The best bed for your bedroom isn't necessarily the most expensive, the biggest or the one with the most features. It's the one that fits your space, suits your style and works with how you live.
But most beds are sold as predetermined designs. You choose a size, perhaps select a colour, and accept the headboard and frame that come with that model.
At Cozey, we wanted a different experience.
When we created the Ara Bed System, we wanted customers to choose their own headboard shape, bed-frame design, storage configuration, upholstery, colour and finish.
We also wanted to bring some of the advantages of our modular sofas into the bedroom: manageable delivery, easier assembly, removable and machine-washable fabric covers, and components that could be changed or replaced over time.
Personalization wasn't something we added at the end of product development. It was one of our original design priorities.
We developed Ara around four principles:
- Structural stability: A supportive steel-frame foundation for everyday use.
- Compact delivery: Modular components that are easier to transport through homes.
- Simpler assembly and moving: A structure designed to be assembled, disassembled and moved in sections.
- Personalization: The freedom to choose a bed's appearance and practical features, with opportunities to update it later.
In Canada, we offer two design families: Ara Upholstered and Ara Wood.
Both share the same underlying structural philosophy, but they create different bedroom aesthetics.
This guide covers every major design decision, provides detailed measurements and explains which combinations we recommend for different needs.
On This Page
- 1. Start With Your Bedroom Style: Upholstered or Wood?
- 2. Ara Upholstered: Which Headboard Should You Choose?
- 3. Ara Upholstered Headboard Dimensions: Full, Queen and King
- 4. What Is the Total Installed Depth of Each Ara Bed?
- 5. Round vs. Square Bed Frames: What's the Difference?
- 6. Ara Upholstered Frame Dimensions
- 7. Ara Wood: Which Design Should You Choose?
- 8. Ara Wood Dimensions: Every Frame and Headboard
- 9. How Should You Choose Between Regular Seam, French Seam and Channel Tufted?
- 10. Which Ara Fabric and Colour Should You Choose?
- 11. Should You Choose Storage or Non-Storage?
- 12. Can You Change Your Ara Bed After Buying It?
- 13. What Is the Most Popular Ara Configuration?
- 14. Which Ara Configuration Is Best for Your Needs?
- Final Thoughts: A Bed That Can Feel Like Your Own
1. Start With Your Bedroom Style: Upholstered or Wood?
The first decision is the appearance you want.
Ara Upholstered and Ara Wood aren't intended to be a good-versus-better choice.
We created Ara Wood because we wanted to serve customers who prefer a more natural, timeless wood aesthetic, a different material-care experience and another way to personalize their bedroom.
Both collections use a four-quadrant steel structural foundation and laminated veneer lumber slats.
Choose Ara Upholstered if You Want:
- Soft, fabric-covered forms.
- A choice of Round, Square, Pillow and Extended headboards.
- Round or Square upholstered frame designs.
- Different Cozey fabrics, colours and headboard finishing details.
- Removable, machine-washable upholstery.
- Storage or non-storage configurations.
Choose Ara Wood if You Want:
- Natural-looking wood grain.
- Oak or Walnut finish options.
- Architectural Fluted detailing or a lighter raised Leg-frame appearance.
- Round or Fluted wood headboards.
- A surface that can be maintained through appropriate dusting and wiping.
- Storage with the Fluted frame, or a non-storage raised Leg frame.
Our recommendation is to begin with aesthetics.
A customer who loves wood grain shouldn't feel obliged to choose upholstery simply because washable covers are available.
Likewise, someone who loves the softness of fabric shouldn't have to settle for a wood frame to get a sturdy foundation.
2. Ara Upholstered: Which Headboard Should You Choose?
Ara Upholstered offers four headboard designs.
Each has a different design purpose and different implications for your room.
Ara Upholstered headboards compared
| Headboard | Design intention | Best for | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Modern, soft and versatile | Customers wanting a clean contemporary look | Less plush support for sitting upright than Pillow |
| Square | Classic, structured and timeless | Customers who prefer straight lines | Less plush support for sitting upright than Pillow |
| Pillow | Relaxed, plush and comfortable | People who read, work or watch TV while sitting in bed | Requires additional room depth |
| Extended | Elevated, luxurious and hotel-inspired | Larger bedrooms and statement designs | Requires substantially more wall width |
Round: Our Most Versatile Choice
We designed Round to create a modern, softer-looking upholstered bed.
Its curved edges feel contemporary without being overly decorative.
It works well with many bedroom styles and doesn't require as much front-to-back room as the Pillow headboard.
It's also a more accessible price choice than the Pillow and Extended designs.
For customers who want something modern, versatile and relatively compact, Round is usually our first recommendation.
Square: A Classic, Structured Look
Square was created for customers who prefer straight edges and a more classic design language.
It offers the same relatively compact installed depth as Round.
