While low beds are famously associated with Japanese design, they're beginning to catch on in modern design circles - and for those whose knees can handle them, low beds have several benefits. First, starting the day with a deep stretch and mild workout can get the blood pumping to fight off grogginess, and the cool temperature near the floor is a major plus for hot sleepers. Some small bedrooms can gain a sense of spaciousness from a low-profile look. And if storage isn't a concern, removing empty space means one less place for dust to settle. Check out the inspirational beds below for even more reasons to consider going low!
Let’s start with something dramatic! Sunken beds require some pretty serious architectural alterations but the end result is so dreamy. The pup would love how easy it is to crawl into bed for morning snuggles.
In bedrooms that feature large format artwork, a low bed stays out of the way. But this one still makes a subtle but tasteful impression with the luxurious layering of dark wood and plush fabric.
This entire raised platform serves as a piece of casual furniture, complete with a coffee table and writing desk. Those who prefer to sit on the floor might find this type of solution more in-line with a specific room’s aesthetic.
Low beds are especially perfect for young children. It’s a little less scary to transition to a “big kid bed” when it’s comfortable and low to the floor, and falling off during sleep or while playing becomes far less of a threat.
You may recognize this bedroom as another interpretation of the previous one, this time with a decor theme more suitable for a playful adult or a teenager. We can’t get enough of these attached writing desks!
One thing you might notice about these low beds is all the room they leave for visual decoration that reaches toward the ceiling. A grand tall bed might overwhelm beautiful details like these.
Repetition and clean surfaces have a much greater impact when the view is unobscured. The lights to either side of the bed remain just as simple as the rest of the room and help balance the visual weight of the room.
While this bedroom could definitely accommodate even the tallest and most regal bed, this one sits low on a sleek platform and utilizes the extra space for a decorative accent wall and rows of stylish shelves.
More than just a bed platform, this unique piece of furniture actually wraps up the wall and serves as a sort of faux canopy of sorts. It makes the low bed feel more like it’s part of the room rather than a standalone feature.
One of the biggest complaints about low beds is that they can leave the overall room looking “unfinished”. This bed approaches this dilemma in two ways: artwork and included side tables are both great ways to complete the circuit of visual continuity.
Here’s another low bed, this time in an even taller room, using a large form print instead of a headboard to draw the eye toward a central point. The oversized pendant light fills in even more of the negative space above. The bedroom chair completes the look.
This bedroom definitely does a great job managing visual weight. The blue wall and wrap-around beams help the low bed feel perfectly proportioned to the room. The beautiful modern wall sconces add warmth to the room.
Then there are walls that simply look too beautiful to cover with a big headboard or tall bed. These slanted panels catch the light, play with it, and evolve as the sun traces through the sky.
Lighting works its magic on the interesting typographical installation behind this bed as well. This is one of the lower beds highlighted so far, practically fully flush with the floor itself.
Plush padding surrounds this low bed and doubles up as comfortable seating for long evenings with a book and perhaps a glass of wine or pot of tea. Spreading out to watch a movie becomes an experience.
Low side furniture is incredibly important in rooms with low beds. Maintaining attractive proportions is one of the hardest parts of lowering your sleeping space.
Camouflage rug, exposed beams, and an earthy bedding color scheme come together to create a style that feels close to the earth – a popular motivation for seeking out low bedding.
Check out this comfortable bohemian bedroom! Low furniture is a huge part of this aesthetic, often accompanied by layered rugs and plush ottomans. This is a space where every angle and every surface looks equally appropriate for lounging.
Thick slabs of salvaged lumber offer a bed platform solution that anyone could DIY given enough space and access to properly treated wood. This natural and eco-friendly solution looks like a million dollars.
Can you imagine rolling out of bed and straight into a warm bath? Low-profile furniture doesn’t have to look casual, as this ultra-luxury bedroom demonstrates.
Low seated beds are also a good option for beds positioned in the center of a room, like this one. It doesn’t obstruct the view and enhances the sense of spaciousness even further.
A wooden platform with a brick and chain link headboard make for a very cool industrial bedroom theme. It’s not too rugged, but just perfect for a relaxing space that has a touch of attitude.
If your home already has plenty of storage, sweeping or vacuuming around a low lip like this would make bedroom cleanup a breeze compared to trying to wrestle a vacuum hose beneath the bed.
When it comes to frames and platforms, low beds seem to have a more diverse range of untraditional styles. Technically one could add a typical box frame but the sleek effect would definitely feel a tiny bit diminished.
Although the floor plan is actually very spacious, its width would seem more restricted if the large bed were taller. Sometimes a low-profile bed can make a room feel larger in unexpected ways.
Who would want to obscure such dramatic and detailed plasterwork? The soft headboard portion of this bed doubles as a backrest without covering up too much of the impressive artwork.
Here, a high headboard offers a little privacy from outside while the residents are in bed but doesn’t block the view of the landscape for anybody walking through the bedroom.
Let’s wind the article down by reviewing a few of the design techniques a low bed can facilitate. This one beautifully adapts to the low and wide balance of the room.
Clearly this room prioritizes coziness above anything else. The ultra-plush platform makes the bed look unbelievably soft and dreamy. There’s not a hard line to be found.
Finally, perhaps the most popular reason anybody opts for a low bed, these simple frames boast the perfect balance of functionality and minimalist appeal.
Are you loving these sleek low beds and feel ready to explore your options? This bed is available through the “buy” link above, or you could check out one of the many inexpensive low platform beds on Amazon – both are great places to start.
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