Why our sleep experts loved it
The Ideal Home Harman Ottoman Bed Frame is the sort of bed you either fall in love with at first sight, or tilt your head at in the showroom and ask yourself, “Do I really like this?” I was pretty much in the latter camp. The main feature is an odd, almost pillow-top style headboard, which quite literally sticks out in front of where a more traditional design would normally stop. It is padded, padded and statement, and if you are in the market for something that wilfully weird and different, that in itself is enough to make this ottoman frame a bit of a conversation piece.
Price wise it lands in the mid to upper mid range for upholstered ottoman beds, particularly in king and super king, but even full price it doesn’t feel excessive with the usual Bensons discounts applied. At the time of researching it was being offered at about 25% off normal ticket prices, which is a much more palatable figure for what you are getting. It also felt reassuringly solid when I tried it out in store with no rattles or wobble in the frame, so the initial impression was that, if nothing else, you at least feel like you are paying for a genuinely robust bit of kit.
Design & build Visually, this is all about the headboard. Rather than a flat panel, you get a big buttoned, cushioned section that looks like a giant, oversized velvet pillow stitched to the top of a more traditional upholstered base. It sticks out further than you might expect and so the side profile has an unexpectedly chunky, almost sofa-like silhouette. I am still not 100% sure whether I find this chic or slightly odd, but it is undoubtedly distinctive and that stops the bed from fading into the background.
The upholstery is a mix of materials: the main frame is covered in a contemporary chenille, while the headboard cushion itself is upholstered in a soft velvet. In person, the contrast works well, with the velvet catching the light and the chenille providing a more matte, practical finish on the sides. There are grey and blue colour combinations available, both of which feel quite modern and easy to work with in a typical UK bedroom.
The base itself is a fully boarded, ventilated platform rather than slats. This will be a big plus for anyone who prefers their mattress on a solid base and also one reason why the frame itself feels so stable when you sit or lean on the side. Inside, the ottoman construction is metal framed with gas lift hardware and a rigid floor to the storage compartment. The frame also has a 5 year guarantee, which is a reassuring sign that it is designed for the long term rather than a few years before it starts to creak and complain.
Assembly & setup This is not a lightweight flatpack bed that you knock together solo in an hour. The Harman comes in several boxes and, because it is an ottoman with a fully boarded base, the components are both bulky and heavy. Realistically you will want two people on hand for assembly, which is no more or less than retailers advise for ottoman frames of this size and weight.
The instructions are reasonably logical, but the build is definitely more complex than a basic wooden frame. You need to bolt together the main surround first, then fix the boarded base onto the lifting platform before attaching the gas lift arms and aligning the hinge points at the foot end. There will be some fiddling and a bit of manoeuvring to get everything squared up before you fully tighten the bolts, but once done the frame feels nicely rigid.
One thing I did notice in the showroom is that, even before adding a mattress, the lift mechanism felt reassuringly controlled rather than twitchy. Obviously you will find it harder to close with a deliberate push once a mattress is added, but during assembly you will still want to be a bit mindful not to let the platform spring up unexpectedly while you are working on it.
Comfort & practicality Comfort on a bed frame is mostly a question of support and how it feels to sit, lean and climb in and out of. The Harman scores well on both counts. The fully boarded sleeping base gives a firm, even platform, which in practice will make most mattresses feel slightly more supported than they do on sprung slats. That can be a real plus if you have a softer mattress or hybrid that is designed to work on a solid base.
The headboard is where the comfort really shows. The deep buttoned cushion is as padded and forgiving as you would hope when you sit up to read or scroll on your phone. You never feel any hard frame edges digging into your back, which is something that can be a problem on slimmer upholstered headboards. Because the cushion is slightly inset, it also feels more like leaning back into a padded sofa arm than a traditional headboard. In fact, personally, I preferred the feel to the look.
Height wise, the headboard is tall enough to properly frame the bed without overwhelming the room, and the overall height of the bed is practical for day to day use. Getting in and out feels natural, not so low that you are effectively dropping down into bed, but not so high that shorter sleepers will struggle.
Storage As an ottoman, the Harman’s other big selling point is storage and it does this very well. You get an end lift mechanism that raises from the foot of the bed, which is the most practical configuration for most UK bedrooms as it allows you to access the storage even if you have bedside tables close to the headboard.
The storage area underneath has a fully boarded base, not an open frame to the floor, so anything you store stays off the carpet and away from dust and draughts. It is a decent depth, easily enough for spare duvets, bulky winter bedding, luggage or out of season clothes. The boards also feel solid underfoot if you need to climb in and organise things, which is always a reassuring sign that the structure is properly thought through rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
The hydraulic gas lift mechanism does the heavy lifting. With a typical mattress in place, the frame should still be straightforward to open, thanks to the mechanism support, as long as you use a sensible hand position at the handle point near the foot end. Closing it requires a firm, deliberate push, but not an unreasonable amount of force. In store it felt controlled and smooth rather than jerky, which is what you want if you are intending to use the storage regularly.
Everyday use Once assembled, the novelty of the design has worn off and you get used to the silhouette, the Harman is basically a very sensible, practical ottoman bed. It felt stable when I laid down and rolled from side to side, and there was no noticeable flex or squeak in the joints. The fully boarded base is clearly doing its job in terms of minimising movement.
The mixed chenille and velvet upholstery is always going to show a bit of life in day to day use. Velvet in particular will show brushing and the odd mark in bright light, but because the headboard cushion is deliberately designed to be plush and tactile, it suits that softly crushed look. The chenille on the sides is tougher and more forgiving, which is helpful in high traffic rooms where people might brush past the bed a lot.
Cleaning is the usual story for an upholstered frame: regular vacuuming with an upholstery attachment, plus spot cleaning with a suitable fabric cleaner when necessary. The storage base boards also make it much easier to keep the area under the bed dust free, as there is no open gap beneath for fluff to accumulate.
Who it suits You like bold, slightly unusual design
You want real, usable storage
You prefer a solid sleeping platform
You value a long guarantee
Who it does not suit You are unsure about the headboard look
You need a very budget friendly frame
You want a super quick, solo build
Final verdict The Ideal Home Harman Ottoman Bed Frame is a bit of a character. The padded pillow headboard will almost certainly divide opinion, and even after seeing it in the flesh I am still a little bit on the fence about the styling. What I am not conflicted about is the underlying quality. The frame feels stable, the mix of chenille and velvet looks and feels premium in the flesh, and the end lift ottoman with a fully boarded base is genuinely useful day to day.
At full RRP it does drift towards the pricey end of the market, but as soon as you factor in the usual Bensons promotions, the five year guarantee and the practical storage, it starts to stack up a lot more sensibly if you are looking for a bed that works hard as well as looking distinctive. If you are after something safe and understated, this is not it. If, however, you like the idea of a slightly wacky, sofa inspired headboard paired with a practical and solid bed base, the Harman is definitely worth shortlisting and, if possible, trying in person before you decide which side of the love it / not sure at all you are on.
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