Simba Bed Frame Review UK (2024)

Before deep-diving into the discussion on the Simba Orion bed, let’s quickly guide you through the Simba bed selection.

Currently, Simba Sleep UK offers a few bed frames.

These are:

• Simba Wooden Beds (£): Simba sells two classic-style wooden beds, the Sherwood Bed Base and the cabin-style Ashdown Bed Base.
• Simba Platform Bed (£): A budget-friendly bed base without headboard.
• Simba Divan Beds (£ - £££): Simba sells a range of divan beds, all customisable with your choice of four storage bases, and a variety of different headboard options. Beds in this range include the Simba Wilslow Bed, Simba Hoxton Bed, Simba Camden Bed, Simba Didsbury Bed, Simba Ludlow Bed, and the Simba Melrose Bed.
• Simba Orion Bed (£): A classic frame with linen effect and a five-buttoned headboard.
• Simba Atlas Bed (££): A minimalist bed frame with a plain headboard.
• Simba Ottoman Storage Bed (£££): A premium storage bed featuring a slatted gas-lift mattress base and a soft, textured headboard (see the FAQs for a short Simba ottoman bed review).

Each bed frame is available in a variety of different colour options.

Simba also sells some refurbished options.

While each frame is slightly different, they are all handmade in the UK from 100% recyclable materials and sustainably sourced birch.

They also all feature the same slat base system. 🔧

We tested the Simba Orion bed frame, but many of the key points we’ll discuss further down will apply to all the Simba beds.

There are a few measurements that become relevant when looking at bed frames. 📏

These include the length and width of the frame itself, the measurements from floor to slats where you place your mattress, under-bed clearance space, and the total height from the floor to the top of the headboard.

The exact dimensions of the Simba bed frame will differ depending on your bed size.

The Simba Orion frame is available in the following dimensions:

• Simba Orion double bed: 147 x 231.5 cm (57.8 x 91.14 inches)
• Simba Orion king: 162 x 241.5 cm (63.77 x 95.07 inches)
• Simba Orion super king size: 192 x 241.5 cm (75.59 x 95.07 inches)

The height from floor to slats, under-bed space, and headboard height are the same for all sizes.

The floor-to-slat and floor clearance measurements are also similar for all Simba bed frames.

This means that you can use the below to guide all of your Simba bed base purchasing decisions.

These are the dimensions:

• Floor to slats: 29 cm (11.4 inches)
• Floor clearance: 13 cm (5.11 inches)
• Floor to top of headboard: 104 cm (40.9 inches)

You’ll notice that some of these figures are pretty low, which may or may not work for you.

A low-height bed

The Simba Orion only measures 29 cm (11.4 inches) from floor to slats.

This is the same for all Simba bed frames.

Your bed will undoubtedly feel relatively low unless you have a thick mattress.

We paired the Simba Orion bed with the low-height Simba Essential mattress (measuring 20 cm / 7.8 inches) and definitely felt that more height would be appreciated.

BUY SIMBA ORION£ 729

That said, this is very much a matter of personal preference.

Low-height beds have a huge fanbase, so this may just be perfect for you.

• Low-height beds are often great for a more minimalistic feel.
• They're also well-suited to parents with small children, who may want to climb into bed at night, as well as people who prefer sleeping on floor mattresses or being low to the ground.

But if you’re looking for a very my-bed-is-my-throne feel, the Simba Orion frame may not be best for you. 👑

Of course, unless you pair it with a thicker mattress like the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid or the Simba Hybrid Luxe.

Limited under-bed space

The biggest downfall, in our opinion, of the Simba Orion frame is the limited under-bed space.

The clearance space underneath the bed only measures 13 cm (5.11 inches).

While, aesthetically, this is very pleasing and looks quite elegant, we consider the low clearance space a negative for two reasons:

• Most bedrooms in the UK aren’t very large, so the low under-bed clearance is a bit of wasted space as it can’t really be used for storage. We’ve searched for low-height under-bed storage solutions but haven’t found anything decent.
• Dust is likely to accumulate, but getting under the bed with a broom or vacuum cleaner is almost impossible, making cleaning a bit cumbersome.

Of course, the former won't be an issue if you have a large bedroom and ample storage space elsewhere.

But if you want to maximise your space, you may be better off looking at a bed with storage space, like the Nectar Ottoman Storage Bed or one of the Simba storage bed options.

