Thuma Dupes: Japanese Joinery Bed Frames That Stack Up

I’m a longtime fan of DreamCloud mattresses, so it came as no surprise that the brand’s Japanese joinery bed frame is an excellent product. Just like the mattress, numerous thoughtful details in this frame made it immediately stand out, so much so that I will be keeping it around for long-term testing to try with a larger variety of beds.

DreamCloud made the setup of this frame seamlessly idiot-proof (@me). Each piece is labeled, and when it comes time to actually put it all together, take a gander at each of the long pieces’ endpoints. If you look closely at the joints where they intersect on the ends, you will see that holes have been drilled into the top and bottom pieces. Accompanying small rods are attached to the boards that are fitted into it, and it’s a secondary mechanism that ensures stability. I find this to be impressive because the beams neatly stack into the grooves carved into the ends. It is, in a word, crisp. It's a tiny detail, but they managed to keep the frame virtually silent when I put a mattress on it or moved around in my sleep. I didn’t notice any shaking, either. Another excellent feature of this frame is the center stability beam (crucial to prevent long-term sagging), which slides in last. This allows you to avoid nesting it in before closing the frame, unlike some other Japanese joinery models from different brands. It’s far more convenient.

Lining up the slats is the most challenging part of the process. You have to make sure everything is perfectly even before you go with the flow; instead, go with the Velcro as the boards have it attached on the ends. However, Dreamcloud thought of that, too, so similar wooden rods to those found on the end pieces of the boards can be found in the center of the bed, where the slatted frames are inserted. They're about the width of a pencil. Pop those slats in, unroll, and go. You don’t have to get a headboard with this frame, but DreamCloud provided me one anyway. There are two square openings located inside the top beam of the frame, so right where your head would be. The headboard slides into these internal slots, which are shaped to hold the end pieces, holding it upright securely. Foam block stickers are included to be attached last, so your wall doesn’t get scuffed up. All that, and still no tools necessary. Down to the details, people! And this detail you don’t want to skip on—it’s around $600 for a queen at the time of this writing. The headboard costs $300 extra, but all in, that’s still far cheaper than luxury alternatives. You’ll also have two stain options to choose from: natural or a very pretty walnut.

The Bamboo Bed Frame by DreamCloud ranges from $449 for a twin to $699 for a California king.

Silk & Snow is another brand that I hold in high regard. Every time I’ve tested a mattress from the brand, it consistently manages to pack in quality for the price. This platform bed frame was no exception. There are two options: natural rubber wood and a cortado acacia wood. I opted for the latter. I thought that the stain was stunning, with a richness akin to a lovely latte. However, I really appreciate that you have options here, not just with the wood stain color, but also with the actual hardwood itself.

This frame arrived in four separate boxes. I liked this approach because it protected the integrity of the wood stain during shipping. Every other option on this list was packed into one box, not unlike a mattress-in-a-box, but heavier and longer. I actually preferred this route, as every box was also labeled for easy setup. Like the DreamCloud frame, Silk & Snow's frame does not require tools or hardware to set up—it's a strictly wooden composition. One thing I found out the hard way: Ensure that the center beam is within the perimeter of the frame before fully closing it off. Then the slats are placed into the internal notches on the side rails, and it’s ready for a mattress. I had no issues with noise, shaking, or feeling unstable. It supported a mattress just fine, and I am still truly enamored with how the wood stain looked amidst my studio’s decor.

However, I do a lot of testing, so I’m constantly setting up and taking down mattresses, frames, and bedding. This is where having two people will be crucial, as I decided to do it all by myself for the sake of time, to the detriment of the frame. The frame got badly scratched up around the slatted portions where the corners of the boards stack together, due to my awkward solo assembly motions. I doubt you’ll be doing this as much as I do, but even if you do move down the line, this part was a bit disappointing to see. Despite this, I’m still considering purchasing one of my own because I loved how it looked and performed that much.

The Silk & Snow Wooden Platform bed frame ranges from $550 for a twin to $900 for a king.