The primary difference is aesthetic.
Round emphasizes curves; Square emphasizes clean geometry.
We wouldn't recommend one as inherently sturdier or more supportive than the other.
Choose the silhouette you prefer.
Pillow: Designed for Sitting Up in Bed
Pillow has a particularly useful functional advantage.
We developed it not only to create a plush, relaxed appearance but also to provide additional back comfort when sitting upright.
Its large upholstered cushions can create a more comfortable surface for reading, watching television or relaxing in bed.
That's its strongest advantage over Round and Square.
The trade-off is space.
The cushions take up additional depth, which makes the complete bed approximately 4.5 inches deeper than a comparable Round or Square configuration.
For someone who regularly sits upright in bed and has enough room, Pillow may be the best choice.
For someone with a narrow bedroom, that additional depth matters.
Extended: A Hotel-Inspired Statement
Extended was designed to create a more luxurious, elevated bedroom aesthetic.
Its wide headboard extends substantially beyond the bed frame, helping anchor a larger wall and create a hotel-like appearance.
It's particularly effective in spacious bedrooms where a conventional headboard might look undersized.
The important trade-off is width, not depth.
Extended is actually slightly slimmer front-to-back than Round and Square in our installed measurements.
But it's approximately 60 cm (23.6 inches) wider on each side of a centred standard upholstered frame.
Customers should measure the available headboard wall carefully, especially when nightstands, doorways or windows are nearby.
3. Ara Upholstered Headboard Dimensions: Full, Queen and King
The following are the overall dimensions of the individual headboards, including their stated external width, component depth and height.
Ara Upholstered headboard widths by bed size
| Headboard | Full width | Queen width | King width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round | 169.6 cm (66.8") | 185.6 cm (73.1") | 220.6 cm (86.9") |
| Square | 169.6 cm (66.8") | 185.6 cm (73.1") | 220.6 cm (86.9") |
| Pillow | 160.6 cm (63.2") | 176.6 cm (69.5") | 212.6 cm (83.7") |
| Extended | 278.3 cm (109.6") | 293.7 cm (115.6") | 330.2 cm (130.0") |
All four headboard heights and component depths are consistent across the three North American bed sizes.
Ara Upholstered headboard height and component depth
| Headboard | Height | Component depth |
|---|---|---|
| Round | 89.25 cm (35.1") | 7.1 cm (2.8") |
| Square | 89.25 cm (35.1") | 7.1 cm (2.8") |
| Pillow | 92.94 cm (36.6") | 27.89 cm (11.0") |
| Extended | 102.25 cm (40.3") | 6.4 cm (2.5") |
These are headboard component dimensions.
For planning your bedroom, the more important front-to-back measurement is the depth of the complete assembled bed, which is shown below.
What Do These Measurements Reveal?
Pillow is actually narrower than Round and Square for the same bed size, even though it requires more depth.
That means Pillow can be a good option when wall width is constrained but there is enough room between the bed and the opposite wall.
Extended is the opposite.
It's by far the widest headboard, but its slim depth helps preserve floor space in the front-to-back direction.
These distinctions are more useful than simply labelling some headboards “small” and others “large.”
4. What Is the Total Installed Depth of Each Ara Bed?
For bedroom planning, use the full front-to-back depth of the assembled bed, including its headboard.
The following measurements represent the complete installed Ara Upholstered configuration.
Total installed depth of Ara Upholstered beds by headboard and size
| Headboard | Full | Queen | King |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round | 83" (210.8 cm) | 88" (223.5 cm) | 88" (223.5 cm) |
| Square | 83" (210.8 cm) | 88" (223.5 cm) | 88" (223.5 cm) |
| Pillow | 87.5" (222.3 cm) | 92.5" (235.0 cm) | 92.5" (235.0 cm) |
| Extended | 82.75" (210.2 cm) | 87.75" (222.9 cm) | 87.75" (222.9 cm) |
These figures are especially important for customers comparing headboards.
For a Queen or King bed:
- Round and Square require 88 inches of depth.
- Pillow requires 92.5 inches.
- Extended requires 87.75 inches.
That's a meaningful difference in a smaller room.
Example: Choosing a Queen Bed for a Compact Bedroom
Suppose you have limited space between the headboard wall and a dresser.
A Queen Ara with Round or Square headboard uses approximately 223.5 cm of front-to-back room.
Choosing Pillow increases that to approximately 235 cm.
That's an additional 11.4 cm (4.5 inches).
The extra depth might not matter in a large primary bedroom.
But in a smaller room, those centimetres can affect the space available for walking or opening drawers.
Our recommendation is to measure the full assembled depth, not just the mattress dimensions. If you'd like help working out what fits, you can book a free design consultation.
5. Round vs. Square Bed Frames: What's the Difference?
Ara Upholstered also lets customers choose the shape of the frame itself.
