It’s said we spend a third of our lives in bed – for some of us, it’s significantly more, if we factor in all those deliciously lazy Sunday mornings – so, when updating your bedroom, you’ll want to make sure you’re selecting one of the best double beds on the market.
In terms of which style to choose, that’s a matter of taste. Some people swear by a trusty divan, while others prefer the look of a traditional wooden bed frame.
What’s most important is the size. Even within the dimensions of a standard double, there are variations in height (you’ll need to think about depth of mattress, too), and some come with elaborate statement headboards and footboards that claim significant extra inches across your bedroom’s floor plan.
Most double beds come with sprung slats, which are made from a flexible wood and are designed to support the mattress and respond to our body weight as we shift around in bed. Others have fixed slats, which do make the bed feel extra sturdy but don’t offer that important flexibility.
Whether your current bed frame is on its last legs or you’re updating your bedroom style, keep scrolling to find the double bed of your dreams.
How we tested
With options to suit various tastes and budgets, we put a range of double beds to the test. We looked for quality of craftsmanship and materials, ease of self-assembly (where appropriate), great design and, of course, comfort. All the beds in our round-up proved reliably sturdy and well-made, from the super plush and high-end to the surprisingly affordable.
The best double beds for 2024 are:
Sleep.8 arina double bed
Oozing modern glamour is Sleep.8’s arina double bed, with its plush headboard complete with Chesterfield-style buttoning. The bed frame boasts all-over upholstery, save for its chic, low metal legs. It comes in a huge range of colours, from soft neutrals to bold dark shades. This bed has reliably comfy sprung slats and offers deep support for the mattress, whatever the depth. Scoring extra points is the brand’s white-glove delivery service, with the option to have the arina assembled for you, as you sit back and watch. The brand will even recycle your old bed for you.
Buy now £1599.00, Sleep8.uk
Laura James indy platform double bed
This is an affordble, fresh and functional take from Laura James. The double bed frame is designed with an industrial-chic metal frame with 12 poplar slats offering comfort and support. Simple in design, the bed boasts 25cm of under-bed space for storage, while the frame itself is slimline without a headboard, making it a great choice for smaller spaces. It barely takes up any room, with the frame easy to construct (it took us less than 40 minutes). The attractive design is a plus, but best of all is the relatively affordable price. Costing less than £80 for a double, you’re not going to find a better quality bed frame at this price elsewhere.
Buy now £79.99, Laura-james.co.uk
The Luxury Bed Company Jasmin double bed
Another double bed frame with a plush buttoned headboard is this luxurious number from a brand that says what it does on the tin. The Jasmin double bed brags a huge range of fabric options, including velvets and warming wools, and comes in a vast range of hues, from the neutral and earthy to the bright and unapologetically ostentatious.
What we loved most about this one was its tall and imposing bed head, with its floor-standing wings, which made us feel cosy and cocooned. Expect to pay quite a bit more if you want this one to transform into a lift-up storage bed, but it’s good to have the option. A positively regal number that demands centre stage in the bedroom.
Buy now £1299.00, Theluxurybedcompany.com
Dunelm elements eira bed frame
Proving that style and affordability can go hand and hand is Dunelm’s rustic wooden bed. Making a case for classic oak bed frames, it’s designed with a sprung slatted base that supports your mattress while ensuring all-night comfort. Arriving in flat-pack form, full assembly is required but even our DIY-challenged tester managed to construct the bed in around 45 minutes. Though the various nuts and bolts around the 12 wooden slats were a little fiddly, the instructions were straightforward.
The oak headboard boasts clean lines and will add Scandi minimalist style to your bedroom. We loved the bed’s slimline profile, which, thanks to its wooden hue, doesn’t overwhelm even a smaller bedroom. In fact, the look is kept light and airy, especially when paired with similarly neutral bedding.
Buy now £269.00, Dunelm.com
Get Laid Beds the deco bed, standard double
Taking its design cue from the Art Deco era is Get Laid Beds. This wooden number boasts a beautifully smooth and gently curved headboard and has the option of a floating shelf that simply clips onto the side, in place of a nightstand. Of course, this is one for minimalists without a massive pile of paperbacks to get through but we loved the nifty space-saving idea.
Our deco bed is crafted from a wonderfully warming honey-toned solid oak but there are plenty of options when it comes to materials, from pine finishes complete with knots and character to other hardwoods, such as walnut, beech and cherry. This one comes with fixed slats as standard but, luxuriously, there’s the option of a motorised adjustable slat base, too.
Buy now £661.00, Getlaidbeds.co.uk
The Original Bed Co Blyth brass bed frame, double
If you love vintage furniture, this is a brand that enables you to live out your Bedknobs and Broomsticks fantasies to the full. The Blyth is a beautifully handcrafted Victorian-style frame, made from genuine brass tubing and castings – unlike some cheaper metal counterparts with a “brass” coating. The bed boasts wooden sprung slats for comfort and comes in two height configurations, which is handy when thinking about both mattress depth and your own height.
There’s also the option of a headboard-only version, but we think the Blyth really comes into its own complete with headboard and footboard, thanks to the formal look and pleasing symmetry. Cleverly, the bed frame comes with the option of hidden storage drawers that seemingly float below the mattress, so as not to interrupt the clear floorspace underneath.
Buy now £1299.00, Obc-uk.net
Dusk Bali rattan bed frame, black
Dusk’s Bali model has the look and feel of a bed frame four times the price. Distinguished by its pine wood black frame and legs, the stylish rattan headboard creates a centrepiece in your bedroom. Arriving flat-packed, assembly is straight-forward with clear instructions, albiet still fiddly and time consuming (we’d suggest making it a two man job to speed things along). The bed’s wooden slats are tied together and easily screw into the black bed frame. Super sturdy and robust, the bed’s height leaves plenty of room underneath for storage, too. The rattan headboard doesn’t just add some style to your space, but is also comfortable to lean against. Injecting warmth and texture into your bedroom, it’s a real standout piece.
Buy now £299.00, Dusk.com
The verdict: Double beds
We loved Sleep.8’s arina double bed for its modern-glamour aesthetic. This is a well-crafted furniture piece and the huge choice of fabrics and materials made us feel like we were getting a bespoke product. We were also impressed with Laura James’ metal bed, which proves that great design doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Now you’ve found a new bed, you may want to look for a new mattress to go with it
