• Home
  • Mattress advice
    • How to choose a mattress
    • Best Mattresses beginners guide
    • Memory foam v pocket spring mattresses - which is best?
    • 6 tips for buying the best pocket spring mattress
    • 5 tips for buying the best memory foam mattress
    • The 5 questions you need to answer before buying a bed
    • Is an orthopedic mattress the best for a bad back?
  • Best mattresses
    • 10 of the best mattresses of 2020 and 2021
    • By type >
      • 6 best pocket sprung mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best latex mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best pillow top mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bed in a box 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best hybrid mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best natural mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By brand >
      • By brand - A to E >
        • Casper Mattress
        • 5 best Dormeo mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Dunlopillo mattresses
        • Emma mattresses >
          • Emma Mattress/Emma Original
          • Emma Hybrid Mattress
        • Ergoflex Mattress
        • Eve Sleep mattresses >
          • Eve Mattress/Eve Original
          • Eve Hybrid Mattresses
      • By brand - F to R >
        • Hypnos mattresses >
          • The Premier Inn Hypnos Mattress
          • 5 best Hypnos mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Nectar Sleep Mattress
        • OTTY mattresses
        • 5 best Rest Assured mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • REM-Fit >
          • REM Fit mattresses
          • REM Fit 400 mattress
        • Rollo by Slumberland mattresses
      • By brand - S to Z >
        • 5 best Sealy mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best Silentnight mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Simba Sleep mattresses >
          • Simba Hybrid Mattress
          • Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress
        • Sleepeezee >
          • Sleepeezee mattress reviews, awards, discounts and buying guide 2020 and 2021
          • Sleepeezee Mayfair 3200 Pocket Spring Mattress
        • Tempur mattresses
        • 5 best Vispring mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • Specialist mattresses >
      • 10 best cot mattresses for baby's beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best kids mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 7 mattresses for heavy people 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for back pain and bad backs 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for arthritis 2020 and 2021
    • By firmness >
      • 5 best soft mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best medium firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best orthopedic/orthopaedic mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By sleeping position >
      • 5 best mattresses for side sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for front/stomach sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for back sleepers 2020 and 2021
    • By price >
      • 5 best cheap mattresses under £200 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap beds 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best mattresses with a free trial 2020 and 2021
      • 5 cheap memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By size >
      • Single beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best single beds and single mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best single memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small single mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • Double, small double, queen beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best double beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best queen size beds and queen mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • King, super king, emperor, zip-link beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best super king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best zip link beds and mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best emperor mattresses, beds, bedsteads and divans 2020 and 2021
  • Best Beds
    • Divan base or bedstead - which is best?
    • Day beds, sofa beds and guest beds >
      • 5 best sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best air beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best day beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best guest beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best trundle beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best chair beds and single sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best folding beds 2020 and 2021
    • Bunk beds >
      • 5 best bunk beds with desks 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best bunk beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double bunk beds 2020 and 2021
    • Wooden, metal and fabric bedframes >
      • 5 best leather beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best metal beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best sleigh beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white single beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wooden beds 2020 and 2021
    • Storage beds >
      • 6 of the best ottoman beds and storage beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best single beds with storage and single ottoman beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double ottoman beds and double beds with storage 2020 and 2021
    • Adjustable beds, TV beds, headboards >
      • 6 best adjustable beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best TV beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap headboards 2020 and 2021
  • Duvets, pillows & bedding
    • Duvets and blankets >
      • 5 best duvets for summer and winter 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best electric blankets and heated blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best weighted blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bedspreads 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best blankets and throws 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool blankets and wool throws 2020 and 2021
    • Pillows and pillowcases >
      • 5 of the best pillows 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best silk pillowcases 2020 and 2021
    • Bedding, sheets and toppers >
      • 5 of the best bedding sets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best fitted sheets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best mattress protectors 2020 and 2021
      • Which are the best mattress toppers?
    • Other guides >
      • 6 best silk pyjamas 2020 and 2021
      • Which is the best type of carpet material?
  • Retailers
    • 10 best places to buy cheap mattresses and divan beds under £500, £200 or £100
    • 10 of the best mattress retailers online 2020 and 2021
    • Buying a John Lewis & Partners mattress - 5 top tips for 2020 and 2021
  • About
    • About
    • Disclaimer
    • Plagiarism advice
    • Press/PR
    • Privacy policy
The Best Mattresses Guide

Simple advice on the UK’s best mattresses and beds

This site uses cookies - see our privacy policy. Ads & links in bold may give us a small payment from the seller, at no cost to the buyer. However, this never affects our views - if we like it, we recommend it.

