SIMBA is known for its top-rated mattresses, and it’s become a favourite of ours at Sun Shopping.
But more recently, the sleep brand has started to make a name for itself in other areas, including slippers and bed frames.
However, the bed frames come with four-figure price tags, meaning they’re not exactly an impulse purchase.
I decided to put a Simba bed frame — the Melrose — to the test to see whether it’s worth its punchy price tag.
Simba Melrose Bed, from £1169 at Simba
Pros:
- Looks beautiful
- Excellent quality
- Customisable storage
- Large choice of fabrics
- Easy to assemble and dismantle
- Option to have someone assemble it for you
- 200-night trial and 10-year guarantee
Cons:
- Delivery can be slow as beds are made to order
- Pricey
Rating: 8/10
How I tested the Simba bed
First and foremost, I think it’s worth mentioning that sleep is very important to me.
As a result, I’m always experimenting with new ways to improve its quality.
That means I’m well versed in testing any products that might help, such as mattresses, bed bases, duvets, pillows, Oura rings — you name it.
During the three-month testing period, I (unsurprisingly) slept on it almost every night alongside my Simba Hybrid Pro Mattress.
I also dismantled it, reassembled it, and moved it to another room to assess how easy it was to build and handle in terms of weight.
Additionally, I compared it to three other bed bases, evaluating them based on ease of assembly, comfort, and overall quality.
Simba bed review: Quickfire Q&A
How much is a Simba bed frame? Prices start at £429 for a wooden double bed without any storage and go up to £2,549 for an all-singing, all-dancing super king with an electric ottoman. The bed I tested starts at £1,169 and goes up to £2,549.
Who’s a Simba bed frame best for? Those who have double, king, or super king mattress. There aren’t loads of options for single beds, and they tend to be almost as expensive as the double sizes. The divan bases are also pretty high off the ground, which would make them great for anyone with a bad back.
What I loved: The wide range of colour and fabric choices, the customisable storage options, the quality of the bed, and its appearance. It was also easy to assemble, and it comes with a 200-night trial and a 10-year guarantee.
What I didn’t: The price. It’s a lot of money to spend on a bed. However, if you’re going to invest in a piece of furniture it probably makes sense for it to be one you’re going to use for several hours each night.
Simba bed review: The Nitty Gritty
Samples and first Impressions
Simba Melrose Bed, from £1169 at Simba
Before placing my order for the bed frame, I ordered some fabric samples from the Simba website.
You can order up to four samples for free; I chose Caramel, Antique White and Vanilla and settled on Antique White.
When the bed was delivered, I opted for the VIP delivery service (£50), which involves the delivery team carrying it to the room of choice, building the bed for you, and removing all the packaging.
Considering how heavy the headboard is, I’d suggest this excellent service to anyone who may struggle to carry such a heavy object up a flight of stairs.
I loved that since my bed was put together for me, all I needed to do was plonk the mattress on top and fill the drawers.
However, it’s also worth mentioning that it took a little while for the bed to be delivered as each one is made to order. It took around a month from ordering to delivery.
My first impression of the bed was how elegant and grand it looked. The velvet material somehow elevated the room, making everything look more expensive.
Does it deliver?
Simba Melrose Bed, from £1169 at Simba
The Simba bed is undoubtedly beautiful.
It screams high quality and I’ve even had a few comments from friends and family on how lovely it looks.
Aside from appearance though, I’ve also been impressed with the quality and comfort of it.
My previous bed was an ottoman, which had a sturdy metal bar that ran down the middle, which I could feel as I slept, and it caused the mattress to arch.
Since switching to the Simba bed frame, the arch in the mattress has evened out slightly, and it’s comfortable to sleep in any position since there’s no longer a bar to contend with.
Bizarrely, I think the bed frame has also made our mattress more comfortable.
I already thought incredibly highly of my Simba Pro mattress, but since switching to the Melrose divan base, it seems to be even softer to sleep on.
As I’d cheated and paid someone to assemble the bed for me in the first instance, I decided to disassemble the bed, move it and reassemble it, to see how easy it was to set up and handle.
It’s by far the easiest bed I’ve ever had to assemble (and I’ve set up a fair few).
The two halves of the divan slot together, and then you simply screw the headboard to the base. Very simple.
Moving it, however, was a different story.
The two halves of the base are pretty light, if not a little awkward to move, but the headboard is extremely heavy.
I’d recommend having two people around to pick it up and move it, although I think even the pair of us would have struggled to get it up the stairs.
I also really love having drawers as opposed to ottoman storage.
While I could store more things in the ottoman, I found that it was hard to find anything under there, and I didn’t fully trust the mechanism not to fail and fall on me.
Simba Bed Frames
With the drawers, everything is much easier to find, and I’m far more likely to attempt to search for something as it doesn’t require having to lift the whole bed up to find what I’m looking for.
Lastly, I really like how high the bed is off the ground.
It gives off an air of luxury, but practically it also makes it great for anyone with a bad back, pregnant women, or anyone who might struggle to get up from low levels.
How much is a Simba bed?
There are 19 different styles of Simba bed frames many of which are customisable, which means the prices drastically vary.
The cheapest bed is the Ashdown, which is a rustic wooden bed frame that costs £429 for a double.
The most expensive bed frames are the Didsbury and Melrose, which without any storage cost £1,199 for a double.
However, if you were to order one in super king size in a luxury chenille fabric with an electric ottoman and dark wood feet, it would come to £2,549.
The frame I reviewed was a super king Melrose Bed in Antique White, with four drawers and dark wood legs, which came to £1,649.
However, prices for the Melrose bed start at £1,169 and go up to £2,549 depending on the size, storage type, and materials chosen.
Where to buy a Simba bed base
The only place you can currently purchase a Simba bed from is the Simba website.
Simba bed alternatives
There are a lot of places where you can purchase bed bases online.
For a bed base that is similar in quality and as luxurious as Simba try shopping at Feather and Black, Darlings of Chelsea, and And So To Bed.
For more affordable alternatives, which may vary in quality, you could try Dunlem, Dusk, Get Laid, and Daals.
Simba bed review: The Verdict
I’m a big fan of the Simba bed base.
It looks beautiful and has elevated my bedroom, my mattress, and most importantly, my sleep.
It’s obviously not cheap, and you could certainly find more affordable options, but based on the quality, appearance, and that each bed is made to order, I can see why it’s priced as it is.
If you decide to go ahead and order one, remember that each bed comes with a 200-night trial and a 10-year guarantee, so you’ll be able to return it if you change your mind or if anything goes wrong with it.
- Simba Melrose Bed, from £1169 at Simba – buy here
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