Updated: January 2026
Nine years is a long time in furniture retail.
Most of the beds from my original 2017 platform bed roundup have quietly disappeared; victims of companies folding, ranges being discontinued, or simply falling out of fashion. But the appetite for low-profile, headboard-free beds hasn’t diminished. If anything, it’s stronger.
I created that original guide whilst researching beds for my first Manchester apartment: the Fab Flat as it became known. I eventually chose the Futon Company Mirage, lived with it for three years, moved it to my now-husband’s flat when we first moved in together, and it’s currently in our spare bedroom providing many-a-comfortable-night’s sleep for guests (my mother-in-law visits for a month at a time; if the bed were uncomfortable, I’d know about it!!)
I still love the clean no-headboard aesthetic, but my husband prefers a sturdy padded headboard for sitting up in bed, so our own bedroom now reflects both our requirements as a couple. I’ll curate a separate guide to stylish beds with headboards, including the one we chose, later.
This updated guide covers a wide range of platform beds currently available in the UK, from £149 budget options to over £3,000 investments in Devon oak. The focus is on beds that understand the appeal of sleeping close to the ground: that sense of calm minimalism, the way a low bed opens up a room’s visual space, and the deliberate simplicity of a platform without adornment. There’s still something about British retail sensibility that demands beds have headboards; usually ornate, upholstered, statement pieces that dominate a bedroom. Finding clean Scandinavian or Japanese-influenced platform beds requires more effort than it should, though the landscape has definitely improved since 2017.
The honest simplicity of budget options
IKEA’s VEVELSTAD bed frame (£99) takes a pared-back industrial approach to minimal platform beds with a white-painted metal frame. Less warm than timber, certainly, but there’s something appealing about its utilitarian honesty, especially if you’re working with a monochrome palette or prefer the contrast of metal against soft bedding. At this price point, it’s hard to argue with the logic of powder-coated steel that won’t age like pine but will maintain its clean lines indefinitely.
Dreams Philomena wooden platform bed (£149-229 depending on size) delivers Japandi aesthetics with its low-rise design and classic wood grain finish. Rounded solid wooden legs soften the contemporary frame, creating a clean simplicity of form.
John Lewis’ Bow platform bed* (£300-400) is predominantly solid oak, with oak veneers where it makes structural sense. Standing just 30.5cm high with 21cm of clearance beneath, it delivers enough space to slide standard storage boxes underneath without the bed feeling like it’s hovering awkwardly. For smaller bedrooms where you’re trying to maximise every bit of floor space, that under-bed zone becomes genuinely useful.
La Redoute’s Jucca bed* in solid oak (£400-600 depending on sales) deserves attention for its Japanese-inspired design executed in solid oak with colourless nitrocellulose varnish finish. At just 28cm high with tapered legs, it achieves that floating platform aesthetic through honest material rather than clever construction tricks. The platform extends on three sides of the bed, a subtle detail that creates visual breathing room and provides that essential surface for a glass of water, phone, or book without requiring separate bedside furniture. It’s FSC-certified solid oak at a price point where most beds are veneered or composite, which matters if you’re thinking in decades rather than years.
IKEA’s GLAMBERGET (£548 for double bed frame with mattress and storage included) might seem pricey for this category, but factor in the mattress, two storage boxes, two tray tables, and an extendable frame that adapts from single to double, and it becomes genuinely good value. The frame is solid untreated pine, which has been deliberately left raw so you can apply your own finish or simply let it weather naturally. The frame sits 35cm high with substantial under-bed storage on castors, which is very useful in small spaces where you’re maximising every centimetre. The bed extends to accommodate different mattress sizes as your needs change, which means you’re not replacing the entire frame when you upgrade. It’s the kind of adaptable design that works equally well in a student flat, guest bedroom, or carefully considered minimalist space, so it’s particularly appealing if you’re renting and want furniture that earns its keep.
British makers: where craft meets accountability
Natural Bed Company in Sheffield has been refining its Japanese-influenced platform beds since well before my 2017 guide, and the Kyoto remains their bestseller for good reason. It’s pitched at that perfect height; just a touch higher than a traditional Japanese futon platform at 26.5cm to the top of the slats, with 19.5cm clearance beneath, which means standard under-bed storage drawers actually fit underneath whilst maintaining the minimal zen aesthetic. That floating-platform illusion comes from recessed inset legs and, because it’s made-to-order, you can specify one of eleven timber options from sanded pine to American black walnut, and even add a headboard if you’re hedging your bets on the minimal look. . The Kumo (meaning “cloud”) sits even lower at 21.5cm, whilst the Kobe drops to just 14cm floor-to-rail height. Pricing starts around £500+ depending on timber choice and specifications.
Futon Company’s Mirage double bed (£445) is one of the few survivors from my 2017 guide, which tells you something about its staying power. Inspired by a floating platform design, it combines that low-level minimalist aesthetic with a robust frame that genuinely creates a feeling of space and calm in a bedroom; there’s something very Japanese zen about the proportions. I chose this option for the Fab Flat back then, and it’s still going strong nine years later! The 16cm clearance proved perfect for small space living: standard under-bed storage boxes are too high to fit beneath most low platform beds, but the Mirage accommodates them, or you can specify Futon Company’s own under-bed storage drawers that maximise the space without compromising the clean lines. The option to add seagrass tatami mats is great for anyone serious about the Japanese aesthetic rather than a vaguely Scandi approximation. The fact they offer next-day dispatch from 22 UK stores also remains practically miraculous when most quality bed makers are running 4-8 week lead times. Three house moves, nine years of use, zero structural issues; I’d buy it again without hesitation!