5 Best Sleigh Beds 2020 and 2021

I'm a big fan of upholstered sleigh bed frames. 

Unlike divan bases, you get a headboard built in and unlike metal or wooden bedframes you won't injure yourself if you walk into it during the night. The mattress also doesn't move around very much as it's wedged in at the foot of the bed.

You can also buy wooden sleigh beds but they tend to be less common so this guide will just focus on fabric sleigh beds (which is sometimes wrongly spelt as slay beds, believe it or not).

We've picked out five of the best sleigh bed frames you can buy in the UK by looking at value for money, specification, customer reviews and awards. The price shown is correct at the time of writing and is for a king size sleigh bed and doesn't include a mattress.

1. Birlea Colorado upholstered Sleigh Bed - £489

This Colorado sleigh bed is one of the most popular models from a company called Birlea which is based in Derbyshire.

It comes in a choice of either 'stone' or a much darker grey. It gets a customer review score of 4.8/5 at the time of writing and if you buy it from Happy Beds then you get a five year guarantee which is much better than the year or two which you get on most sleigh bedframes.

Sleigh bedframes come with either sprung slats or solid slats. As you might guess from the name, sprung slats give a bit of a softer and bouncier feel whilst solid slats give a firmer feel. Generally, sprung slats are the more expensive option although that's not always the case. This particular sleigh bed has sprung slats which will give it a bit of a bouncy feel. 

As with most sleigh beds, it arrives flat-packed so you'll need to put it together yourself but several reviewers say that it wasn't too difficult. You can only buy it as a king size sleigh bed or a super king size sleigh bed.

As an overall brand, Birlea scores an average of 3.7/5 from reviewers on TrustPilot or 4.7/5 on Google reviews (as of January 2021).
Search latest price on 
Birlea Colorado Sleigh Bed
Birlea upholstered sleigh bed
This Birlea sleigh bed comes in either a 'stone' colour...
Birlea colorado sleigh bed
...or a darker grey colour.

2. Dreams Lucia upholstered Sleigh Bed - £499

The Lucia is one of the cheaper sleigh beds available from Dreams and you can sometimes get a discount if you buy it during a sale. It gets glowing reviews of 4.8/5 from about 2000 customers.

It's got a simpler and subtler design than some sleigh beds and comes in three colours including a grey or silver fabric or a faux leather. There's also a much better choice of sizes than you get with most sleigh beds. You can even get this one as a single sleigh bed, as well as the more common sizes of small double/queen size, king size and super king size. It's even got a little drawer underneath for stuffing your spare bedding into.

Another plus point is that you can choose from sprung slats or solid slats. Solid slats are a little cheaper and firmer whilst sprung slats are a bit, er, springier. If you really really want to push the boat out, you can upgrade it to an adjustable sleigh bed which will lift your head up in bed.

One thing to look for when you're buying a sleigh bedframe is the size of the gaps between the slats. If the gaps are too big then there's a risk your mattress won't get enough support (you can read our bedframe guide for more on this fascinating topic). According to the The National Bed Federation 'as a general rule, it is advisable to ensure the maximum gap is no greater than 7.5cm'. With the Lucia bed, the gap is only about 5cm according to the blurb from Dreams. 

It's deep enough at the foot end for a mattress which is up to 29cm deep. Very few mattresses are deeper than that, apart from a few which have a massive pillow top. Even then, I guess it would just stick over the top a little bit so would probably look OK.
Search latest price on
Dreams Lucia Sleigh Bed
Dreams lucia sleigh bed
The Dreams Lucia sleigh bed has hundreds of positive reviews

3. Julian Bowen Ravello upholstered Sleigh Bed - £415

This Julian Bowen Ravello sleigh bed is what we went for in the end and we've certainly been pleased with it. Other customers agree and give it an average of about 4.7/5 at the time of writing. The Julian Bowen brand scores an overall average of 4.1/5 on TrustPilot.

It only comes in one colour which is described as 'mink' but you can choose from either having feet or a drawer. Personally, I think that the feet look classier but I'm not going to fall out with you if you would rather buy it with a drawer.

It's got a sprung base (which feels a bit softer than solid slats) and it only comes as a king size sleigh bed or a super king size sleigh bed. As with most sleigh beds, you have to build it yourself which is easiest with two people. I managed it on my own but it took a bit of patience.

