Good Wood Options for Bed Frames


By far, the most in-demand material for a bed frame is wood, and for good reason: its durable, easy to clean, and can take on a myriad of different looks. However, to get straight to the point, some wood options are simply better than others. As a shopper, you have to weigh different factors—such as the cost, hardness, aesthetic detailing, and ethical sourcing—to determine which is the best type of wood for your specific bedroom decor. To assist you, we've gathered a selection of popular hardwood species that are perfect for crafting stunning bed frames.

Remember, when shopping with Countryside Amish Furniture, all beds listed on our site are made-to-order in your preferred wood species and stain. 

Panel beds | Four post beds | Storage beds | Sleigh bed frames | Solid wood bedroom furniture sets | Two-toned bedroom furniture 

Examples of Good Wood Species for Bed Frames

We won’t pretend that hardwood is the most affordable choice on the market, as particleboard, plywood, and engineered wood all come with lower price tags. However, when it comes to choosing which is best for your bed frame, solid wood is the clear winner. If properly cared for, solid wood beds can last for decades, saving you the cost and hassle of replacing the frame once every few years. What’s more, it brings authenticity and character to your abode, much more than what imitation materials can provide.

The Benefits of Cherry Wood For Your Bed Frame

As we touch upon in our cherry furniture guide, cherry bed frames present a consistent, tight grain. It is commonly stained with colors that further enhance its inherent warmth; not unlike a fine wine, cherry is considered to improve with age as its coloring gradually shifts toward darker, richer undertones. While cherry is mostly used to convey a tasteful yet upscale aesthetic, bed-buyers can also opt for rustic cherry, which refers to timber handled to showcase knots, mineral streaks, and other organic characteristics of natural wood. In turn, the resulting furniture piece feels earthy, perhaps a tad farmhouse as well. 

So why is cherry wood such a good choice for beds? Firstly, it strikes the perfect balance between elegance and affordability, all the while providing the sturdiness a long-lasting frame needs. Moreover, it is a classic fixture of numerous decor themes, including French Country, Queen Anne, Shaker, and more—even as your personal style changes over the years, your bed frame won’t have to! 

So, does cherry have its downsides? While it is indeed a strong hardwood, it is softer than some of the other options we mention. However, this shouldn’t rule out cherry as an option; it's still durable enough to withstand most common skirmishes, making it a good choice for your bed frame. 

To see examples of how this wood species could look in your bedroom, explore our solid wood bed frames shown in cherry.

The Benefits of Brown Maple Wood For Your Bed Frame

If you’re drawn to paints or darker stains, brown maple may be the best wood for your bed frame. Its grain is best described as smooth and uniform, lending itself to furniture styles both traditional and modern. Brown maple offers hardness levels similar to cherry, making it comparatively softer than the other hardwoods we highlight. Still, it is hard enough that it still yields a strong, suitable bed frame. 

Curious to learn more about brown maple? View our guide at this link.

The Benefits of Red Oak Wood For Your Bed Frame

Our next listed option—red oak—is both harder and more affordable than cherry and brown maple, making it one of the best (and most popular) candidates for bed frames. So why is it priced lower? It’s because oak trees are one of the more common species in North America, not because the wood it produces is somehow subpar. 

Red oak is easily distinguishable by the prominent rays found in its grain. While commonly associated with warmer undertones, it’s accommodating to a broad spectrum of stains and colors, including those with cooler tints. In turn, there’s essentially no decor theme it can’t complement. 

In short, red oak is the best option for bed-buyers looking to reap all of the benefits of hardwood without a steeper price tag.

The Benefits of White Oak Wood For Your Bed

Any conversation about red oak is bound to also make reference to white oak, another good choice for a bedframe wood. Boasting a slightly higher price tag, it is considered more resistant to moisture and, as a result, stronger overall. Moreover, its tighter, more uniform grain provides an aesthetic commonly associated with luxury.

The Benefits of Hickory For Your Bed

Hickory has most other North American hardwoods beat when comparing “hardness”, making it one of the best woods for your bedframe. Yet its value extends beyond brute strength, as its detailed grain and nuanced coloring further enhance’s the furniture’s one-of-a-kind appeal. Whether you choose a neutral stain or a darker option, hickory’s bold juxtaposition of light and dark with a neutral-stain will add visual depth to the bed frame for a true celebration of authentic wood. As a bonus, the fluid, evolving grain pattern of the hickory can help camouflage any scratches the bed frame may acquire.

The Benefits of Reclaimed Barn Wood For Your Bed

As its name implies, reclaimed barn wood is literally the upcycling of timber that was previously used in a farmstead or similar operation. In turn, it carries a history that our Amish woodworkers are careful to preserve through strategic sanding, filling holes with epoxy, and other techniques. They carefully walk the line, smoothing the wood for everyday use without compromising its farmhouse roots. 

