The 12 Best Upholstered Beds of 2023

neutral bedroom with red headboard — House 9 Interiors

One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make when furnishing your bedroom is your bed—and we’re not even talking about the mattress. When it comes to selecting the actual bed frame, there are many variables to consider: Do you want just a headboard to dress up a frame you already have, a new frame to be paired with a box spring, or a platform bed? How about the material—wood, metal, upholstery?

Upholstered beds are a popular pick for those looking for extra comfort—that is, something plush to lean on when sitting upright in bed. Whether you’re looking for a traditional silhouette with tufted velvet or a modern profile with buttery leather upholstery, there’s quite a range of styles from which to choose.

Here, the best upholstered beds.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
FAQs
Why Trust MyDomaine

Saatva

View On Saatva

Sizes: Queen, King, Cal King | Upholstery Material: Linen or polyester/cotton blend | Under Bed Clearance: 6.1 inches | Box Spring Needed: No

Minimalists will be delighted by Saatva's Santorini bed, which, like the architecture found on its namesake Greek island, is defined by simple, clean lines. This sophisticated piece has a straightforward rectangular profile with ever so slightly rounded edges, and sits on four barely-there metal legs that almost produce the illusion that the bed is floating.

Made from sturdy kiln-dried wood, this bed comes upholstered in smooth and luxurious vintage velvet in Taupe or Graphite, as well as highly textured Natural Linen for a more laidback look. It comes with plywood slats, so no box spring is necessary.

Wayfair

View On Wayfair

Sizes: Full, Queen, King | Upholstery: Polyester | Under Bed Clearance: 8 inches | Box Spring Needed: No

Perfectly suited for a variety of design styles, the Mercury Row Heid Bed features a tufted headboard in a geometric design that adds a luxe vibe to any space. The silhouette itself is simple and inviting, meaning it can blend well into different aesthetics depending on how you dress your bed, and comes in two neutral colors. Go for fluffy and frilly bedding for a more traditional look, or keep things sleek and modern with jewel-tone velvet bedding for a glam Art Deco vibe.

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams

View On Mgbwhome.com

Sizes: Queen, King | Upholstery: Polyester blend | Under Bed Clearance: None | Box Spring Needed: No

For its first-ever designer collaboration, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams partnered with Brigitte Romanek, who created the stunning LA Bed for the brand. Tapping into her mantra of “livable luxury,” Romanek devised a retro, curved silhouette for this upscale bed riffing on Old Hollywood glamour.

It’s upholstered in your choice of dozens of fabrics, including a variety of colors and patterns, and sits on a wood plinth base. The look is understated yet elegant, and it certainly exudes coziness—something you definitely want in a bedroom.

Castlery

View On Castlery.com

Sizes: Queen, King | Upholstery: Polyester | Under Bed Clearance: 8 inches | Box Spring Needed: No

For lovers of mid-century modern style, the Hudson Bed from Castlery is an ideal pick. The frame is made from high quality solid acacia wood in a deep walnut hue and sits on brass legs, making it an excellent choice if you want a bed that's not totally upholstered.

The headboard, which is upholstered in a stone-colored fabric, adds a touch of cozy to the piece. You can use a box spring if you want more height, but the bed also has wooden slats if you’d prefer to simply toss your mattress on top for a more streamlined look.

View On Crate & Barrel

Sizes: Queen, King | Upholstery: Polyester | Under Bed Clearance: 4.75 inches | Box Spring Needed: No

Calling all Art Deco lovers: Crate & Barrel’s Ava Bed is the epitome of 1930s glam. Upholstered in luxe velvet in your choice of four colors (including pink!), this bed has a rounded headboard that curves around your mattress, offering both comfort and design flair. The velvet continues around the rail, which sits on brassy metal feet for an all-around luxe aesthetic.

If you're not feeling pink, this bed also comes in gray, baby blue, and emerald green. No matter which hue you go with, you’ll be sure to create a boutique hotel look in your bedroom—especially if you finish off the look with luxury sheets!