It comes with a 5 year warranty if you buy it via Happy Beds.
Search latest price on 
Julian Bowen Ravello Sleigh Bed
Julian Bowen ravello sleigh bed
This Julian Bowen bed scores 4.7/5 from customers - but it only comes in one colour

4. Sleep Zone Crushed Velvet Sleigh Bed - £299

I'll be honest - this crushed velvet sleigh bed is not to my taste.

However, I also don't like Mrs Brown's Boys and it was voted the best comedy of the 21st century so I have to accept that not everyone likes the same things as me.

Customers certainly like the Capella sleigh bed, as it scores an average of 4.3/5 after more than 40 reviews.

You can buy it in several colours including silver, gold or black and as a double sleigh bed or king size. 

It's got a sprung base and most reviewers say it was easy to put together.
Search latest deals on
Sleep Zone crushed velvet sleigh bed
Cheap crushed velvet sleigh bed
Crushed velvet anyone? Customers certainly like this cheap sleigh bed

5. John Lewis & Partners Etienne Sleigh Bed - £1299

You'll have noticed that this Etienne sleigh bed from John Lewis & Partners is three times the price of some of the cheaper sleigh beds in our top five.

So what are you getting for trebling your budget?

Well, the main difference is that it is made from oak which is a hardwood which is much more expensive than the cheaper woods used in most bed frames (pine seems to be the most common choice in cheaper wooden furniture). That should make it a little sturdier. It's also got an 'artistic weathered finish' which is how I'm going to describe my ageing face from now on.

It's available as a king size sleigh bed and a super king size sleigh bed.


When we checked, it was scoring 5/5 although admittedly it had only had a few customer reviews.
Search latest price on
John Lewis Etienne Sleigh Bed
John Lewis Sleigh bed
This John Lewis sleigh bed is made from oak, hence the higher price

Related guides from the Best Mattresses Guide

Mattress with sheets and pillows

10 of the best mattress retailers

Where to start your search for good quality beds and mattresses in the UK​
Tufted pocket sprung mattress

10 of the best mattresses of 2020/2021

10 mattresses which have won awards and rave reviews 
Teddy bear on a quilted mattress

Best places to buy cheap mattresses

Where to shop for a mattress on a budget of £500, £200 or £100

Buying advice

Beginners' guide
​
Best retailers
Cheap retailers
Divan or bedstead?
​
How to choose a mattress
​John Lewis mattresses
​Memory foam or springs?

Best mattresses

Top 10 mattresses
Arthritis
Back sleepers​
Bed in a box
Best for bad backs
​Cheap mattresses
Cheap memory foam
​Emperor mattresses
​Best firm mattresses
Mattresses with free trials
​
Front sleepers
​Best for heavy people
​Hybrid mattresses
​Kids mattresses
Best latex mattresses
Medium firm mattresses
Top 5 memory foam
​Pillow top mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses
​
Queen size mattresses
​Side sleepers
​Single mattresses
​
Single memory foam
​Small double mattresses
​Small single mattresses
Best soft mattresses
Wool mattresses
Zip link mattresses


Other guides

​Adjustable beds
Air beds
​Best bedding
Bedspreads
Blankets/throws
​Bunk beds
​Bunk bed with desk
Best carpets
Chair beds
​Cheap beds
Cot bed mattresses
​Day beds
Double beds
Double bunk beds
Double storage beds
Duvets
​Electric blankets
​Fitted sheets
Folding beds
Guest beds
Headboards
Mattress protectors
​Metal beds
Ottoman beds
Pillows
​Silk pillowcases
Silk pyjamas
​
Sleigh beds
​5 best sofa beds
Best toppers
Trundle beds
TV beds
Weighted blankets
White beds
​Wooden beds
​
​




Brands

Casper
Dormeo
Dunlopillo
Emma
Ergoflex
Eve
Hypnos
Nectar
OTTY
Rest Assured
REM-Fit
Sealy
Silentnight
Simba
Sleepeezee
Tempur
Vispring

