Sleigh Beds

Few silhouettes are as instantly recognisable as the sleigh bed. With its curved, scrolled headboard standing proud at the head of the frame, it brings a gentle sense of occasion to a bedroom without feeling overstated. Our sleigh beds are designed and made here in the UK and upholstered to order, so the curve, the fabric and the colour are all yours to choose.

The sleigh silhouette

What sets a sleigh bed apart is the headboard. Rather than sitting flat and upright, it curves outward and upward in a smooth scroll, a shape that softens what is otherwise a large piece of bedroom furniture and lends the bed a more inviting, cradling feel. The curve is structural rather than purely decorative — it is part of the upholstered frame, not an applied trim — which is why a sleigh bed tends to read as considered and crafted rather than fussy.

Because the styling lives in the headboard, the sleigh look is available across more than one type of base. You will find it on upholstered bed frames, on divan bases and on ottoman storage beds, so you never have to choose between the silhouette you like and the base that suits your routine.

Upholstered in your choice of fabric

Every sleigh bed is upholstered, and the fabric you pick changes the character of the piece completely. The family includes Plush Velvet and Crushed Velvet for a richer, light-catching finish; Crushed Ice for a subtler textured surface; and woven fabrics such as Chenille, Naples, Coniston and Dumfries for a softer, more matt feel that sits quietly in the room. If you are drawn to velvet beds, a deep-pile velvet on a curved headboard catches the light along the scroll and really emphasises the shape.

Colours to suit your room

The same sleigh frame can feel classic or contemporary depending on the colour. Neutral tones such as grey, silver, cream and beige slip easily into most schemes, while black or navy beds make a more confident, grounded statement. If you want the bed to do the talking, emerald green, mustard, teal or pink all read beautifully against the curves of a scrolled headboard. Mocha, brown, champagne, mink, maroon and white are there too, so you can match existing soft furnishings or build the whole room around the bed.

Sizes, storage and headboard height

Sleigh beds are available across the full size range — Single (3ft), Small Double (4ft), Double (4ft6), King (5ft) and Super King (6ft) — so the silhouette works whether you are furnishing a guest room or a generous main bedroom.

Storage is worth thinking about early. Depending on the base you choose, you can add a gas-lift ottoman base that lifts to reveal the whole interior, or divan drawers in a 2-drawer, 4-drawer or footend-drawer arrangement. Either option keeps the scrolled headboard as the focal point while quietly housing bedding, seasonal clothing or luggage.

Headboard height is the final variable, with 48", 54" floor-standing and 60" options in the range. A taller headboard makes more of the curve and suits higher ceilings; a lower one feels lighter in a compact room.

How to choose your sleigh bed

Start with the base. If useful storage matters, look at ottoman or divan options that carry the sleigh headboard; if you prefer a simple bed frame, an upholstered frame will give you the look with nothing underneath. Next, pick the fabric family — velvet for sheen, a woven fabric for warmth — and then the colour. Finally, decide on a headboard height in relation to your ceiling and the scale of the room. Because each bed is made to order, these are genuine choices rather than compromises between off-the-peg options.

Why choose Adeline Waterson

Every Adeline Waterson bed is designed and made in the UK and built to order, which is why the range of fabrics, colours, sizes and storage options is so broad. A sleigh bed is a long-term piece of furniture, so a 10-year warranty upgrade option is available for added reassurance alongside our standard warranty options, and delivery is available across the UK. If you are weighing the sleigh against other heritage-inspired looks, it sits comfortably alongside our chesterfield beds and the wider collection of luxury bed frames — each made to the same standard, with the same choice of finishes.