Birch Lane

View On Birchlane.com

Sizes: Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Upholstery: Cotton, polyester, or linen blend | Under Bed Clearance: 4 inches | Box Spring Needed: Yes

For a more classic profile, there’s the Harriet Upholstered Bed from Birch Lane. It has a tall wingback headboard upholstered with either tufted cotton, polyester, or linen blend fabric that comes in 12 colors, including a statement-making yellow, a head-turning purple, and a slew of neutrals.

Style this traditional piece of furniture with French country or farmhouse décor—it works beautifully with both frilly bedding and simple crisp white sheets. Note that this bed requires a box frame, as it doesn’t have wood slats inside the frame.

Wayfair

View On 2modern.com View On Wayfair View On Bludot.com

Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King | Upholstery: Cotton/polyester or wool/nylon | Under Bed Clearance: None | Box Spring Needed: No

Blu Dot’s Dodu Bed is quite striking. Its blocky base extends a few inches beyond the mattress in all directions, sitting so low to the ground on barely-there legs that it looks as if it sits flush to the floor. Then attached to the back of the base is an extra thick (and we mean extra thick) rectangular headboard, upholstered in either a cotton/polyester or wool blend.

Essentially, it’s a sculptural platform for your mattress. It's a major statement-making piece that's perfectly suited for contemporary, eclectic bedrooms, and comes in four cool colors, including olive and marine blue.

Article

View On Article.com View On Havenly.com

Sizes: Queen, King | Upholstery: Polyester-linen blend | Under Bed Clearance: 6 inches | Box Spring Needed: No

With an uncomplicated rectangular silhouette, Article's Tessu Bed delivers a modern look that’s charmingly cozy, thanks to its linen-blend upholstery (which, by the way, has a Martindale rating of 50,000 rubs, so it’s incredibly durable). The bed rests on four tapered wood legs that are set quite far in from the edge of the frame, creating a cool floating illusion.

The bed comes in three different colors: cool Caspian Blue, pale Clay Taupe, and warm Glaze Grey. Best of all, this bed is quite modest in price compared to similar models.

HAVENLY

View On Havenly.com View On Luluandgeorgia.com

Sizes: Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Upholstery: Polyester or polyester/linen blend | Under Bed Clearance: 4 inches | Box Spring Needed: Yes

Art Deco meets mid-century style in Lulu and Georgia’s Aliyah Bed, which features a rectangular cushioned headboard with vertical channels upholstered in either velvet or linen. All things considered, this bed is delightfully plush and luxe, though it can certainly be dressed down with linen bedding in neutral colors or dressed up with punchy metallic details.

It’s also a surprisingly versatile piece of furniture—and that includes sizing, which goes up to California King. However, it's important to note that the Aliyah Bed is designed to be used with a nine-inch box spring and a 10-inch mattress, so plan accordingly.

One Kings Lane

View On Onekingslane.com

Sizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Upholstery: Leather | Under Bed Clearance: None | Box Spring Needed: Yes

The best part about One Kings Lane's Rayna Leather Bed is that it’s incredibly simple yet timeless—it lets the leather do all the talking. The boxy headboard and frame are both upholstered in supple caramel leather with plenty of padding underneath to provide cushioned support. Each bed is made-to-order by hand, and the model comes in all sizes, including California King. Buyers should note that it does require a box spring, despite being labeled as a platform bed on the website.

Raymour & Flanigan

View On Raymourflanigan.com

Sizes: Full, Queen, King, Cal King | Upholstery: Microfiber | Under Bed Clearance: Not listed | Box Spring Needed: Yes

Raymour & Flanigan’s Blanchard Diamond Tufted Bed is the quintessential upholstered bed, thanks to the tufted headboard and cozy velvet upholstery. Neutral color options like cocoa and light gray keep up with that traditional style, while the black upholstery veers into more modern territory. There are seven options to choose from overall, and you can order free samples to see them before you buy. Finally, while it’s not a platform bed, it does come with upholstered bed panels that match the bed frame to complete the look.

Anthropologie

View On Anthropologie

Sizes: Queen | Upholstery: Cotton/polyester blend | Under Bed Clearance: 1.5 inches | Box Spring Needed: No, but recommended

Whether you live in a small apartment or a large house, having a little extra storage space is never a bad idea. With Anthropologie’s Lena Bed, you get a pull-out drawer from the foot of the bed that’s ideal for storing anything from extra linens to out of season clothing to shoes.

