A customer emailed us last month asking if the storage headboard on our pine bed frame would actually fit her stack of paperbacks and a box of winter jumpers, or if it was “one of those shelves that looks bigger in photos.” Fair question. We get versions of it every week, so instead of answering one inbox at a time, here’s everything people actually want to know about the Solid Pine Bed Frame 135×190 cm with Storage Headboard.
What size mattress does this bed frame take?
It’s built for a 135x190cm mattress, which sits between a standard Double and a King Single in Australian sizing. If you’ve got an older Double mattress lying around, measure it first — some are 138x188cm and will still work fine, but it’s worth checking before you toss out the old frame. This size suits a single adult who likes a bit of room to sprawl, or a teen’s room where a Queen would feel oversized.
How much storage is actually in the headboard?
This is the question everyone asks, and fairly so. The headboard isn’t decorative — it’s a genuine storage cavity built into solid pine, deep enough for paperback novels, a stack of magazines, reading glasses, a phone charger, or a small basket of skincare bits. It won’t swallow a doona, but for bedside clutter it does the job a nightstand usually does, minus the extra furniture piece taking up floor space in a smaller room.
Is solid pine actually durable, or does it dent easily?
Pine is a softwood, so yes, it’s softer than oak or beech and will pick up the occasional knock over years of use — especially from a vacuum cleaner bumping the legs. But “softer” doesn’t mean flimsy. A solid pine frame handles daily use, kids climbing on, and years of nightly weight without sagging, because the strength comes from the timber’s structure, not just its hardness. If you’re rougher on furniture than most, or you want something visually harder-wearing, the Oak Bed Frame 135×190 cm with Slatted Base is the tougher alternative in the same footprint.
Does the bed frame come with a slatted base, or do I need to buy one separately?
Yes, it includes a slatted base as standard. Slats matter more than people realise — they let air circulate under the mattress, which helps stop that musty smell you sometimes get with solid platform bases, especially in Melbourne’s damper months. You won’t need a separate base or bunkie board for this one.
How long does assembly take, and do I need two people?
Budget 45 minutes to an hour if you’re doing it solo, less with a second set of hands for the headboard section, which is the heaviest part given the built-in storage compartment. All the hardware is included — an Allen key and the right bolts — and the instructions are numbered clearly enough that you’re not guessing which panel goes where. Standing the headboard upright is the one bit genuinely easier with help.
Will it fit through a standard doorway and up a narrow staircase?
The frame ships flat-packed in a few boxes, so getting it into the house isn’t the issue — it’s the assembled piece you need to think about for room layout. Once built, the headboard is the widest and tallest single component. If you’re in an older Melbourne terrace with tight hallways, it’s worth measuring the doorway to the bedroom before assembly, rather than after, since disassembling a fully built storage headboard is more annoying than doing it in the right order the first time.
What’s the timber finish like — does it need any special care?
- A light dust with a dry or slightly damp cloth is enough for regular upkeep.
- Avoid soaking it — pine can swell slightly if left wet, so wipe up spills quickly.
- Felt pads under the legs are a good idea on floorboards, both to protect the timber and stop scuff marks on your flooring.
- Direct, constant sun exposure can gradually lighten the tone over years, so if it’s near a north-facing window, rotating curtains or blinds during the day helps keep the colour even.
How does the storage headboard compare to an ottoman storage bed?
Different jobs, honestly. The storage headboard gives you a fixed, easy-access spot for things you reach for nightly — books, glasses, chargers. An ottoman base, like the Ottoman Bed in Black Velvet with Pocket Spring Mattress and LED Lighting, hides bulkier stuff under the whole mattress platform — spare bedding, seasonal clothes, suitcases — but you have to lift the base to get at it, so it’s not for daily-use items. If you’re short on both storage furniture and floor space, some people run both: pine frame for the nightly essentials, ottoman elsewhere in the house for the seasonal swap-over. But for a single bed in a compact room, the headboard alone usually covers what people actually need within arm’s reach.
Is this frame a good match for a smaller bedroom?
It’s one of the better options we sell for tight rooms, specifically because the storage is built upward into the headboard rather than outward with a bedside table. In a room where a bedside table would jam against the wardrobe door or block a power point, losing that extra piece of furniture makes a real difference to how the space feels to move through. Pair it with a slim rug and you’ve got a room that reads calm rather than cramped.
What’s the warranty situation and what happens if a slat breaks?
Solid timber frames from us come with a standard structural warranty covering manufacturing faults — cracked joins, warped panels, that sort of thing. Slats are a wear item on any bed frame over enough years, and replacements are something we can sort out directly rather than requiring a whole new base. Keep your order confirmation email; it makes any follow-up quicker if you ever need a spare part sent out.
If you’re still deciding between the softer warmth of pine and the tougher grain of oak, both frames share the same 135x190cm footprint and slatted base setup, so it really comes down to the finish you want in the room and how hard the bed’s likely to be worked over the years.