The Princess and the Pea had it all wrong. A good night’s rest has nothing to do with being as far above the ground as possible—in fact, the opposite may be more accurate. Placing your mattress on the ground makes bedtime feel decidedly nostalgic, like you brought out a bunch of blankets to sleep on a trampoline or you’re experiencing the rare childhood delight of snoozing on an air mattress (but even better, because it’s a real bed that supports your back).
Floor beds admittedly have a bad reputation for appearing unfinished or untidy; the trick to pulling them off lies in the styling. The perfect number of pillows, bedding that’s been rumpled just so, and a few easy-breezy accents (like a net canopy) ensure the setup will look chic. These ideas might even convince you to give up that bed frame for good.
Go Minimal Everywhere But the Quilt
The fear with putting a bed directly on the floor is that it’ll make it look like you just moved in. Keeping the majority of your space streamlined—no busy art, no bulky nightstands—will make your mattress’s placement appear purposeful. When you’re layering on the finishing touches, you can get all the personality you need in a patterned quilt.
Forgo Traditional Nightstands
Akin Akman’s bed sits on a raised platform but the same boxspring-less set-up would work just as well on the ground. While his bedding is very tailored (the cashmere striped blanket is by James Perse), the surrounding furniture is extra-relaxed—even the table lamp sits directly on the floor.
Let Linen Do Its Thing
You can’t be expected to lift and tuck every single morning, especially if your floor bed is situated in a loft where low ceilings make it difficult to stand straight up. In a case like this tiny Cape Town cabin bedroom, let the linen top sheet flow over the edges.
Maximize for Bunks
One scenario where having your bed low to the ground is super helpful? When you’re trying to squeeze a tall bunk bed structure into a kids’ room. Camille Kurtz promised her 5-year-old daughter a Wonder Woman–themed bedroom and followed through with a slide and plenty of headroom.
Look to Your Travels for Inspiration
Inspired by the many trips they’ve taken to Japan, this Brooklyn couple asked their designer Claire Hung to transform their guest suite into a permanent vacation with a Shoji-inspired sliding door and a pared back floor bed surrounded by oak wood shelves.
Delineate It With a Divider
A shelving-unit partition, stocked with ceramics and books, makes the bed placement feel extra-thoughtful. In Courtney Adamo’s tiny shed–turned–sleeping quarters, the plain wood boards put the focus back on the architecture.
Be Even Bolder With Your Floor Tile Choice
Technically, this mattress sits on a platform, but the same lesson applies. The bolder your floor, the more your bed will look at home. Checkered black-and-white tiles and a hand-stenciled zigzag trim make this setup feel like a getaway.
Ruffle It Up
If you don’t want to spend your mornings making your bed with utmost precision, buy a duvet cover that looks better when it’s a little disheveled. Textured coverlets, like this white option, are very forgiving.
Go High When Your Bed Goes Low
A net canopy will prevent your floor bed from dragging your line of sight downward. Consider this a lesson in balance.
Create a Cozy Corner
If you’re styling a mattress on the floor in a multipurpose space (think: an office that sometimes functions as a guest room), align it with a wall to create a daybed vibe. Fully tuck in the bedding so it looks nice and neat.
Don’t Forget Bedside Plants
Lean into that classic camping feeling by peppering tons of potted (and hanging!) plants around your bed.
Pick Your Perfect Throws
An intricately printed blanket and three jewel-toned pillows elevate this laid-back vignette. When circled by lush greenery and a conveniently placed lamp, it becomes a serene place for slumber.
Keep It Natural
A floor bed covered in perfectly worn-in linen sheets is soothing on its own. Surround it with minimal wood furniture and just a couple pieces of art, and you’ve turned your space into a bona fide sanctuary.
Build a Gallery Wall Around It
When your bed is low to the ground, you free up some extra wall space—the perfect opportunity to expand your gallery.
