What size bed frame should I get?

A queen is the everyday standard and fits most rooms. A king is noticeably wider and needs a larger room to keep comfortable walking space. Leave at least 60–75cm of clearance on the sides and foot you walk past, and measure the room before upgrading.

Which bed frame type is best?

Timber suits most bedrooms and lasts; upholstered gives a soft, premium bedhead; metal is light and affordable for small or rental rooms; and storage or gas-lift frames reclaim space in a small bedroom. Choose on your room size, style and storage needs.

Does the base matter for my mattress?

Yes. Most modern mattresses need a slatted or solid-platform base with slats no more than about 6–7cm apart, plus a sturdy centre rail on queen and king sizes. The wrong base can cause sagging and may void the mattress warranty.

Bed Frame Buying Guide (Australia): Size, Style & Storage

Name: BuildPilot Adelaide Building Industry Dataset
Creator: BuildPilot
License: https://buildpilot.com.au/terms

Content scope

This guide has been reviewed for South Australia (Adelaide metro + regional SA). Building licensing, warranty, stamp duty and approval rules differ in other Australian states — verify against your local authority before acting.

The bed frame sets the look of the whole bedroom and decides how the room feels to move around in. The right choice balances the mattress size you need, the style you want, and whether you need the frame to claw back some storage. This guide covers how to size a bed to your room, how the common frame types compare, and the practical details, headboard, base support and storage, that are easy to overlook.

Things to consider before you choose

Plain practical advice for Australian builds. No fluff.

Size the bed to the room, not just the sleeper

A queen is the everyday standard; a king is a big jump in width that needs a larger room to keep walking space around it. Leave at least 60–75cm of clearance on the sides and foot of the bed you'll walk past, and measure before upgrading sizes.

Headboard height and style

A tall upholstered bedhead makes a statement and is comfortable to lean against for reading; a low timber or metal frame feels lighter and suits smaller rooms. Check the headboard height against your bedside lamps and any wall art or window sills behind the bed.

Base support protects the mattress

Most modern mattresses need a slatted or solid-platform base with slats no more than about 6–7cm apart, otherwise the mattress can sag and the warranty can be voided. A sturdy centre rail and legs matter most on queen and king sizes.

Decide if you need storage

In a small bedroom, a gas-lift base or a frame with built-in drawers reclaims a lot of space for linen and off-season clothes. If floor space is tight, this can save buying a separate storage piece, just leave room for the base to lift or the drawers to open.

Types of bed frame buying guide

Quick compare

	Timber	Upholstered	Metal	Storage / gas-lift
Look	Warm, classic	Soft, premium	Light, airy	Streamlined
Best for	Most bedrooms	A statement bedhead	Small or rental rooms	Small rooms needing storage
Storage	Optional drawers	Some with drawers	Rarely	Yes (under-bed)

Timber

A warm, classic frame in solid or engineered timber that suits almost any bedroom.

Pros

• Timeless look
• Durable
• Often available with drawers

Cons

• Heavier to move

Best for: Most bedrooms and long-term use

Upholstered

A fabric or leather-look frame with a padded headboard for a soft, premium feel.

Pros

• Statement bedhead
• Comfortable to lean on
• Quiet (no creaks)

Cons

• Fabric needs care
• Higher cost

Best for: A premium, hotel-style bedroom

Metal

A light, airy frame that is affordable and easy to move.

Pros

• Affordable
• Light and easy to move
• Airy look

Cons

• Can rattle over time
• Less premium feel

Best for: Small rooms, rentals and guest rooms

Storage / gas-lift

A frame with under-bed drawers or a gas-lift base that reclaims storage in a small room.

Pros

• Reclaims storage
• Great for small rooms
• Hides linen and clutter

Cons

• Needs clearance to open/lift
• Higher cost

Best for: Small bedrooms short on storage

How much does it cost in Australia?

Bed frame prices depend on size, material and whether there is built-in storage: a metal frame is the affordable end, timber and upholstered frames sit in the middle to upper range, and gas-lift storage beds carry a premium for the mechanism. Larger sizes cost more across the board. Compare live prices for the size and style you want directly at the retailer.

Common mistakes to avoid

Upgrading to a king without a room big enough to walk around it
Choosing a base with slats too far apart, risking mattress sag
Forgetting to check headboard height against lamps, art or windows
Buying a storage bed without leaving clearance to lift or open it
Matching the frame to the mattress depth, so a deep mattress hides the bedhead

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Bed Frame Buying Guide

Bed Frame Buying Guide

Things to consider before you choose

Size the bed to the room, not just the sleeper

Headboard height and style

Base support protects the mattress

Decide if you need storage

Types of bed frame buying guide

Timber

Upholstered

Metal

Storage / gas-lift

How much does it cost in Australia?

Common mistakes to avoid

More on bedroom furnishing

Trades who work with bed frame buying guide

Popular questions

More from BuildPilot Learn

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