beds buying guide
everything you need to know
a bed is the one piece of furniture you use every single day, and for a third of it! in a Hong Kong apartment it usually has to do more than support a good night’s sleep: it anchors the most personal room in the home, and when space is at a premium, it works as storage too.
in a fast-paced city like Hong Kong, a beautifully crafted, naturally stylish bed can help set the tone and foundation for a serene sanctuary – perfect for winding down after a long, stressful day. choosing a durable option made of solid wood ensures that you can enjoy your piece decades from now. we have been helping Hong Kong customers find their beds for over 20 years, and we find the same five considerations guide almost every good decision: the style of bed that fits how you live, the size your room can genuinely take, whether storage should be part of the frame, the material it is made from, and the base that supports your mattress underneath it all.
1. which style of bed suits how you live?
style here means more than looks. the way a bed is built determines what it can do for your room, so it helps to know the main types before you start comparing individual designs.
a platform bed is the purest expression of solid wood: a low, clean frame where the timber itself is the design. we offer a range of styles that are suited to japandi, wabi sabi or minimalist interiors. our platform beds work especially well in bedrooms with lower ceilings, where a lower profile makes the room feel taller. storage beds feature drawers integrated into the frame, while hydraulic beds lift the entire mattress platform to open up the space underneath. upholstered and fabric headboard designs add softness, providing a comfortable back for reading in bed, or a forgiving surface for families with young children. one of our single bed designs (available in solid FSC™-certified teak or European oak) has the option to add a trundle bed or drawers for extra storage underneath, which earns its keep in children’s rooms and guest rooms alike.
there are quieter details worth noticing too. several of our beds have smooth, rounded edges, a thoughtful touch ideal for family-friendly homes or in compact bedrooms where people pass close to the frame. one of our designs also features wooden panels on each side that lift and lock into place, forming slim yet sturdy bedside tables: two pieces of furniture in the footprint of one.
you’ll also want to consider your mattress as it may impact what type of bed frame you’ll need. for example, if you require a hydraulic bed, opt for a lighter mattress that can be supported by the bed’s lifting mechanism.
bed styles at a glance
| style | what it offers | suited to |
|---|---|---|
| platform | low profile; the timber is the design | japandi, wabi sabi or minimalist bedrooms |
| storage (drawers) | soft-closing or wheeled drawers built into the frame | apartments where wardrobe space runs out first |
| hydraulic lift | whole platform lifts for storage underneath | maximum storage without a larger footprint |
| upholstered / fabric headboard | soft headboard; fabrics rated 20,000+ rubs | readers, families, softer contemporary schemes |
| single with trundle | second bed slides out from underneath | children’s rooms, guest rooms and for visiting family members |
shop beds
seeing is deciding
bed styles are unusually hard to judge from photographs; the height of a headboard or the profile of a platform frame reads differently in person. our 25,000 sq ft showroom at Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau holds the widest selection of solid wood and upholstered beds in Hong Kong so you can see each style at full scale.
2. size and space: what fits a Hong Kong bedroom?
in most homes the bedroom is typically the smallest room, so the size question deserves more care here than anywhere else in the apartment. the bed itself is only half of the calculation. other factors include who is sleeping in it (such as height and how many people), as well as the space you keep around it, because a bedroom you can move through comfortably feels larger than its floor area suggests.
sizing labels are the first thing to untangle. Hong Kong retailers use a mix of local, EU and UK conventions, and a “queen” from one shop is not always the same as a “queen” from another. the table below shows the dimensions you will most often see in Hong Kong, as a general guide: always check the listed measurements in centimetres before you buy, and measure your mattress if you are keeping it.
