When shopping for sustainable beds, most people only focus on getting the most comfortable non toxic mattress and forget that the type of wood used to make the bed frame is just as important.
The wrong kind of wood can cause your bed to deteriorate quickly and even contribute to environmental degradation!
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly option but don’t know what type of wood is best for a bed frame, have no fear…I’m here to help.
This article contains facts and advice to help you choose the best wood option for your next eco-friendly bed frame.
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Walnut wood comes from the deciduous walnut tree, which you can find in Europe, parts of Asia, and North America.
It’s one of the most popular choices for high-end furniture due to its stunning dark brown color and attractive grain pattern.
It’s incredibly durable and dense, making it an excellent choice for bed frames.
Walnut wood also contains natural oils, which helps protect against water damage and rot.
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Oak is one of the most popular hardwoods used for durable furniture and bed frames due to its strength, durability, and classic look.
The wood comes from oak trees, which you can find in North America and Europe.
It’s a robust and heavy wood with a light-brown color that darkens as it ages (red oak) or a tiger stripe grain pattern with yellow rays and flecks (white oak).
Oak wood has high tannin levels, which helps protect it against rot, decay, and insect infestation.
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With its beautiful, even grain and reddish-brown hue that darkens with time to create a glowing red sheen when polished, mahogany is an ideal choice for bed frames.
It stands out from other woods due to its low moisture absorption, which prevents warping or shrinking in unfavorable weather conditions.
Always wear protective gear while sanding, as mahogany dust can trigger allergies.
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Woodworkers in the know swear by cherry wood for its many outstanding qualities, making it perfect for bed frames.
It’s not the toughest of hardwoods, but what it lacks in durability is compensated two-fold with natural decay resistance plus a beautiful light pink hue that darkens over time to create an attractive red-toned or reddish-brown color.
It also boasts a lovely straight grain and fine uniform texture.
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Although poplar isn’t as strong and durable as other hardwoods in this article, it’s a popular choice due to its affordability.
It takes both paint and stain well, plus it’s easy to work with due to its soft nature.
You just have to be extra careful when installing or moving your poplar bed frame because it’s prone to scratches and dents.
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Maple wood is a good option for crafting quality bed frames.
It’s strong yet lightweight, making it easy to work with and aesthetically pleasing due to its natural look.
However, the high price tag can be an obstacle to some.
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Rosewood is one of the most exquisite woods in this article.
It’s solid and durable, with an attractive yellow-brown hue with dark veins that create a beautiful grain pattern that can be polished to a high sheen if desired.
The only downside is the price, as it’s one of the more expensive hardwoods (due to its scarce/endangered nature).
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Teak wood is popular for many furniture pieces (not just bed frames).
It’s resistant to water and other wear-and-tear that can damage wooden furniture. It won’t warp or splinter over time.
Teak is also naturally oil-rich, meaning that it will retain its shape and color no matter how much use it gets.
It has a rich, warm color that makes it an attractive choice for any bedroom.
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The Birch tree, a part of the Betulaceae family that also features Alders, Hazels, and Hornbeams, is an attractive deciduous hardwood tree with thin leaves. It has a close relation to the Fagacea or Beech-Oak family.
Crafting intricate designs with birch can be tricky, so it’s often used for straightforwardly shaped objects (bed slats, for example).
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Pine wood is an incredibly versatile softwood. You can find it in over one hundred varieties, but two of the most common are yellow pine and white pine.
Yellow and white pine wood have distinct characteristics (such as a medium texture and delicate grain pattern), making them perfect for indoor furniture like bed slats and frames.
It’s a durable wood that, despite being categorized as a softwood, proves resilient and dependable when used correctly.
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Cedar is a type of softwood found in North America.
It’s most commonly used for outdoor furniture and decks because it’s exceptionally weather resistant. However, it also makes an excellent choice for bed frames due to its unique red color and pleasant aroma.
It’s lightweight yet strong, making it easy to handle and move around.
Cedar is also naturally resistant to insect infestations.
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The Douglas Fir hails from the North American Pacific coast.
Douglas Fir wood is great furniture due to its medium-weight hardwood composition (known for being a tough and flexible wood with low shrinkage and incredible stability).
The sapwood brings yellowish hues while the heartwood takes on shades of browny reds, resulting in striking color combinations in all lights.
Its strength is not just in looks, though. Douglas Fir can take quite a beating when exposed to extreme conditions and exhibits natural resistance against fungal and insect attacks.
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I cover this topic in greater detail in my metal vs. wooden bed frame article but have provided a quick recap below.
When it comes to making sturdy and long-lasting beds, wood is a very popular material.
But should you go for hardwoods or softwoods?
While there’s no single best type of wood when crafting a bed frame, as discussed earlier, different species have pros and cons.
Hardwoods are generally tougher than softwoods. They also often boast richer hues that can turn your bedroom into an eye-catching sanctuary.
If you’re seeking a long-term investment that comes with quality, durability, and style, then hardwood bed frames are for you.
However, all these plus points come at a cost. Literally!
On the other hand, softwoods can be obtained from coniferous trees, making them stand out in terms of both workability and availability.
All this makes softwoods a much more affordable option, and the ideal choice if you’re looking for a short-term solution on a budget.
Choose a sustainably sourced timber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or a similar well-respected third-party organization.
This ensures your purchase is from a forest managed to meet the social, economic, and ecological needs of present and future generations.
Hardwood bed frames can be heavier than other types of beds, so if you are looking for a lightweight frame, look for ones made from softwood (or even hollow metal).
Some woods need to be treated and maintained on an ongoing basis with wax or oil, while others may last longer without any maintenance.
This is an important factor to consider when buying a wooden bed frame, as some woods are less resistant to scratches or dents.
As mentioned earlier, if you’re looking for something stylish and eye-catching, then hardwoods may be the better option in terms of color variety.
However, softwoods may be more suitable if you’re looking for something more subtle.
Wood is a natural material that reacts to its environment, so when you plan your bed frame purchase, ensure it’s made from wood that can handle changes in temperature and humidity.
Otherwise, your bed might creak like an old pirate’s ship as soon as temperatures rise or drop…not ideal for restful sleep!
It’s essential to measure the size of your bed frame before you purchase it to ensure your mattress fits snugly.
Too big or too small, your mattress might move around and negatively impact your sleep.
As previously mentioned, hardwoods tend to be more expensive than softwoods when used in wood furniture.
Shop around for the best prices and deals, or even consider making your bed frame yourself if you feel commercial wood bed frames cost too much.
If DIY is your thing, you might be interested in my How to Turn a Regular Bed Frame into a Platform Bed article.
The difference lies in the age of the wood. Sapwood is newly formed wood that grows around the outside of a tree trunk or branch, while heartwood is older wood found at the center of a tree.
Sapwood is softer and more susceptible to damage than heartwood.
Things you could try include oiling the frame and slats, putting more padding on the slats, and tightening any screws and bolts.
Check out my how to support a bed frame article for tips on strengthening and constructing bed frames.
The type of wood you use for your bed frame will depend on various factors, including cost, weight, color, durability, maintenance, and (most importantly) sustainability.
While hardwoods may be more stylish and durable than softwoods, they’re also more expensive.
On the other hand, softwoods tend to be lighter and more affordable while still being strong enough to provide reliable support.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which wood is best for your wooden bed frames…but I hope this article has helped point you in the right direction.
Ready to shop for the best ready-made sustainable wooden bed frames?
Then check out this guide to the best of 2024
Do you have a wood bed frame? What would you consider to be the best wood for bed frame construction? Drop me a line and let me know.