Wasted space behind the headboard

Another less-than-ideal dimension problem comes with the headboard. 😞

The headboard is slightly curved, which, again, is aesthetically quite pleasing and not a problem at all if you have a larger bedroom.

But even with the top of the headboard touching the wall, you’ll still have an additional gap of 13 cm (5.11 inches) between the wall and the rest of the bed frame.

This means you’ll lose an additional 13 cm (5.11 inches) of bedroom space - and be stuck with further cleaning dilemmas.

This isn't ideal for UK-sized bedrooms.

But what the Simba bed frame lacks in space-savviness, it certainly makes up for in terms of the Simba-Flex slat system and ease of assembly.

We'll look at those two factors next.

The thought of putting together a large item of furniture will undoubtedly fill most of us with dread. 😳

But Simba’s bed bases are straightforward to assemble.

We'll look at the full process further down, but here's a quick overview:

This is probably the easiest frame we’ve ever put together.

While the brand proudly boasts you can put the whole frame together in 10 minutes without any tools, this claim isn’t entirely valid - in our experience, at least.

With two people taking on the task, it took about 40 minutes from unpacking the boxes to being able to jump into bed!

And, indeed, you don’t need any tools - though a scissor or knife to cut open the cardboard boxes may come in handy. ✂️

So, how do you put a Simba bed frame together?

With no tools and an (almost) perfect design, the Simba Orion bed base really was a breeze to put together.

The parts all come delivered in several sturdy cardboard boxes, so we’d recommend starting by unpacking each box and placing the pieces roughly where they ought to be.

Luckily, the slats are also already pre-assembled, and all you need to do is connect the two halves. 😅

Here’s our step-by-step guide for putting together the Simba bed.

1. Click the sides of the bed frame together

This really is a breeze as long as you have someone to hold the sides up for you while you click them into place.

The parts aren't overly heavy either, so even average-strength individuals will manage.

2. Insert the wooden legs

Once the sides have been clicked into place, you can screw in the wooden legs to keep everything in place.

Here we'd definitely recommend someone holding the frame up so you can get underneath to see where the legs go.

3. Add the FlexiSlat grip and legs

Fasten the two FlexiSlat grid halves with the provided screw-and-leg pieces, then position them onto the frame.

This is the only part we really struggled with, which we explore in a tad more detail further down.

4. Sleep

Add your mattress and bedding, and enjoy a good snooze. 💤

Was it really that easy?

Clicking the sides together and adding the wooden legs was super easy.

The only part we struggled with was fastening the two FlexiSlat grids together.

It worked all right where the slats are wider as the screw-and-leg piece fit easily, but getting it in the correct position where the slats are tighter was a bit of a struggle.

This definitely required a bit of manoeuvring and some manpower.

If you struggle, we'd suggest getting someone with some muscle power to help with this part.

Everything else was an absolute breeze, though.

The ease of assembling and dismantling the Simba bed is just about every reason you need to get this frame!

At one point in our testing process, we had to move rooms and, keeping the slat system together, it took a mere 10 minutes to disassemble and reassemble the frame.

BUY SIMBA ORION£ 729

What if you hate DIY?

Even though the Simba Orion bed frame is super easy to put together, it does still require some DIY.

If you're absolutely against this, we'd recommend opting for something even easier, like the Emma divan bed frame.

Alternatively, it could be worth looking into companies like Bensons for Beds and Dreams, who offer bed assembly services.

Simba products aren’t the cheapest on the market.

You’ll find much cheaper options from competitor brands, like Emma beds.

But, despite their often high price tag, these are high-quality products that are well worth the investment.

This is because every aspect of the frame is made with attention to detail, and you can rest assured that you're getting the best quality out there!

BUY SIMBA ORION£ 729

Simba bed frame discounts

In addition, you may just snag a great sale - Simba bed sales don't come around often, but they are worth waiting for.

If there are any Simba promotions currently running, they’ll be advertised throughout this page.

BUY SIMBA ORION£ 729

Also, check out our discounts page for all UK promotions or sign up for our newsletter to get the best deals delivered straight to your inbox.

We love our Simba bed frame.

The bed is beautiful and so easy to put together - an absolute dream!

The only thing we don’t like about the Simba bed is that it’s not the best at optimising space. 🤷‍♀️

If you have a very small bedroom, we’d recommend looking for a more space-savvy option.

But if you have an average-size or even larger bedroom, the Simba bed frames are a perfect fit for anyone looking for comfortable elegance.

BUY SIMBA ORION£ 729