Hong Kong bed sizes: a general guide
| size | typical Hong Kong dimensions | typical EU/UK dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| single | 91 × 190 cm (36" × 75") | 90 × 190–200 cm |
| double | 122 × 190 cm (48" × 75") | 135–140 × 190–200 cm |
| queen | 152 × 190 cm (60" × 75") | 150–160 × 200 cm |
| king | 183 × 190 cm (72" × 75") | 180 × 200 cm |
our bed frames follow EU/UK sizing, from single to small double, double and queen to king: widths are 98–215cm, lengths up to 232cm, and heights including the headboard generally up to 111cm. if none of those matches your room, our custom-made options in reclaimed teak are built to your bedroom size, mattress type, storage needs and interior style.
key measurements for Hong Kong bedrooms
| measurement | as a general guide |
|---|---|
| walkway beside the bed | 60 cm minimum; 75 cm feels comfortable |
| clearance at the foot of the bed | 60 cm where you need to pass through |
| drawer clearance beside a storage bed | 90 cm to open drawers fully |
| doorframe width | 76–80 cm is standard in Hong Kong; check before ordering |
we find that most customers come in knowing what bed and mattress size they need for their space. above are some of the key measurements that you may want to keep in mind whilst finding your perfect piece. if you plan to visit us, be sure to bring your floor plan and we can make recommendations!
before you commit, mark the footprint on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day or two; walking around it tells you more than any floor plan. and if access worries you, talk to us before ruling anything out: our delivery team can carry pieces up the stairs of walk-up buildings for an additional charge which goes directly to them.
3. storage: drawers, hydraulic lift, or neither?
storage is where Hong Kong bedrooms differ most from the bedrooms that global buying guides are written for. in many apartments the area under the bed is the single largest unused volume in the home, and a bed that puts it to work can spare you an entire wardrobe or chest of drawers.
there are two ways to build storage into a bed. drawers are the everyday option: selected models in our range have soft-closing drawers built into the frame, or under-bed drawers on wheels, providing ample room for spare linens and out-of-season clothes. they suit things you reach for regularly, because nothing has to be lifted or moved to get to them. the trade-off is clearance around your bed, as drawers need space beside the bed to open fully.
hydraulic beds answer the clearance problem: the whole mattress platform lifts to a parallel position (using gas cylinders sourced from Italy), opening the full storage compartment underneath. because everything happens vertically, our upholstered hydraulic bed works even when the frame is close to the wall on both sides; it suits deeper storage, the things you need a few times a year rather than every week.
if you prefer neither built-in storage nor a hydraulic system, that’s okay too. a platform bed with open space underneath lets air move freely through the room, and in a bedroom that already has generous wardrobes, the lighter look may serve you better.
storage options compared
| drawers | hydraulic lift | no storage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| best for | items you use regularly | seasonal and bulky items | rooms with ample wardrobes |
| access | pull-out; needs side clearance (on one or both sides) | platform lifts; works close to walls | n/a |
| capacity | underneath the bed frame | the full area under the mattress | n/a |
| worth knowing | soft-closing or wheeled options | Italian gas cylinders in our range for a smooth, easy lift | lightest visual footprint |
the Hong Kong case for storage
a queen bed occupies close to three square metres of floor which, in a Hong Kong apartment, is too much area for a piece with a single function. a storage or hydraulic bed lets the same three square metres sleep you and house half your wardrobe. we often find customers come in looking for storage beds with drawers (as they’re easier to access on a day-to-day) to maximise every inch of space, and love that our solid wood options provide that functionality without sacrificing style.
4. wood, fabric and material: what performs in Hong Kong
material choice shapes how a bed looks, how it feels and how it lives with Hong Kong’s climate. solid wood breathes with the seasons here, and every timber we work with is treated throughout sourcing and production to be at home in Hong Kong conditions. our wood frames are produced in Indonesia, Serbia and Vietnam, and as a B Corp™ certified company we hold every one of our suppliers to the same standards we hold ourselves.
the materials we work with
reclaimed teak
weathered surfaces, elegant textures and original markings; each piece unique.
FSC™-certified teak
consistent golden-brown tones and a cleaner, more uniform grain.
European oak
light, creamy tones with subtle golden-brown grain and a fine, even texture.