MUJI’s platform bed frame (£479 for double in oak or walnut) is Japanese minimalism at its most uncompromising: no decorative details, no concessions to trend, just clean function that will look current in another decade. The genius is in the optional legs (sold separately): 10cm, 12cm, 20cm, or 26cm heights, allowing you to adjust the bed’s profile to your space, storage needs, and personal preference. Want the ultra-minimal floor-sleeping aesthetic? Use the shortest legs. Need to fit storage boxes or suitcases underneath? Switch to taller ones. That flexibility means the bed grows with you as your needs change, from tiny flat to larger home. The frame fits MUJI’s 195cm mattresses specifically, which are slightly shorter than standard UK doubles, which matters if you’re tall or long-limbed (and one of the main reasons I didn’t choose this option).
Get Laid Beds in Leicester offers a Low Loft bed (from £379 for a single) that uses slats twice the industry-standard thickness in 100% solid Scandinavian pine,a nd which sits almost directly onn the floor. The Shoreditch platform bed (from £430) is slightly narrower, designed specifically for space-saving in smaller bedrooms where every centimetre of floor space counts. If you’re working with a box room or awkwardly shaped space, that narrower frame profile can make the difference between a cramped feeling and a bedroom that breathes. What distinguishes them is their environmental transparency: FSC and PEFC certified timber, 100% renewable electricity in their manufacturing, water-based low-toxicity finishes, and a documented tree-planting partnership (over 113,000 trees in Africa so far).
Tikamoon’s Arko solid mango bed (£949 for 160x200cm double) brings neo-ethnic character to the platform bed format. At 32cm height with tapered legs, it references distant horizons whilst remaining entirely contemporary in execution. Mango is classified as hardwood; dense and characterful, with visible grain patterns and rich tonal variations that only intensify as the timber ages. Environmentally, it’s harvested only after trees reach full maturity following years of fruit production, making it a genuinely sustainable choice.
Naturalmat offers two approaches to Devon craftsmanship: the Torrington bed base (from £1,340 for double in beech, up to £4,750 for Emperor in walnut) represents pure contemporary Scandinavian styling, whilst the Devon Oak bed (£3,340 for a double) takes regional provenance to its logical conclusion. Both are handmade in their Topsham workshop using traditional joinery techniques—glued with organic glue and screwed rather than stapled—with 10-year guarantees and bespoke customisation options that reflect workshop-level flexibility mass manufacturers can’t match.
The Torrington comes in raw beech, oak, ash, or walnut, standing at 38cm base height with 23cm legs; higher than most platform beds, and therefore practical for under-bed storage and for those less committed to the ultra-low floor-sleeping aesthetic.
Scandinavian design: the real thing
HAY’s Connect bed is industrial minimalism distilled to four powder-coated steel elements and eight visible screws. Designed by Danish architect Leif Jørgensen, it’s available in colours from alabaster to maroon red, although frankly, the point is the structure, not the palette. At 30cm high with birch plywood slats, those exposed screws aren’t accidents or cost-cutting; they’re intentional articulation of how the bed goes together. The steel frame feels almost weightless visually compared to solid timber, which is particularly useful in smaller bedrooms where heavy wooden furniture can overwhelm.
Normann Copenhagen’s Notch bed frame (from around £400+) makes joinery itself the decorative detail by using a traditional notching technique: solid pine planks slot into each other at the corners, creating visible interlocking joints that get more beautiful as the wood develops patina. Each plank is FSC-certified pine, and lacquered with matte UV varnish to slow discolouration without hiding the grain. It’s made to order in Latvia, where craft skills remain concentrated, meaning a 4-8 week lead times through UK stockists.
Last on my list is Bolia’s Haven bedframe (£1,875) which takes the platform concept and adds function through a distinctive 13cm surrounding shelf; wide enough for a book, glass of water, your phone, without requiring separate bedside tables. Made from solid FSC-certified oak in oiled, white-oiled, or dark-oiled finishes, it stands just 23cm high, delivering a low profile that creates genuinely calming negative space without cluttering the floor or adding visual weight. It’s expensive, yes, but this is furniture designed to last decades and age gracefully rather than date quickly.
All imagery © respective brands.
8 responses
Ooh choices!! I love the UO one the best, can’t wait to see what you go for
OOOO ok I love the simplicity of these beds! AND the one with storage, great design!
They all look great Kate. You might – in years to come – be glad if you went for the one with storage. Just sayin’ x
Ahh I really like the UO one as well – there’s something about it that just looks so nicely balanced. But I can totally understand wanting the practicalities of extra storage. Looking forward to seeing what you choose ;) (For me, I like a big showy upholstered number to lie back on but that’s just me – ha!) xxx
Lovely choices, Kate. We went for the Ikea platform bed four our loft bedroom, but it’s got drawers underneath. Once we put the duvet and throw on you barely see them anyway. Check out the Zulda Solid Oak Bed at La Redoute and the Sixties bed at Maisons Du Monde too. Good luck with your bed search!
I love the airy, minimal look of these, I’m looking for a bed at the moment with a headboard! After years without I’d quite like something comfy to lean back on. xx
These all look great and my favourite is the muji oak storage bed as those drawers would be so handy! I don’t think I could do a bed without a headboard though. The one I currently have is wooden and really short and I want to get a new bed with a much bigger, cosier headboard. Hope you find your perfect bed!
They all look so fab Kate! This is so exciting! Love decorating a new place! A x