Bed Frame Purchase Guide
Compare bed types, hidden assembly requirements and installation costs before you purchase.
Different bed designs vary significantly in storage, ease of use, assembly complexity and installation cost.
This guide compares common bed types sold by Australian retailers such as IKEA, Fantastic Furniture, Amart and Temple & Webster, helping you understand what you are really buying before placing your order.
Start with the design, then check what is hiding inside the boxes.
Lowest assembly complexity, usually fewer components, and easier to disassemble when moving.
No built-in storage, so the space underneath may be wasted unless you use separate boxes.
Storage drawers may be built into the bed frame or supplied as separate storage boxes, depending on the manufacturer.
Easy access to stored items and a more organised bedroom.
Drawers add assembly time, require side clearance, and create more moving parts.
Gas lift beds lift the entire mattress platform to reveal hidden storage underneath.
Uses the full area beneath the mattress, needs no side clearance, and keeps a clean appearance.
Heavier construction, more complex lift mechanisms, and usually two-person assembly.
Some beds combine a lift-up mattress platform with drawers, shelves, storage headboards, lighting, or charging points.
Combines hidden storage with easy-access drawers and often gives the most storage in one bed frame.
More parts, more alignment work, heavier lifting, and usually a higher chance of manual quote review.
Hidden assembly details
The bed option you choose can significantly change assembly time. A bed frame with a ready-made slatted base is very different from one with drawers, storage boxes, or a slatted base that needs to be built first.
Curved wooden slats supplied as a ready-made roll. It is simply placed onto the assembled bed frame, making installation faster.
Although it looks similar, LÖNSET is different. It includes individual slats, frame components, flexible comfort zones and multiple packages.
Tip: If you are requesting an assembly quote, make sure you specify whether your IKEA bed includes LURÖY or LÖNSET.
| Feature | Additional Assembly Required |
|---|---|
| Storage drawers | Yes |
| Gas lift mechanism | Yes |
| Slatted base requiring assembly | Yes |
| Upholstered headboard | Sometimes, when the headboard itself needs to be built |
| Storage headboard | Sometimes pre-built, sometimes assembled from scratch |
| Multiple furniture packages | Usually |
Product prices checked on 8 September 2026. Retailer prices and sale prices may change over time.
| Product | Bed Type | Storage | Hidden Assembly Details | Assembly Difficulty | Product Price | Assembly Price | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA MALM + LURÖY | Standard | None | Ready-made slatted base | Easy | $399 | From $50 | From $449 |
| IKEA MALM + LÖNSET | Standard | None | Slatted base requires assembly | Moderate | $499 | From $100 | From $599 |
| IKEA MALM + Storage Boxes | Drawer Storage | Storage boxes | Four storage boxes assembled separately | Moderate | $599 | From $100 | From $699 |
| IKEA MALM Ottoman | Gas Lift | Full under-bed | Lift mechanism | Moderate | $799 | From $110 | From $909 |
| KMART Wavy Bedhead Stripe - Queen Bed | Bedhead | None | Bedhead assembly only | Easy | $139 | From $50 | From $189 |
| Temple & Webster White Ellie May Boucle Gas Lift Storage Bed Frame | Gas Lift | Full under-bed | Gas-lift storage frame, full assembly, two people recommended | Moderate | From $299 | From $85 | From $384 |
| Temple & Webster Alani Upholstered Bed Frame with Drawers | Drawer Storage | Three under-bed drawers | Upholstered bedhead and standalone drawers on wheels | Moderate | $747 | From $100 | From $847 |
| AMART VESPERA Queen Bed | Combination Storage | Under-bed storage + drawer + storage headboard | Lift mechanism, drawers, and headboard assembly | Advanced | $999 | From $130 | From $1,129 |
The cheapest product is not always the cheapest completed setup. A simple bed or bedhead can stay low-cost because there are fewer parts to align, while slats, drawers, gas-lift hardware and storage headboards can add real assembly time. If two beds look similar online, check the hidden components before buying, because that is often where the final installed cost changes.