American walnut
deep chocolatey tones interspersed with ripples of lighter honey.
reclaimed teak. we work closely with our longstanding partner dBodhi, whose collections use wood salvaged from century-old Indonesian houses, properly documented and hand-sorted by craftsmen before it is repurposed. weathered surfaces and original markings make each piece truly one of a kind, and centuries of natural conditioning leave the timber dense and climate-stable. choose it for warm, rustic, characterful, or wabi sabi inspired bedrooms.
FSC™-certified solid teak. consistent golden-brown tones and a cleaner, more uniform grain, certified from responsibly managed forests. it shares teak’s warmth, density and natural moisture resistance with a more even look, for classic and contemporary rooms alike.
European oak. light, creamy tones with subtle golden-brown grains and a fine, even texture; prized for strength, stability and a natural resistance to wear. a wonderful option for those who prefer japandi, Scandinavian and minimalist interiors.
American walnut. deep chocolatey tones interspersed with ripples of lighter honey hues, on a smooth, close-grained surface. a dense, durable hardwood for those who want richness and drama in the bedroom.
for upholstered beds and fabric headboards, selected models come in an extensive range of fabrics and colours, each carrying an abrasion rating of 20,000 rubs or more: designed, tried and tested to keep their looks under normal wear.
materials at a glance
| material | appearance | best style | sustainability |
|---|---|---|---|
| reclaimed teak | weathered, characterful; every piece unique | wabi sabi, rustic, relaxed | salvaged: no new trees felled |
| FSC™-certified or plantation teak | golden-brown; consistent grain | classic, contemporary | FSC™-certified forest management or responsibly sourced |
| European oak | light, creamy; fine even grain | japandi, Scandinavian, minimalist | responsibly sourced |
| American walnut | deep chocolate; honey ripples | contemporary, quiet luxury | responsibly sourced |
Kate Babington, Managing Director at TREE
“solid wood has a naturally ability to ground a space with its beautifully warm tones and rich wooden grains, making it an ideal choice for achieving the look of an calm, inviting bedroom. pair your piece with matching bedside tables to keep all your night time essentials conveniently within reach, and complete the look with a beautiful set of bed linens, cushions and a throw for a lovingly layered effect.”
5. the base and the details: slats, headboards and edges
the part of the bed you never see does the most work. every one of our bed frames includes wood slats, and they matter twice over: they absorb weight and stress evenly across the base, which extends the life of your mattress, and they let air circulate beneath it, preventing the moisture build-up that Hong Kong summers would otherwise encourage. as a general rule, a mattress on a slatted base stays fresher for longer than one on a solid board, but one may opt for a solid board if they prefer a heavy mattress that needs extra reinforcement. our bed slats are made from a variety of durable woods such as mindi, teak, albasia and beech wood.
strength is built in above the slats too. our frames are engineered for strong weight support based on their size, material and structure, with sturdy construction that stays quiet; a solid wood joint, properly made, does not creak.
the details are the last consideration and often the deciding one. a fabric headboard turns the bed into somewhere to read and wind down, not only sleep. rounded edges make a compact bedroom kinder to shins and to small children. and if your bedroom cannot take bedside tables, consider installing shelves to the wall that will provide you some much needed bedside surface without taking up any floor space. once the bed is chosen, our bedside tables, wardrobes, chests of drawers and dressing tables complete the room around it; the guide to fitting it all in a compact space is a story for another day, though our library article on placing a king size bed in a small room is a good start.
we’ve found that some of our customers prefer to have their mattress sit level with the bed frame – our in-house carpentry team can adjust and lift up the bed slats to help achieve this look. we also like to recommend keeping in mind how your mattress sits in relation to your bed frame of choice as a thicker mattress may partially cover a design with a low headboard, so these factors need to be considered in totality.
6. caring for your solid wood bed in Hong Kong
a solid wood bed asks very little of you. most of our frames carry natural oil or water-based protection: breathable finishes that let the timber respond gradually to Hong Kong’s seasons rather than sealing it shut. for frequent cleans, care is nothing more than a wipe with a slightly damp cloth to lift dust. the bedroom is actually the easiest room in the apartment for solid wood; there are no hot pans or spilt drinks to think about, only the rhythm of the seasons.
