down or reaching up to get in?
Storage capacity: Does the bed frame include drawers? Does it have space underneath for under-bed storage? Does its headboard have storage capacity?
Appearance: What style of decor does the bed frame suit best? Does its design lean warm and rustic or sleek and modern? Is it classic with upholstery and detailing or contemporary with clean lines and versatile minimalism?
Every Editor-Tested Bed Frame at West Elm
Most Customizable: Andes Bed
Andes Bed
West Elm
$909.30 (was $1,199)
Buy Now
What impressed us: The soft upholstery and tall bronze legs.
If you want a cozy bedroom feel, an upholstered bed is your best bet. The Andes bed invites you to climb in and get comfy with its distressed velvet fabric, which is simultaneously soft and textured. Its clean-lined headboard and tall metallic legs add a touch of glam, making the bed a stylish accent in addition to a fundamental piece of furniture. You also get decent underbed storage space for slim bins and boxes. Of all the beds we viewed at West Elm, this one was also the most customizable. Choose from five bed sizes, two headboard styles (including a vertical tufted design), two headboard heights, and numerous upholstery fabrics and colors. You also have a choice of dark pewter legs if bronze doesn’t suit your fancy. We recommend this frame for the person with a highly curated interior aesthetic, as they’ll no doubt enjoy getting to create their dream bed. So long as you’re not a maximalist, the Andes will check all of your boxes.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid pine and engineered wood frame with cast metal legs and upholstery
Available in 5 sizes and 22 upholstery options
Box spring optional
Best Coastal Style: Haven Slipcover Bed
Haven Slipcover Bed
West Elm
$1,299
Buy Now
What impressed us: The tall headboard and removable slipcover.
If you don’t need the underbed storage space, consider a platform bed like the Haven model. Its slipcovered silhouette looks so effortless and breezy, and it’s surprisingly low-maintenance! You can remove the slipcover and machine-wash it, as long as you get it in one of the following fabrics: yarn-dyed linen weave, chenille tweed, deco weave, performance velvet, or distressed velvet. We viewed the Haven bed in beachy ivory fabric, but you have a host of neutrals and deep tones to choose from if you’re not a fan of off-white. Another noteworthy feature is the bed’s tall headboard. Like the base, it, too, is padded with cushioning, helping to create a grand overall appearance. If you need your bed to be the focal point of your room, or you like to stack a lot of pillows on it and still see the headboard over the top, we’re confident that you’ll love this model.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid pine and engineered wood frame with upholstery
Available in 5 sizes and 25 upholstery options
Box spring optional
Best for Small Spaces: Mid-Century Bed
Mid-Century Bed
West Elm
$1,199
Buy Now
What impressed us: The warm acorn finish and sparse silhouette.
Frequent movers will want a simple bed frame like the Mid-Century bed. With an elegantly sparse silhouette such as this one, you won’t have to lug a heavy platform base down the stairs or struggle to avoid ruining upholstery. On top of that, you get a solid amount of under-bed space for out-of-season linens and garments. But this pick isn’t just practical — we immediately recognized it as one of West Elm’s best-selling mid-century collection pieces, thanks to its tapered legs and full wood construction. We also appreciate its orange-toned acorn finish, although you can also buy it in white, pebble, and cerused white. What’s more, the bed is made from sustainably sourced wood in a Fair Trade Certified facility, so you can truly feel good about your purchase. No matter how many years pass, the classic ‘60s-inspired frame will always look good and hold up splendidly.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Kiln-dried solid and engineered wood
Available in 4 sizes and 4 wood finishes
Box spring optional
Best Bed with Storage: Emmett Tufted Side Storage Bed
Emmett Tufted Side Storage Bed
West Elm
$1,999
Buy Now
What impressed us: The side storage drawers.
Of course, having a platform bed doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice storage space. Case in point: The Emmet bed, which boasts four roomy side drawers (two on each side, to be exact). Each drawer measures 28 inches wide and 21 inches deep, and it extends out 19 inches. Plus, the drawers slide open and closed seamlessly, without catching or snagging. They also stay open on their own and offer more than enough space each for two stacks of clothing. Even better still, you can choose to add legs to the bed! As for fabric, we viewed the Emmett in a gray tweed, although the frame and slats underneath were black. It’s also important to note that all of the fabric beds at West Elm, including this one, aren’t fully upholstered on the back of the headboard. But considering that you’ll most likely be placing your bed up against a wall, this isn’t a huge cause for concern. Finally, it’s impossible to ignore the grid tufting on this otherwise pared-back piece. This detail adds just enough interest to make the entire frame stand out.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid pine and engineered wood frame with upholstery
Available in 5 sizes and 22 upholstery options
Box spring optional
Best Minimalist Style: Hargrove Bed
Hargrove Bed, Queen
West Elm
$1,359.20 (was $1,699)
Buy Now
What impressed us: The mixed materials and textured wood.
