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Best cloud beds 2024: plush platforms for a dreamy night's sleep

Low to the ground and soft to the touch, these minimalist bed frames are the stuff dreams are made on

A cloud bed against a white wall.
(Image credit: Soft Frame Designs)

If you follow interior design trends, the chances are that you've come across a cloud bed. You might not know it by name, but you'd know it by sight: a platform base combines with plush and puffy upholstery to create a soft and sumptuous bed frame.

With so many cloud beds to choose from, it can be hard to tell the difference between a cheap copy and a quality alternative. That's where I come in. As a sleep writer and a shopping expert, I know where to buy the best bed frames that strike the right balance between comfort and support.

Whether you're shopping for the real thing or a more affordable alternative, I've got all the cloud bed bases covered. 

What is a cloud bed?

@beccabeasleyy

♬ sure thing - luana maia

While it's difficult to trace the origins of the design, the first viral cloud bed appears to be the Slipcovered Platform Bed from Restoration Hardware. Its clean lines and soft edges started a TikTok trend and inspired countless imitations. There are similar frames for sale at all the best home retailers, from West Elm to Anthropologie.

Best cloud beds

Best cloud bed FAQs

What is a cloud bed?

A cloud bed is a platform bed frame covered with soft, plush upholstery. Most of these frames extend beyond the edge of the mattress, to create the impression of a bed floating in a cloud. The original cloud bed comes from Restoration Hardware, but you can find imitations and alternatives at stores such as Crate & Barrel, Arhaus, and West Elm. 

How much is a cloud bed?

It's hard to put a price on a cloud bed. You'd have to pay a few thousand dollars to get the real thing from Restoration Hardware, and even the most budget-friendly imitations aren't cheap, either. 

Before you buy a cloud bed, you should ask yourself whether you really want one, or if you've been swept up by the social media hype. These beds won't be in fashion forever, and they feature a few design quirks that make them less suitable for certain sleepers. If you suffer from bad knees or back pain, you might struggle to get in and out of such a low bed. That's why I wouldn't recommend a cloud bed to sleepers with mobility issues or chronic pain. 

Final thoughts

Once you've invested in the best cloud bed, it's time to dress it. Lifestyle blogger Anni Vanderbeek has created the viral Cloud Bed Recipe for the fluffiest sheets and shams. To save you time and money, I've tracked down each 'ingredient' so that you can follow the recipe at home.

Emilia Hitching
Sleep Editor

Emilia is our resident sleep writer. She spends her days tracking down the lowest prices on the best mattresses and bedding and spends her nights testing them out from the comfort of her own home. Emilia leads a team of testers across America to find the best mattress for every sleep style, body type, and budget.

Emilia's quest to learn how to sleep better takes her all around the world, from the 3Z mattress factory in Glendale, Arizona to the Hästens headquarters in Köping, Sweden. She's interviewed luxury bedding designers at Shleep and Pure Parima, as well as the Design Manager at IKEA. Before she joined Homes & Gardens, Emilia studied English at the University of Oxford.