12 best double beds for a great night’s sleep

Did you know that sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could rob you of up to an hour’s sleep a night? And the wear and tear may be so gradual that you don’t even make the link between your ageing bed and sleep deprivation.

There are other reasons to invest in a new one, of course – perhaps you want a fresh look for an existing bedroom, or you’re moving home. Thankfully there are some fabulous options around in beautiful materials: wood, fabric, metal, you name it.

Read more: Best mattress 2021: Memory foam, pocket sprung and hybrid mattresses reviewed

Most of the beds we’ve reviewed here have sprung slats – these are made from a flexible wood and are designed to respond to the weight of your body. You can also get beds with fixed slats, which offer more solid support.

Don’t forget to consider the height of your bed frame (some are significantly, and sometimes unnervingly, higher than others) and the depth of your mattress in your calculations. If you enjoy bedtime reading, you’ll probably want a supportive headboard too.

We tested the best of the best for style, comfort and value for money, and we’re confident that there's something for every budget and taste on this list. The beds we tested were slept on for at least one week by two occupants of different shapes, sizes and ages.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

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Brook + Wilde the verity

This made-to-order bed has a chic, timeless and sumptuous Italian vibe, and is available in five woollen fabrics, of which the Shetland navy is our favourite. We love the carved, solid beech legs and defy anyone to find a more comfortable headboard to lean up against – it’s angled perfectly and is exceptionally well cushioned. The matching blanket box proves a magnificent pairing and the family-run company makes some stand-out mattresses and bedding too.

The bed frame is made from supportive, powder-coated steel, with a pre-assembled, sprung-slatted base. Delivery and assembly are thrown in and the customer service and ethics are second to none.

Buy now £1385.00, Brookandwilde.com

Wilson Grey fabric ottoman storage bed

An ottoman-style bed with hidden storage can be a godsend, especially in homes where space is at a premium and cupboards are in short supply. This one, which is available in grey or cream, has particularly generous storage areas and gas-powered pistons that make it easy to access, even with a heavy mattress on top – no muscles required. The large, statement headboard with diamond upholstery is right on-trend, while the sprung-slatted base helps you get the best out of your mattress. We found it easy to put together too.

Buy now £459.00, Happybeds.co.uk

Eve the button back bed frame

Eve is best known for its restful and durable mattresses, but its contemporary beds are also terrific, with the two together proving a comfortable match made in heaven. Our favourite is this button-backed, velvet, Scandi-look frame available in a rich navy or soft grey. It's easy to put together and looks a lot more pricey than it is. The velvet is water repellent and easy to clean, while the adjustable slats mean you can easily adapt the tension of the bed to suit your needs. If you decide to return it (we doubt you will), they’ll collect it directly from your bedroom, with no quibbles at all.

Buy now £599.00, Evesleep.co.uk

Ikea malm

This is one of the cheapest yet most versatile beds that we’ve come across. Not only is the slatted bed frame available in six colours, but you can upgrade it to an ottoman style for extra storage, with the gas piston and spring system making it quick and safe to open and close. Alternatively, you can buy it with up to four drawers (£50 for two, Ikea.com), or choose to add these later. If the headboard feels too hard, you can buy a soft cover (£120, Ikea.com) for it. There are also many matching pieces in the malm range, including a chest of drawers, dressing table, wardrobe, desk and more.

Buy now £129.00, Ikea.com

John Lewis & Partners padma parquet bed frame

Who says parquet is just for floors? The clever folks at the John Lewis & Partners have designed this fabulous solid acacia bed with a grey or oak finish (the latter is FSC-certified), complete with a parquet headboard that’s designed to lean back slightly to offer good back support while you sit up in bed (although you’ll probably need an extra pillow too, on account of the hardness). The sprung slats offer extra comfort from your mattress. And don’t miss the rest of the wide range, especially the gorgeous two-drawer bedside table and tallboy.

