The bed base is the foundation of the bed. It carries the mattress, absorbs some of the movement and determines the height of the bed, and with it how comfortable it is to sit down and get up. A good base extends the life of the mattress; a worn-out base shortens it.
The three main families
| Type | How it works | Which rooms |
|---|---|---|
| Slatted upholstered | Wooden frame, slats, padding and fabric | The hotel standard |
| Decorative | Upholstered base covered in a visible furnishing fabric | Rooms where the base stays on show, without a valance |
| Storage | Base with storage under the top | Small rooms, residences, long stays |
Our range of hotel bed bases covers all three families, from 12 to 20 cm slatted bases to storage bases.
Passive, fixed or covered slats?
- Fixed slats: simple and robust, for firm support.
- Passive slats: they flex slightly under weight and work with the mattress.
- Slats covered with a top or non-slip fabric: the mattress doesn’t slide and the fabric doesn’t wear on the slats.
Reinforcements (centre bars, wooden corner blocks, centre leg) are essential in a hotel: a base used by thousands of guests has to withstand children jumping and suitcases dropped on it.
Bed height
The total height (legs + base + mattress) determines comfort:
- too low, the bed is hard to get out of, especially for older guests;
- too high, it dominates the room visually and rises above the headboard.
A total height of around 55 to 65 cm suits most rooms. Choose the base height according to the mattress depth and your bedside tables. Think too about clearance under the bed for the vacuum cleaner, or alternatively a storage base to get rid of the dust under the bed altogether.
Legs
Hotel bed bases screw onto legs (often supplied separately, on threaded inserts). Choose:
- sturdy legs, in wood or metal;
- glides to protect the floor;
- a centre leg for wide beds.
Fabric
A visible base is part of the decor. Decorative bases come in many colours, and our bases can also take fabrics from our contract collection: you can match the base to the headboard and armchairs in the room. For buildings open to the public, ask for a fabric with a suitable fire rating (see our guide to fire-rated fabrics).
Who is a storage base for?
A storage base adds a large volume of storage under the bed: ideal for small rooms, residences and long stays. It also removes the dusty area under the bed. Check the quality of the gas lift and the strength of the slats.
Twin beds pushed together
Two 90 × 200 cm bases put together make a 180 × 200 cm bed that can be separated on request. Plan connectors to hold the bases together and a topper to cover the join between the two mattresses. See our mattress toppers.
In short
- A reinforced slatted upholstered base as standard, decorative if it stays on show, storage for small rooms.
- A comfortable total bed height.
- Sturdy legs and a centre leg for wide beds.
- A fabric that matches the room, fire-rated where required.
To pair bed bases and mattresses well, read how to choose a hotel mattress too. Bedding lead time: about 4 weeks.