About

Disclaimer
Privacy policy
​Advice for plagiarists
​
While we endeavour to keep the information on this website up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose - please see our disclaimer for more details. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Mattress advice
    • How to choose a mattress
    • Best Mattresses beginners guide
    • Memory foam v pocket spring mattresses - which is best?
    • 6 tips for buying the best pocket spring mattress
    • 5 tips for buying the best memory foam mattress
    • The 5 questions you need to answer before buying a bed
    • Is an orthopedic mattress the best for a bad back?
  • Best mattresses
    • 10 of the best mattresses of 2020 and 2021
    • By type >
      • 6 best pocket sprung mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best latex mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best pillow top mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bed in a box 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best hybrid mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best natural mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By brand >
      • By brand - A to E >
        • Casper Mattress
        • 5 best Dormeo mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Dunlopillo mattresses
        • Emma mattresses >
          • Emma Mattress/Emma Original
          • Emma Hybrid Mattress
        • Ergoflex Mattress
        • Eve Sleep mattresses >
          • Eve Mattress/Eve Original
          • Eve Hybrid Mattresses
      • By brand - F to R >
        • Hypnos mattresses >
          • The Premier Inn Hypnos Mattress
          • 5 best Hypnos mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Nectar Sleep Mattress
        • OTTY mattresses
        • 5 best Rest Assured mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • REM-Fit >
          • REM Fit mattresses
          • REM Fit 400 mattress
        • Rollo by Slumberland mattresses
      • By brand - S to Z >
        • 5 best Sealy mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best Silentnight mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • Simba Sleep mattresses >
          • Simba Hybrid Mattress
          • Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress
        • Sleepeezee >
          • Sleepeezee mattress reviews, awards, discounts and buying guide 2020 and 2021
          • Sleepeezee Mayfair 3200 Pocket Spring Mattress
        • Tempur mattresses
        • 5 best Vispring mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • Specialist mattresses >
      • 10 best cot mattresses for baby's beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best kids mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 7 mattresses for heavy people 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for back pain and bad backs 2020 and 2021
      • Best mattresses for arthritis 2020 and 2021
    • By firmness >
      • 5 best soft mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best medium firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best firm mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best orthopedic/orthopaedic mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By sleeping position >
      • 5 best mattresses for side sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for front/stomach sleepers 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best mattresses for back sleepers 2020 and 2021
    • By price >
      • 5 best cheap mattresses under £200 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap beds 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best mattresses with a free trial 2020 and 2021
      • 5 cheap memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
    • By size >
      • Single beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best single beds and single mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best single memory foam mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small single mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • Double, small double, queen beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best double beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best small double mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best queen size beds and queen mattresses 2020 and 2021
      • King, super king, emperor, zip-link beds and mattresses >
        • 5 best king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best super king size beds 2020 and 2021
        • 5 best zip link beds and mattresses 2020 and 2021
        • 6 best emperor mattresses, beds, bedsteads and divans 2020 and 2021
  • Best Beds
    • Divan base or bedstead - which is best?
    • Day beds, sofa beds and guest beds >
      • 5 best sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best air beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best day beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best guest beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best trundle beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best chair beds and single sofa beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best folding beds 2020 and 2021
    • Bunk beds >
      • 5 best bunk beds with desks 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best bunk beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double bunk beds 2020 and 2021
    • Wooden, metal and fabric bedframes >
      • 5 best leather beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best metal beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best sleigh beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best white single beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wooden beds 2020 and 2021
    • Storage beds >
      • 6 of the best ottoman beds and storage beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best single beds with storage and single ottoman beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best double ottoman beds and double beds with storage 2020 and 2021
    • Adjustable beds, TV beds, headboards >
      • 6 best adjustable beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best TV beds 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best cheap headboards 2020 and 2021
  • Duvets, pillows & bedding
    • Duvets and blankets >
      • 5 best duvets for summer and winter 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best electric blankets and heated blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best weighted blankets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best bedspreads 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best blankets and throws 2020 and 2021
      • 5 best wool blankets and wool throws 2020 and 2021
    • Pillows and pillowcases >
      • 5 of the best pillows 2020 and 2021
      • 6 best silk pillowcases 2020 and 2021
    • Bedding, sheets and toppers >
      • 5 of the best bedding sets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best fitted sheets 2020 and 2021
      • 5 of the best mattress protectors 2020 and 2021
      • Which are the best mattress toppers?
    • Other guides >
      • 6 best silk pyjamas 2020 and 2021
      • Which is the best type of carpet material?
  • Retailers
    • 10 best places to buy cheap mattresses and divan beds under £500, £200 or £100
    • 10 of the best mattress retailers online 2020 and 2021
    • Buying a John Lewis & Partners mattress - 5 top tips for 2020 and 2021
  • About
    • About
    • Disclaimer
    • Plagiarism advice
    • Press/PR
    • Privacy policy