After moving from New York to Los Angeles, my apartment was in need of lots of furniture—like, practically all of it, since I decided to sell mostly everything back in NYC and start over. When it came to choosing a bed, I knew I wanted something simple, sleek, and easy to put together. So when I kept getting served ads for that wood bed you’ve probably seen all over Instagram, I thought: Why not? Here’s my no B.S. Thuma bed frame review.

What is the Thuma bed frame?

First off, for anyone who’s algorithm isn’t as hyper-focused on furniture as mine, the Thuma bed frame advertises itself as “the perfect platform bed,” and requires no tools to assemble as all the pieces fit together via Japanese-style design.

Thuma Bed Frame (Full Size) — $1,095.00

I got a full-sized frame in walnut (it also comes in gray, natural, and espresso wood finishes) with the optional PillowBoard (essentially a cushioned headboard) in white linen. And to be clear, I’m talking specifically about the Thuma bed frame. Thuma has a mattress, dubbed as “the perfect platform bed mattress,” that’s designed specifically for its platform bed frame but it’s sold separately.

Other important things to note about the Thumba bed frame: It’s made out of upcycled and repurposed rubberwood sourced from rubber tree plantations. And, it’s also GREENGUARD Gold certified, which means it’s gone through rigorous testing to meet chemical emissions standards and thus is good for the environment.

Assembling the Thuma bed frame

The bed arrived in three long boxes, and my package carrier apparently thought I’d love the extra steps and cardio to haul them up a flight of stairs, since they left them on the ground floor of my apartment complex instead of leaving them at my door on the second floor. How sweet. I grabbed two of the boxes with relative ease—I’m 5 feet 2 inches tall with little-to-no upper body strength, but when given a task, I can summon some serious muscle for my size. These, however, really didn’t need superhero biceps, though. The third box, however, was a different story—and in the end, I opened it up and hauled pieces of the bed to my apartment sans box.

Once the items were all safely in my unit, it was time to get to work. Following the instructions, you line up the sides of the bed where you’d like them to be, and then they fit together without hardware, like a jigsaw puzzle. There’s one big screw for a middle slat, and then you top it with bed slats to support your mattress—no box spring needed.

When I say it took me all of 20 minutes to put this bed together (after getting every piece out of the box), that may even be a bit of an exaggeration. It was so easy, and I didn’t have to keep looking back at the instructions every time I did something—once you did one corner, it’s the same process for the other three, so you’re off to the races. The PillowBoard just wedges between the wall and frame, so it doesn’t require any time at all to put together.

My verdict of the Thuma bed frame

The pros

I’ve been sleeping on this frame for three months now, and it is awesome. I literally can’t recommend this bed enough—it’s especially perfect for solo peeps since you can put it together yourself, those in small apartments (the boxes are thin and can maneuver easily), and those who move around a lot (it has one piece of hardware and can pack up easily).

Also, the Thuma bed frame comes with a lifetime warranty and you get to try it for 100 nights with no strings attached. If you decide it’s not a good fit, reach out to Thuma within the 100 day trial to set up a return and be sure to hold onto the original packaging.

The cons

The only note of concern is the heaviness of one of the boxes, but if you have a friend who can help get it to your door (or a carrier who actually delivers it to the door), you should be absolutely fine. Or just do like I did and open it wherever it is, taking the pieces with you to your room.

Lastly, if you’d like a sturdier headboard, the PillowBoard may be something you skip—it’s super comfy and great for pillow layering, but since it doesn’t attach to the frame, it’s not great for those who don’t have it wedged against a wall firmly.

So, is the Thuma bed frame worth it?

All in all, I’d say—thank you, ads, for serving me well. This is a product I would buy again (but hopefully won’t need to), but don’t just take my word for it. Ken Hansraj, MD, a New York-based spinal surgeon and author of Watch Your Back: Nine Proven Strategies to Reduce Neck and Back Pain Without Surgery gives the Thuma bed frame his stamp of approval. Here’s why: “Platform bed frames are suitable for back care when sleeping because the structures are engineered to hold firmly and adequately support people as they sleep,” he says. Plus, he adds that because the bed is lower to the ground, it also makes it a great option for folks who are on the shorter side as well as children and pets.

The one caveat Dr. Hansraj points out is that the Thuma bed frame is made of wood from rubberwood trees which produce latex. So, if you have a latex allergy, he says the bed frame may trigger an allergic reaction. Keep that in mind before hitting purchase.

Frequently asked questions

What mattress should I use with the Thuma bed frame?

According to Thuma’s site, it can work with all types of mattresses (including foam and spring), which means there’s no need to invest in a new mattress if you already have one you like. In general, though, Dr. Hansraj recommends pairing platform beds like the Thuma bed frame with a firm mattress and a soft bed topper, which provides the best of both worlds. The firm mattress, he says, will firmly support the spine and joints and while the soft topping provides added comfort. You can also use a box spring with the bed frame, though it isn’t recommended as the slats are perfectly spaced to evenly hold up a mattress.

Is there a warranty for the Thuma bed frame?

Yes, the Thuma bed frame comes with a lifetime warranty.