Yet the reason reclaimed barn wood is a good choice for your bed frame extends beyond its down-to-earth aesthetic, as it delivers incredible strength that actually outperforms some newer timbers. Furthermore, the decision to breathe a second life into existing lumber is the most eco-friendly choice of all.

Hardwoods to Steer Clear of When Ordering a Good Bed Frame

Most discerning shoppers will understand that hardwood is far superior to plywood or engineered options. However, it’s worth acknowledging that not all hardwoods are good choices for a bed frame. Don’t consider the below when hunting for the best wood option: 

  • Teak - While teak has a lot to offer homeowners, the demand has left quite an environmental mess in its wake. For starters, this Asian tree has been over-harvested to the point in which it's endangered and surrounding ecosystems are dismantled. In response, teak-specific plantations have become increasingly prevalent, but teak trees’ introduction to new environments has jeopardized natural plant life. 
     
  • Mahogany - Like teak, mahogany is ethically problematic in numerous ways. For starters, demand for this exotic wood has fed illegal logging and related violent crimes. To learn more, consider reading this informative resource.  
     
  • Softwoods like pine and cedar - You’ll be hard-pressed to find a furniture staple that receives more interaction than your bed and, frankly, softwoods like pine and cedar simply aren’t strong enough to last. 

Important Characteristics of Wood Bed Frames to Determine Quality

As pivotal as your choice of wood may be, it’s not the sole determinant of the overall quality of the bed. Place the right timber in the wrong hands, and the resulting frame will be disappointing. Therefore, when shopping for a solid wood bed, investigate the following.

Who is Doing the Woodworking (and How)

The way wood is handled directly affects the integrity and durability of a bed frame. Skilled techniques like mortise and tenon joinery are dovetail joints are the hallmarks of expert craftsmanship, creating strong, lasting connections. In contrast, shortcuts like excessive glue, nails, or staples are red flags of poorly constructed furniture. Even the hand-selection of individual lumber boards and the careful refinement of the timber contribute to the overall quality. 

For these reasons, Countryside Amish Furniture customers choose to invest in made-to-order beds, crafted by some of the finest woodworkers. You can select the hardwood species that best fits your style, and we ensure every bed frame is built to the highest standards. From the scutinizing selection of timber to the meticulous sanding, shaping, and finishing, every step is handled with precision and care.

The Type of Varnish Used

The builder’s choice of varnish plays a major role in whether your wooden bed frame stays in good condition with the passage of time. After all, the varnish does more than enhance the wood's natural beauty, as it also provides a protective barrier against daily wear and tear. For this reason, Countryside Amish Furniture solely uses a catalyzed conversion varnish, a top-tier finish that offers the best protection for your bed frame.

Ready to Buy Your New Bed? Place Your Order With Countryside Amish Furniture

Buying a solid wood bed frame from Countryside Amish Furniture is not like placing an order on Amazon for rush delivery—each bed is made individually to meet the exact requirements and tastes of the purchaser. Here’s how to have an Amish-crafted bed personalized specifically to you: 

Step one – Find the bed frame design that speaks to your personal style, whether that be farmhouse, queen anne, industrial, or more. For further inspiration, check out blog posts like our guides to minimalist bed frames and men’s favorite bedroom furniture. Remember, many of our bed frames can be bought as part of larger furniture sets; we link out to the coordinating furniture suite from the individual product pages, and you can click here to view comprehensive bedroom sets made from solid wood

Step two – Once you’ve chosen a bed frame design, customize it by selecting the best hardwood for your bedroom, as well as the stain color. You’ll also find additional choices for hardware, size, and unique features. Not sure which specific finish fits your existing decor? Order multiple samples to be sent directly to your home. Need modifications to the design? Use the live chat to collaborate directly with a member of our team.

Step three – At checkout, fill in your shipping information, choose your payment method, and complete the purchase. A member of our team will be in touch shortly to personally verify the details of your order.

Step four – Since each bed frame is made-to-order, the production timeframe will be 14-18 weeks. During this time, our Amish craftspeople meticulously craft your bed, placing quality at the center of every step. As the bed nears completion, Countryside Amish Furniture will coordinate safe delivery to your location.

Step five – Our dedicated delivery team will not only bring your wooden bed frame directly to your home but set it up exactly where you want it. Regardless of whether you order merely the bed or an entire bedroom set, you’ll only have to pay a $150 delivery fee. 

Author, Baileigh Basham

Bailiegh Basham is Lead Sales & Marketing Strategist at Countryside Amish Furniture. She's been a team member since 2014. Bailiegh is deeply passionate about furniture design and home decor.