This no-frills bed leans into a number of interior styles, whether you prefer boho, farmhouse, rustic, or minimalist. Its headboard isn’t as tall as some of the others we viewed, which makes the bed look low-profile. But we were happy to see that its base is actually raised quite high, leaving you with plenty of underbed storage. This model is a fabulous choice if you don’t want to spend a lot of time picking from different upholstery, leg styles, and wood finishes. The Hargrove’s cream-colored linen weave fabric will pair well with virtually any color of bedding; all you need to worry about is whether its light mahogany wood matches the rest of your bedroom furniture. Additionally, the frame is covered in a water-based finish for added durability, but it still has a nice grooved texture that makes it even more dynamic. Regardless of the season or what’s trending in interior design, this mixed-material number will always look on-trend.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid mahogany veneer over engineered wood frame with linen weave upholstery
Available in 2 sizes
Box spring optional
Best Farmhouse Style: Anton Solid Wood Bed
Anton Solid Wood Bed
West Elm
$1,699
Buy Now
What impressed us: The paneled design and lean legs.
Whether you’re looking to curate a cottagecore vibe or you simply want to add texture to your space, the Anton bed is the model for you. Its sustainably sourced mango wood is smooth to the touch, but it sports a mismatched panel finish that looks even more charming IRL. We also couldn’t help but notice the bed’s slightly recessed front legs, which almost make the platform look like it’s floating at first glance. The back legs are just the headboard, which extends all the way down, resulting in a clean square frame. This, coupled with the generous floor-to-side-rail height, means you could definitely get away with storing bulky boxes underneath your Queen- or King-sized frame. Because the headboard serves almost as a frame for your pillows, we think it would pair wonderfully with framed wall art over top. Really, the Anton is the perfect backdrop for just about any assortment of decor; the fact that it comes in two different wood finishes is merely a bonus.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Kiln-dried solid mango wood
Available in 2 sizes
Box spring optional
Best Statement-Maker: Lana Upholstered Bed
Lana Upholstered Bed
West Elm
$1,099
Buy Now
What impressed us: The curved headboard and bouclé upholstery.
If we’re being honest, the Lana bed was a personal favorite among the eight models we viewed. How could you not get swept up in its dreamy shape and fabric? There is actually a handful of beautiful upholstery you can choose from, including a blush-pink velvet, although we viewed the bed in a pretty spectacular bouclé that was surprisingly soft and seemingly also tinged with pink (or was it just the store lighting?). In any case, it’s not difficult to picture yourself curled up in bed with a book when this is the frame adorning your space. A matching bench was pulled up against the foot of the bed in West Elm’s showroom, only amplifying its snugness. Even with the bench in front, we caught a glimpse of the Lana’s striking gold-toned legs, which taper into fine points. If you like the look of a wingback headboard but want something a little more unique, we say go with this pick. Modern spaces can often look a bit harsh because of all the angular lines, so this is a great antidote.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Kiln-dried solid and engineered wood frame with foam and fiber filling and metal legs
Available in 5 sizes and 24 upholstery options
Box spring optional
Best Cozy Style: Shelter Low Profile Bed
Shelter Low Profile Bed
West Elm
$1,399
Buy Now
What impressed us: The all-around padding and high customizability.
If we had to choose one adjective to describe this bed frame, it would be “angelic.” This is not just because it’s padded all around with your desired upholstery, but also because its high (but still low-to-the-ground) platform has an almost cloud-like appearance — if clouds were as solid or supremely comfortable as this bed. The headboard also has that coveted wingback design, which envelops you as you lounge and helps absorb noise. What’s more, you can choose among not two, not three, but five headboard styles, including the vertical tufted design that instantly caught our attention in-store. We also viewed the bed in a white fabric, which only contributed to its heavenly appearance. The only downsides? The bed does take up a lot of floor space — especially if you get it in a larger size, and it doesn’t offer storage. As a result, we would recommend it to homeowners or people who otherwise have a lot of floor space to spare and don’t plan on moving every one to two years.
How We Rated It:
Specifications:
Solid pine and engineered wood with upholstery
Available in 5 sizes and 22 upholstery options
Box spring optional
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
