Your bedroom might be the most important room in your home. A good night’s sleep is, of course, vital — after all, you’ll spend a third of your life in bed — so it’s incredibly important that your bedroom makes you feel calm and at home. The centerpiece of almost any bedroom is the bed frame, so you want it to look good and match your theme well.

If you haven’t given much thought to your bed frame, now’s a good time to change that! Whatever your bedroom’s unique style is, there’s a bed frame out there that will match it. And you’ll be amazed at how much a new bed frame can anchor the look of your space, adding a whole new feel to your bedroom. But, before you can make this all-important upgrade, it’s important to know your bed frame basics. That’s why we’re here. Settle in for a brief tour of the delightful world of bed frames.

Divan Bed Frames

If you’re looking for a touch of modern-chic, a divan bed frame makes a great option. This type of bed frame is crafted from a wooden structure, then covered in a layer of soft wadding before being upholstered in a fabric top-layer. The base of the frame has the same measurements as a mattress, making a divan frame more compact than others and helping create a clean, minimalist aesthetic in the overall space. Divan bed frames also come with versatile underbed storage drawers, making them quite practical in addition to being stylish.

Ottoman Bed Frames

Another popular bed frame is the ottoman bed frame, which gets its name from furniture designed during the historical Ottoman Empire period. Like the divan bed frame, the ottoman style frame provides a touch of class while also providing great hidden storage space. The difference between the storage of a divan bed frame and an ottoman bed frame lies in both their operating mechanism, and the space itself. An ottoman frame uses a hydraulic system to lift the top of the bed, making way for lots of storage space (more than the divan drawer option) underneath the mattress.

Sleigh Bed Frames

For a more elegant traditional look, consider a sleigh bed frame. As its name implies, this frame is built to look like a traditional sleigh, with a large headboard and a wide, curvy top. For symmetry’s sake, the footboard is large and has the same design as the headboard. Because of its side panels, storage is reduced — however, this frame’s design aesthetic works well with a variety of different interior design styles. Though typically made of oak and mahogany, sleigh bed frames can also come in leather and upholstered materials.

Platform Bed Frames

This type of bed frame rests on a solid or slatted base, eliminating the need for a bulky box spring. Platforms help elevate the mattress from the ground, which allows you to reach under the bed, store containers and more. The elevation this bed frame creates is supported by four legs at each corner and sometimes with additional leg supports in the center. Platforms are some of the most stylistically versatile bed frames, though many newer platforms purposefully come without a headboard (making for a soothing, minimalist style). However, the “floating” aspect of some of these frames can turn them into shin-bangers, so be cautious.

Panel Bed Frames

Many panel bed frames aren’t much different from platforms, visually. The difference is more structural: Panel beds require a box spring or mattress foundation, while platform beds don’t. For this reason, a panel bed frame is usually elevated higher than a platform to make room for the box spring. The increased height can also mean an increased likelihood of headboards and footboards included on panel bed frames.

Four-Poster Bed Frames

As the name implies, this bed frame has four posts that stretch toward the ceiling, standing guard at each corner of the bed. The posts on a four-poster bed frame were originally intended to be high enough that poles could be attached to the posts, should one choose to hang draperies. However, this type of frame has evolved, and now the posts generally serve as decoration in their own right.

Nevertheless, many four-poster beds still have connecting rods stretching between the tops of the posts — there are simply no draperies hung from them. This can create a sense of a minimalist “closed” space in the bed, increasing the protective feel. There are many different variations of poster bed options, from pencil frames with thinner posts to lower poster bed frames.

Canopy Bed Frames

Canopy bed frames are like four-poster bed frames, except that canopy frames are hung with a canopy on top and, often, drapes that enclose the bed space. The draperies are intended to provide warmth in addition to privacy. While canopy beds range in style from ultra-modern to 1960s kitsch, they’re often used to impart a sense of Old-World elegance.

Bunk Bed Frames

If your space is limited — or if you have two kids and you want them to share a bedroom — a bunk bed is a natural choice. Not only can a bunk bed add a bit of fun to a bedroom, but it also saves precious floor space. A less frequently thought of but still nifty perk is that bunk beds don’t have to be just for kids! If you tend to have a lot of guests, a bunk bed frame can make a great option for a guest room.

Murphy Bed Frames

Often called a “wall bed” or a “folding bed,” this bed frame lifts from the feet and folds vertically until it’s parallel with the wall. Some murphy frames merely situate against the wall, while others disappear into a bed-shaped cavity in the wall. The Murphy bed frame makes for a great option if you’re looking for a space-saving bed frame solution that will allow you to transform a bedroom space into a multipurpose room. There are a lot of creative uses for the bed’s underside “wall” space, from foldout desks to a make-shift projector wall for movie night.

TV Bed Frames

This frame has a higher-than-normal footboard to make space for the LED TV screen housed inside of it. The height and width of the footboard can depend on the specific design and frame you select. Typically these types of bed frames operate using either a manual or electrical mechanism that opens the space where the TV is stored, sliding the TV up and out of the frame. The great thing about a TV bed frame is that it allows you to watch TV in bed — while also keeping the TV hidden when it’s not in use. This prevents the TV from becoming the focal point of the room.

Ready for a New Bed Frame? Take Back Your Shopping Power with Acima

It can be helpful to determine which bed frame is right for you after you have a better understanding of what your preferred home’s interior design style actually is. If you’ve already got an idea of your favorite style and you’re ready to start shopping, we’ve got you covered with our lease-to-own* program and our massive list of name-brand furniture retailers. Find out today how Acima’s revolutionary alternative to financing works, and take back your shopping power.