Beds

It is about what holds the mattress. A platform bed has built-in slats and needs no box spring, sitting lower for a modern, minimal look. A traditional frame usually needs a box spring or foundation layer underneath. If you like a clean, low profile, the platform is the one.

Solid American pinewood at the core, wrapped in European fabric or Italian Nappa leather. The cushioned headboards use a premium core foam, and every bed carries Italian stitch and lining detail, finished off with satin noir metal feet.

Match it to who is sleeping and the room. A Full, 54 by 75 inches, suits a single sleeper in a compact room. A Queen, 60 by 80 inches, is the go-to for couples. A King, 76 by 80 inches, suits a larger bedroom and anyone who likes more space to stretch out.

Aim for something you can lean into. A headboard at least 36 inches above the mattress supports your head and shoulders when you sit up to read, and taller ones, 40 inches and up, give even more to lean back on once the pillows are propped.

Enough for storage, if you want it. Six inches of clearance fits standard under-bed bins, and the Aukai Bed, for example, gives you 5.9 inches. Taller legs also let air move underneath, which is a welcome thing in Hawaii's humidity.

No, they trade width for length. A California King is 72 by 84 inches, narrower but longer. A standard King is 76 by 80 inches, wider but shorter. If you are over 6 feet tall and want the extra length, the Cal King is worth it, and models like the Kimo and Ele come in both.

It does, for the proportions. A mattress of 10 to 12 inches pairs well with most upholstered frames and lets the headboard show the way it was meant to. Go much thicker, 14 inches or more, and the mattress may start to climb above the headboard cushion line.