Style-wise, the bed has a classic tufted velvet headboard and upholstered panels, which come in an impressive array of 22 colors, from chartreuse to eggplant. If there’s any downside to this bed, it’s that it only comes in one size: Queen.

Final Verdict

Overall, we recommend the Saatva Santorini Bed (view at Saatva), thanks to its modern, streamlined profile and neutral upholstery, which works well with any décor style. For a more budget-friendly option, we recommend the Mercury Row Heid Low Profile Bed (view at Wayfair), which has a tufted headboard in a geometric pattern that looks way more expensive than it is.

What to Look for in a Upholstered Bed

Material

There are two considerations regarding the material of your upholstered bed: look and upkeep.

"You'll want to select an upholstery fabric and color that adapts well for each season,” says interior designer Liza Kuhn. “For instance, a neutral cotton will work well in the summer, alongside a light quilt, as well as in the winter, alongside a heavy duvet or layered throws. A neutral color will allow you to mix and match colorful pillows or patterns, linens, and throws, and will provide a great backdrop for your bedroom as a whole.”

Upholstered beds require a bit more upkeep compared to metal or wood beds, since they're more likely to trap dust and debris. Velvet especially requires more attention, while leather and linen is a bit easier to maintain. All upholstery can be cleaned, but think about how much effort you’d like to put into maintaining your upholstered bed.

Shape and Style

Upholstered beds come in a variety of shapes and styles; some can be sleek and minimalist while others take on more traditional looks, like tufted wingbacks. Some have low profiles to stay relatively out of sight, while others have focal-point-style headboards that will dominate a room. This is where your personal style takes top priority, although you should also consider practicality too—for example, a low profile bed isn't the best option for those in a small space, as you'll lose precious under bed storage.

Box Spring

Another important factor to consider is whether or not your bed is a platform. Platform beds do not require a box spring, whereas pretty much all other types of beds do. If you don’t already have a box spring, it’s likely easier to stick to a platform bed—box springs add to the overall cost of your bed, and are more of a hassle to move, especially if you're a renter who moves homes frequently.

FAQs

What are the pros and cons of upholstered beds?

“The pros of upholstered beds are that they create warmth, have a softness about them, bring more texture into the room, and absorb sound,” says interior designer Jennifer Davis. As for cons, Kuhn says that “upholstered beds can be hard to clean, and they can limit possible combinations of bed linens, pillows, and throws.”

How do you clean an upholstered bed?

It all comes down to the specific type of fabric your bed is upholstered with, which each have specific cleaning methods. But there are some basic steps you can take no matter what fabric covers your bed. “Vacuum your headboard weakly to keep dust and dander levels down that can trigger allergies,” says Andra Del Monico, lead interior designer for Trendey. “Spot clean any stains with warm soapy water or a cleaner that is designed for the fabric your headboard is upholstered in.”

How should you style an upholstered bed?

It’s certainly up to personal taste, but in general, contrast is a great idea, whether in texture or color. “I suggest choosing an accent color for the bedding that contrasts with the upholstery fabric,” says interior designer Tara McCauley. “For example, in my bedroom the headboard is chartreuse and the bedding is white with navy blue accents which coordinate with the wall color. This keeps the eye moving and adds visual layers.”

Why Trust MyDomaine?

For this roundup, writer Stefanie Waldek, who covers architecture, design, and home, considered dozens of upholstered beds across multiple styles, selecting models that appeal to different design tastes. She weighed materials, price points, and overall looks, all the while taking into consideration expert advice.

Best Overall

Saatva Santorini

Best Budget

Mercury Row Heid Low Profile Bed

Best Splurge

Brigitte Romanek for Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams LA Bed

Best Wood

Castlery Hudson Bed

Best Glam

Crate & Barrel Ava Bed

Best Wingback

Birch Lane Harriett Upholstered Panel Bed

Best Low Profile

Blu Dot Dodu Bed

Best Linen

Article Tessu Bed

Best Velvet

Lulu and Georgia Aliyah Bed

Best Leather

One Kings Lane Rayna Leather Bed

Best Tufted

Raymour & Flanigan Blanchard Diamond Tufted Bed

Best Storage

Anthropologie Lena Storage Bed

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