For the first six months in our new house, my husband and I slept on a mattress on the floor. Our last home’s main bedroom was twice the size of our new one’s, so we had to swap our old king bed for a queen-size mattress. I snagged a mattress on sale and decided to wait for the perfect bed frame to rest it on—which turned out to be The Bed by Thuma.
The Thuma Bed is an attractive frame for nearly any bedroom.
I knew from the get-go that finding the best bed frame for our oddly-shaped room would be hard. I wanted a pillow headboard for sitting up to read in bed, but it had to be just the right size. Our bedroom is on the upper level of a Cape Cod-style house, so the head of the bed is against a wall that meets the low end of a sloped ceiling. In other words, when it came to the height of our ideal headboard, the lower the better.
After too many years of using cheap metal platform frames, I wanted something that would match the airy, Scandinavian vibe of our new home. But I kept running into the same problem: All of the highly-rated bed frames I liked—mostly from trendy, direct-to-consumer brands—were way outside of my budget of $1,500.
And as all good love stories go these days, I found my promising option in an Instagram ad: The Bed by Thuma, a gorgeous platform bed frame that matched my home’s aesthetic and, miraculously, my budget. After reading the glowing customer reviews, I decided that my days of sleeping on the floor were numbered.
Assembling The Thuma Bed
This isn’t the first platform bed frame I’ve tried. A few months ago, I’d ordered a platform bed frame from a Thuma competitor. Not only was it a few hundred dollars more expensive, I also experienced majorly frustrating delays. After waiting a month for the other bed, I decided to cancel the order. That’s when I found Thuma.
I was pleasantly surprised when the Thuma bed arrived at my house within two weeks of ordering it. The order came in a few large, narrow boxes, which were easy to haul up the stairs with my husband’s help (though I think one person could easily manage it).
Right off the bat, I was impressed. The boxes were clearly labeled so we knew which ones to open first. And the wood was so smooth and sturdy and definitely higher quality than other more expensive furniture we’ve got in our house. I was in charge of unboxing, and my husband, who’s far handier than I am, offered to do the assembly. I soon realized this was a job that even I—someone who loses it simply opening an IKEA box—could handle.
A look at the bed frame's Lincoln Log-like assembly.
We followed the instructions to a tee, and the process took maybe 20 minutes from start to finish (without any need for additional tools besides the screwdrivers that came with the frame). It was like putting together Lincoln Logs: You secure the long parts of the frame into the legs, then lay the slats over it. I couldn’t imagine an easier assembly process, and my hard-to-please husband totally agreed.
The Thuma Bed Features
Thuma is a San Francisco-based company that designs and manufactures bedroom furniture. The brand sells a few other items, including a nightstand and side table, but its core product is The Bed, a platform bed frame that consists of a wooden base and slats to support a mattress. These are the features that stood out most during testing.
Solid Wood Construction
The Thuma bed frame comes in a variety of wood finishes—natural, walnut, espresso or grey wood—all of which give it a classic, yet modern design. Besides being aesthetically-appealing, the wood construction makes the frame really study and durable. It can support up to 1,500 pounds, and we liked that it doesn’t creak when you sit or lay on it.
The bed frame is considered low-profile because it’s 13 inches tall from the floor to the top of the slats, whereas higher-profile bed frames are closer to 14 to 17 inches from the floor. But there’s just enough room for some storage beneath it.
It’s also a platform bed frame, which is great for those who don’t want to worry about adding a bulky box spring on top of the frame. Just pop the mattress on and get cozy. And because the slats are made from handcrafted wood, you don’t have to worry about any wobbling.
The Thuma Bed's pillow headboard is thick and cushioned.
Plush Headboard
The Thuma bed also includes a PillowBoard, which is Thuma’s fancy way of describing a cushioned headboard. Should you have any spills or messes, simply zip off the cover, throw it in the washing machine on cold and hang to dry.
Great Value
Given Thuma’s dedication to quality and minimal environmental impact, I was honestly surprised by the low cost. My queen-sized natural-finish frame with a pillow headboard is $1,195, which is several hundred less than the comparable options I was browsing online.
Sleeping On The Thuma Bed
Once we put our mattress on the frame, it was the perfect size for our very weirdly-shaped bedroom. The frame was high enough off the ground that it felt like an adult bed, but still low enough to accommodate the ceiling (headboard included). I especially love the PillowBoard, which sits just behind the bed (so you could adjust it if needed without unscrewing anything). It’s a nice linen-y material that’s cozy to sit against and doubles up as a neutral backdrop for whatever color comforter or pillows you decide on.
The Thuma bed is also the sturdiest frame I’ve ever owned. After a month of sleeping on it, I haven’t felt it budge or wobble once—and that includes when my husband and two kids sit on the bed for nightly story time, or when my boys wrestle or jump on the mattress.
Functionality aside, the Thuma bed frame just looks good. I’ve given a few house tours to friends and family, and so far almost everybody has asked where they can get the same one. After so many years of prioritizing cost and functionality over aesthetics, I’m so proud to have a bed—and as a result, a whole bedroom—I actually like looking at.
Final Thoughts On The Thuma Bed Frame
We’ve been sleeping in it for more than a month and my sentiments are the same, if not stronger: The Thuma bed frame is high-quality, convenient to assemble, attractive and an exceptionally great deal considering all the features.
My only somewhat negative feedback is that the white-colored PillowBoard we chose easily shows dirt, especially when we let our dog in bed. I haven’t attempted to tackle the stains yet, but I’m comforted knowing that I can zip the cover off if needed and throw it in the wash. Or simply swap it for a darker color option.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with my Thuma bed. From ordering the bed and assembling it to spending restful nights in it, the whole experience has been enjoyable so far. In fact, I’m considering snagging two twin frames for my kids’ room. I can’t remember where we’ve put our Lincoln Logs, so putting the new beds together will be a good substitute.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted sleep and mattress team has published an ever-growing library of sleep guides, including guides on all sorts of bed frames, from adjustable beds, traditional bed frames and more.
- Sleep and mattress editors Bridget Chapman and McKenzie Dillon oversee this review and its iterations. They are both certified sleep scientists who’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of mattresses, sheets and pillows.
- Forbes Vetted contributor Ashley Abramson is a journalist and lifestyle commerce writer who enjoys researching and testing the latest sleep products, including the best firm mattresses.
- We update this review from time to time to make sure our advice is as fresh as possible. It was updated in April 2024 by mattress updates writer Alexandra Garrett to expand our review with sections on the Thuma’s features.
How Long Does The Thuma Bed Frame Last?
Thanks to its durable wood construction, the Thuma bed frame should last for at least 10 years. With a weight capacity of 1,500 pounds, the Thuma is incredibly sturdy. The lack of creaking or squeaking when we tested it is also a good sign of its durability.
Can You Use Any Mattress On A Thuma Bed?
Yes, the Thuma bed is designed to work with any type of mattress. Because the slats are spaced less than three inches apart, it supports memory foam, hybrid and traditional mattresses equally without showing signs of dipping or sagging.
Keep in mind that the thickness of your mattress will affect the overall look of the bed frame. (Thuma uses mattresses that are ten to 11 inches tall in its promotional images.) Mattress thicker than that will cover more of the pillow headboard and create what Thuma calls a “minimalist look.” Thinner mattresses will cover less of the headboard for a “more accentuated design element,” says Thuma.
Other Mattress And Sleep Reviews