Hong Kong · Spring care
Spring in Hong Kong can get particularly humid, with indoor humidity spiking above 90%, and that is when your solid wood bed needs a little extra care. a dehumidifier or air conditioner keeping the bedroom between 50% and 60% sees the season out comfortably, and your mattress benefits from it as much as the frame does.
practical care tips
- keep dust off: wipe the frame with a slightly damp cloth; the headboard and slats collect dust quietly, so include them every few weeks.
- give the wood steady conditions: solid wood is happiest with stable temperature and humidity. position the bed so it is not in a direct air conditioning draught, and let the room breathe.
- keep it hydrated in Winter: if you run home heating in the cooler months from November to March, a cup of water placed nearby helps maintain ambient humidity while the air is dry.
- run a dehumidifier in Spring: aim for indoor humidity of 50–60% during the humid season; your bedding, mattress and frame all benefit.
- check in with the frame once a year: solid wood moves gently with the seasons, so glance over the joints and slats annually; if anything ever needs attention, contact us for guidance first.
our TREEtment manual covers all of this in detail, from everyday cleaning to seasonal routines; download it on our after care page. and if you are ever unsure what your bed needs, our team is always happy to talk it through for your specific home.
what size is a queen bed in Hong Kong in cm?
in Hong Kong a queen mattress is most commonly 152 × 190 cm (60" × 75"), whilst an EU/UK queen is typically 150–160 × 200 cm. the two conventions coexist in Hong Kong shops, so always confirm the dimensions in centimetres rather than relying on the name. our frames follow EU/UK sizing, with widths of 98–215cm across the range.
what size bed should I choose for a Hong Kong bedroom?
start from the room, not the bed. measure the wall the bed will sit against, then keep at least 60 cm of walkway on each side you use, and 60 cm at the foot if you pass through there. in many Hong Kong bedrooms that points to a double or queen; a king fits more rooms than people expect once bedside tables are rethought. mark the footprint in masking tape and live with it for a day before deciding.
are hydraulic storage beds worth it?
for most Hong Kong apartments, yes: they open up the full area under the mattress, roughly the largest unused volume in the home, without needing any clearance beside the bed. the hydraulic beds in our range lift the platform to a parallel position on gas cylinders sourced from Italy, for easy access to everything stored underneath. if you reach for stored items weekly rather than seasonally, drawers may suit you better.
will a king size bed fit in a small bedroom?
more often than you might think. a king takes 183 cm of width in the common Hong Kong sizing, and the space it consumes is often space a walkway or unused corner was wasting anyway. the honest test is clearance: if you can keep 60 cm on each side you use, the room can take it. we look at this in more depth in our article on maximising space with a king size bed in a small room.
do bed slats make a difference?
they make two. slats absorb weight and stress across the whole base, which protects your mattress from pressure points and extends its life. and the gaps between them let air circulate beneath the mattress, which matters in Hong Kong’s humid summers: airflow prevents moisture build-up and keeps the sleeping surface fresh. every bed frame in our range includes wood slats for both reasons.
should I choose a wooden or upholstered bed frame?
it comes down to how you use the bed and the feel you want in the room. a solid wood frame shows the material at its best, wipes clean easily and ages alongside the rest of the room. a fabric headboard adds softness for reading in bed and is a forgiving surface for young children; the fabrics on our upholstered models are rated to 20,000 rubs (Martindale test) or more, so they are made for daily use. many of our beds offer a middle path: a solid wood frame with an upholstered headboard.
can a solid wood bed handle Hong Kong humidity?
very comfortably. every timber we use is treated throughout sourcing and production for Hong Kong conditions, our reclaimed teak has already spent a century acclimatising in tropical Indonesia, and the breathable finishes let the wood adjust gradually with the seasons. we have been selling solid wood furniture in Hong Kong for over 20 years; we would not work with materials that could not live here.
ready to look at beds in person or browse the full range? explore our bed frames, or visit our flagship showroom to browse our extensive selection.