The choice between wood and metal bed frames is one of the most fundamental decisions you'll make when shopping for bedroom furniture. Both materials have been used for centuries, each evolving with modern manufacturing techniques while retaining distinct characteristics. This guide provides an honest, balanced comparison to help you choose the material that best suits your needs, preferences, and budget.
In This Guide
Durability and Longevity
Both wood and metal can produce exceptionally durable bed frames, but they age and wear differently over time. Understanding these patterns helps you choose based on your priorities and usage conditions.
Wooden Frames
Solid hardwood frames, particularly those made from oak, walnut, or Australian species like jarrah and blackwood, can last for generations. The timber itself strengthens slightly as it ages, and traditional joinery methods create incredibly strong connections that often outlast modern hardware. High-quality wooden frames commonly serve families for 30 to 50 years or more, sometimes becoming heirloom pieces passed between generations.
However, wood is vulnerable to environmental conditions. Excessive humidity causes swelling and can loosen joints, while overly dry conditions lead to cracking and splitting. Wood is also susceptible to pest damage, particularly in some Australian climates where termites and borers are concerns. Engineered wood products like MDF and particleboard offer less durability than solid timber, typically lasting 10 to 15 years with proper care.
Metal Frames
Quality steel frames offer excellent durability, often lasting 15 to 25 years with proper care. Metal doesn't warp, crack, or suffer pest damage, making it more forgiving of environmental conditions. Modern powder-coated finishes resist scratches and provide years of protection against rust and corrosion.
The primary durability concern with metal frames is the protective coating. Once this coating is compromised through chips or scratches, the underlying metal can rust, particularly in humid or coastal Australian environments. Welded joints are generally stronger than bolted connections, so examine construction quality when evaluating metal frames.
Key Takeaway
For maximum longevity, solid hardwood wins, but only if you maintain appropriate humidity levels and protect against pests. Metal offers more consistent performance across varying conditions and typically costs less for comparable durability.
Aesthetic Considerations
Your bed frame sets the visual tone for your entire bedroom, so aesthetic preferences often drive the wood-versus-metal decision more than practical factors.
The Warmth of Wood
Wooden frames bring natural warmth and organic texture to bedrooms. The grain patterns in quality timber are unique to each piece, creating one-of-a-kind character. Wood naturally suits traditional, Scandinavian, coastal, rustic, and farmhouse design styles, though modern wooden designs with clean lines also complement contemporary spaces beautifully.
The colour palette of wood ranges from pale blondes (pine, ash, birch) through warm mid-tones (oak, teak) to rich darks (walnut, mahogany). Stains and finishes can modify natural colours, but the underlying grain texture always shows through, maintaining that organic character.
The Edge of Metal
Metal frames excel in modern, industrial, minimalist, and contemporary design contexts. The material offers clean lines, slim profiles, and a sleek precision that wood can't match. Metal beds can also achieve ornate, traditional looks through wrought iron or brass designs, providing surprising versatility.
Finish options include matte black (perennially popular for its versatility), white (fresh and Scandinavian), brass and gold tones (luxurious and trending), chrome (ultra-modern), and custom colours in powder coating. Metal frames can virtually disappear into a room or make bold statements depending on design and finish choices.
Consider your bedroom's overall style before choosing materials. A delicate brass metal bed can feel just as warm as wood in the right context, while a heavily carved wooden bed might feel too traditional for a modern apartment. The specific design matters as much as the material itself.
Weight and Portability
If you move frequently, live in a multi-story home, or anticipate rearranging furniture regularly, weight becomes a significant practical consideration.
Metal frames are substantially lighter than comparable wooden frames. A king-size metal platform bed might weigh 30 to 50kg fully assembled, while a solid wood equivalent could weigh 80 to 150kg or more. This difference affects not only moving but also initial assembly, floor load concerns in older buildings, and the ability to rearrange your bedroom without professional help.
Lighter metal frames may also feel less stable than their wooden counterparts, though quality construction mitigates this concern. If you prefer a bed that feels absolutely anchored and immovable, the substantial weight of solid wood provides reassuring solidity.
Noise Factors
Squeaks and creaks from bed frames disrupt sleep and can be embarrassing. The two materials behave differently in this regard.
Metal frames are more prone to developing noise over time. Metal-on-metal contact at joints, particularly bolt connections, creates squeaks as components shift minutely during movement. Temperature changes cause metal to expand and contract, sometimes creating pinging or ticking sounds. Regular tightening and lubricant application can manage metal frame noise, but it requires ongoing attention.
Wooden frames typically run quieter, especially those using traditional joinery like mortise-and-tenon connections. Wood-on-wood contact creates less noise than metal, and the material's slight natural flex absorbs vibration rather than transmitting it. However, wooden frames can develop squeaks too, particularly at bolted joints or where slats rest on support rails.
Maintenance Requirements
Both materials require some ongoing care to maintain appearance and function, but the specific tasks differ considerably.
Caring for Wooden Frames
Wood requires regular dusting to prevent buildup that can scratch finishes. Depending on the finish type, periodic conditioning with furniture oil or wax maintains lustre and protects against drying. Spills should be wiped immediately to prevent water damage or staining. Scratches and dents can often be repaired with touch-up products, and even significant damage can be remedied through refinishing.
Environmental control matters for wood. Aim for consistent humidity between 40% and 60% to prevent warping, cracking, or swelling. This may require humidifiers in dry climates or air conditioning in humid areas.
Caring for Metal Frames
Metal frames are lower maintenance overall. Regular dusting and occasional wiping with a damp cloth maintains appearance. The primary concern is protecting the finish from chips and scratches that expose bare metal to rust. Touch up any damage promptly with matching paint or nail polish to prevent corrosion spreading.
Periodically check and tighten all fasteners, as metal frames depend on tight connections to remain stable and quiet. A lubricant like furniture wax at connection points reduces wear and noise.
Salt air accelerates corrosion on metal frames, even those with protective coatings. If you live near the coast, wooden frames may be more practical unless you're prepared for diligent rust prevention maintenance on metal.
Price and Value
Price ranges for both materials span from budget to luxury, but average costs differ at each quality tier.
Budget tier (under $500): Metal frames dominate this segment, offering functional designs at accessible prices. Wooden options at this price typically use engineered wood or softwoods like pine, which are less durable than hardwoods.
Mid-range ($500-$1,500): Both materials compete strongly here. Quality metal frames with design-forward aesthetics match prices with solid wood frames in common species. This is the sweet spot for value-conscious buyers.
Premium ($1,500+): Solid hardwood frames increasingly dominate at higher prices, particularly Australian-made pieces using local timbers. Designer metal beds and antique reproductions also occupy this space, but represent a smaller portion of the market.
When evaluating value, consider cost per year of expected use rather than upfront price alone. A $2,000 solid oak frame that lasts 40 years costs $50 per year, while a $400 metal frame lasting 15 years costs about $27 per year. However, the oak frame provides superior aesthetics and may hold resale value, making the value equation complex and personal.
Ultimately, neither wood nor metal is objectively superior. The right choice depends on your aesthetic preferences, practical requirements, budget, and the specific conditions of your home. Many beautiful bedrooms successfully mix wood and metal elements, perhaps a wooden bed frame with metal bedside tables, so don't feel locked into a single material throughout your space.