Buy now £699.00, Johnlewis.com

French Bedroom Company french grey painted rattan bed

Oh, l'élégance! You’ll half expect to wake up to giant shutters and views of fields of lavender with this hand-carved, vintage-inspired beauty. It’s a real statement bed that will stand the test of time while other trends come and go. We particularly like the grand height of both the curved headboard and footboard, and the double-layer rattan. The base is made from flat mahogany slats. No need to match it up with other furniture because, frankly, nobody will look at anything else in the room anyway.

Buy now £1460.00, Frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk

Atlas black bedstead

Most Bedknobs and Broomsticks-style beds cost a small fortune, but this one comes with a bargain-basement price tag. Offering vintage appeal, it has a timeless look that will go with almost any decor and is built to last. Available in cream or, our favourite, black, it has brass-look detailing and a sprung slatted base. It’s surprisingly sturdy for the price, although admittedly not a patch on traditional iron. It was also very quick to put together, taking two of us less than an hour.

Buy now £159.00, Dunelm.com

Made alana

We love this simple yet stylish metallic bed, with its soft industrial look. It’s available in brushed brass or copper, with a hospital-bed-style headboard that suits a more contemporary interior. The frame has sprung slats and extra strength from the two centre supports. While you might think there could be nothing more uncomfortable to lean back on, the headboard is actually angled very well so that a couple of pillows behind you does just the trick for the ideal reading position. A longstanding Made customer favourite, there are other pieces in the range, including different-sized mirrors.

Buy now £399.00, Made.com

Feather & Black aubrey bed

Feather & Black has some magnificent beds at the more luxury end of the market. This one is part of its weathered oak range, with coordinating bedroom furniture available including a bedside table and tallboy, and then lots more in the similar "sienna" range. Made from responsibly sourced, natural materials, it’s minimalist and clean yet elegant and plush. It’s also a good way of having a wood look without compromising on comfort, thanks to the soft, linen-covered headboard. It has a sprung-slatted base and low foot end, which means it can slot easily into smaller bedrooms.

Buy now £999.00, Featherandblack.com

Loaf pillow talker bed

If you thought Loaf’s sofas were relaxing, you should try their beds. The ultra-squishy headboard on this model is a dream to lean back on, while the French seam and upholstered base with low, cupped wooden legs keep it looking homely, cosy and utterly gorgeous. Equally at home in a low-beamed cottage as a state-of-the-art flat, it’s a lazy-looking bed with a well-padded, cushion-like feel. Available in 144 fabrics, you’ll have no trouble matching it to your decor, and the base has slightly sprung birch slats. No need to assemble it yourself, as those delivering will do it for free.

Buy now £1145.00, Loaf.com

Swoon porlock

Upholstered beds don’t get much sleeker than this. The made-to-order porlock bed frame combines clean yet soft lines with hints of Art Deco sentiment. While it’s the headboard that makes the statement, we also like the tapered timber legs, capped with brass. It’s luxurious and comfortable, made from sprung plywood slats, and is available in 56 different fabrics with four leg options, so you’ll have no trouble matching it to your interior scheme.

Buy now £699.00, Swooneditions.com

Silentnight bloomsbury storage bed frame

Flexibility is the name of the game with this space-saving bed that offers great hidden storage. There are two options – half ottoman/half drawers or four drawers. We tried the latter and found the pull-outs roomy and easy to use. The padded divan means the base is particularly durable and consistently supportive across the whole bed. The headboard is large and well-padded, while also being on-trend. It’s available in five colours and textures and has shiny finishing touches courtesy of chrome.

Buy now £649.00, Silentnight.co.uk

The verdict: Double beds

We instantly fell in love with the aesthetics of Brook + Wilde’s the verity, which lends itself to a contemporary bedroom as well as it would a country-cottage-style boudoir. When we tried it out, we were not disappointed – it’s one of the most comfortable beds we’ve ever slept on.

We’re also giving the Wilson grey fabric ottoman storage bed a special mention – it’s great value for a really well-made, highly practical and relaxing bed.

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