6 Bed Frame Styles We Carry, and Who Each One Is Actually For

Bed frames have quietly gotten interesting. Ten years ago the choice was metal rails or a wood sleigh bed. Now there are storage beds with hydraulic lifts, headboards with built-in LED lighting and USB-C ports, and minimalist platforms that cost less than a nice dinner out. Here is a tour of the six styles we carry at Hawkins Woodshop, and an honest take on who each one fits.

1. The no-frills metal platform

Steel frame, steel slats, no headboard, no box spring needed. This is the workhorse. It assembles in under half an hour, holds up to 3,500 pounds on heavy duty models, and disappears under your bedding. Our 14 inch twin starts under $70, and the queen version runs around $160.

Best for: guest rooms, kids heading to college, rentals, and anyone who wants their money in the mattress instead of the frame.

2. The minimalist platform with a simple headboard

One step up: a clean, low-profile frame with a plain headboard so pillows have something to lean against. Our 12 inch queen with minimalist headboard is around $105, which is a lot of bed for the price.

Best for: modern and Scandinavian rooms, first apartments, and anyone who finds tall headboards fussy.

3. The vintage iron look

Curved ironwork headboards and footboards bring back the farmhouse and Victorian bed silhouette, but on a modern platform base with proper slats underneath. Take a look at the Victorian style queen or the vintage iron-art queen, both under $175.

Best for: farmhouse, cottage, and traditional bedrooms that want character without antique-store prices or antique-store squeaks.

4. The smart frame: LED lights and charging built in

This is the style that surprises people. Headboards now come with LED accent lighting, storage shelves, and charging stations with USB and USB-C ports. In a small bedroom, the headboard replaces a nightstand entirely. Our queen with 2-tier storage headboard is about $225, and there are twin versions with rolling storage drawers that are popular for kids and dorm-style rooms.

Best for: teens, small bedrooms with no nightstand space, and anyone who reads or scrolls in bed.

5. The upholstered frame

Fabric or faux leather over a padded headboard makes the whole room feel softer, and it is the style most hotel rooms use for a reason. Our white faux leather full frame has an adjustable-height headboard and wood slats. You can also build the look yourself: pair any plain platform frame with a tufted linen headboard.

Best for: primary bedrooms where comfort and looks share top billing, and anyone who sits up against the headboard.

6. The storage bed

The most furniture per square foot you can buy. Our king lift-up storage bed raises the entire mattress platform on hydraulic struts, turning the full footprint of a king bed into a closet-sized storage bay. If you want the whole room to match, our 4-piece queen bedroom set bundles the bed with a dresser and two nightstands.

Best for: apartments and homes short on closet space, and anyone who owns more bedding than shelving.

Not sure which fits your room?

Start with our bed frame buyer's guide for the sizing and height math, or just text Colby at 916-692-0554 with your room dimensions and budget and we will point you at the right one. And if you want something none of these styles cover, we also build custom hardwood furniture right here in the USA.