Both designs share the underlying structural foundation.
Round Frame
Round has softer exterior edges and a more contemporary appearance.
It's our most popular frame style.
It works especially well when paired with a Round headboard to create a consistent, curved silhouette.
Square Frame
Square uses straighter edges for a more classic, structured appearance.
It can create a sharper visual contrast with a curved headboard.
This is why we wanted the headboard and frame to be independent choices.
A customer might love the Round frame but prefer a Square headboard, or vice versa.
Are the Frame Dimensions Different?
The nominal outside dimensions are the same for Round and Square within the same size and storage configuration.
The difference is the exterior styling.
6. Ara Upholstered Frame Dimensions
These measurements are for the bed frame itself, excluding the headboard.
They are useful for understanding the base's footprint.
Ara Upholstered frame dimensions by size, non-storage and storage
| Size | Non-storage frame, W × D × H | Storage frame, W × D × H |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 158.5 × 203.5 × 37 cm (62.4 × 80.1 × 14.6") | 162.3 × 203.5 × 37 cm (63.9 × 80.1 × 14.6") |
| Queen | 173.5 × 216.5 × 37 cm (68.3 × 85.2 × 14.6") | 177.7 × 216.5 × 37 cm (70.0 × 85.2 × 14.6") |
| King | 210.5 × 216.5 × 37 cm (82.9 × 85.2 × 14.6") | 213.9 × 216.5 × 37 cm (84.2 × 85.2 × 14.6") |
W = width, D = front-to-back depth, H = frame height.
The storage version is slightly wider because of the exterior drawer configuration.
The frame dimensions don't include the full headboard width or its additional installed depth.
Why the Full Headboard Width Matters
A Queen non-storage frame is 173.5 cm wide.
But its Round or Square headboard is 185.6 cm wide.
And its Extended headboard is 293.7 cm wide.
That's a substantial difference.
When checking whether an Ara will fit, customers should evaluate both the frame and headboard dimensions.
7. Ara Wood: Which Design Should You Choose?
Ara Wood brings a different design language to the same underlying structural philosophy.
It was created for customers who prefer the appearance of wood rather than upholstered furniture.
In Canada, Ara Wood offers Round and Fluted headboards, along with Fluted and raised Leg-frame designs.
Round Wood Headboard: Modern, Airy and Elevated
We created the Round wood headboard to feel modern, fresh and visually light.
The curved edges soften the look of the wood and create an elevated, contemporary silhouette.
It's a good choice for someone who wants visible wood grain without a highly decorative design.
Fluted Wood Headboard: Classic, Detailed and Aspirational
Fluted has a different character.
Its repeating vertical elements create texture, depth and a more crafted-looking appearance.
We designed it to feel more classic, decorative and aspirational.
The visual detailing gives the headboard a stronger presence.
This is primarily a design preference, not a claim that Fluted is structurally superior.
Raised Leg Frame: Lighter Visual Presence
The raised Leg frame creates more visible space beneath the bed.
It's a good fit for customers who prefer furniture that feels lighter and more open.
This design is non-storage.
Fluted Frame: Architectural Detailing and Storage Choice
The Fluted frame emphasizes visible wood detailing and a more grounded appearance.
It can be selected with or without storage.
That makes it the appropriate Ara Wood frame for customers who want integrated drawers.
8. Ara Wood Dimensions: Every Frame and Headboard
Ara Wood Frame Dimensions
Ara Wood frame dimensions by size
| Frame | Full, W × D × H | Queen, W × D × H | King, W × D × H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raised Leg | 153 × 201.2 × 35.5 cm | 168.2 × 214 × 35.5 cm | 204.4 × 214 × 35.5 cm |
| Fluted | 153.8 × 201.7 × 35.5 cm | 169 × 214.5 × 35.5 cm | 205.2 × 214.5 × 35.5 cm |
| Fluted Storage | 153.8 × 201.7 × 35.5 cm | 169 × 214.5 × 35.5 cm | 205.2 × 214.5 × 35.5 cm |
The Fluted storage and non-storage designs have the same nominal external frame dimensions in the technical reference.
Ara Wood Headboard Dimensions
Ara Wood headboard widths by bed size
| Headboard | Full width | Queen width | King width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round Wood | 172.4 cm (67.9") | 187.6 cm (73.9") | 223 cm (87.8") |
| Fluted Wood | 170.4 cm (67.1") | 186.4 cm (73.4") | 222.4 cm (87.6") |
Ara Wood headboard depth and height
| Headboard | Depth | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Round Wood | 5 cm (2.0") | 77.5 cm (30.5") |
| Fluted Wood | 5.5 cm (2.2") | 89.2 cm (35.1") |
The wood frame dimensions above exclude the headboard.
When planning the complete installation, check the overall footprint of the exact combination in the current configurator. Don't assume the sum of the individual component depths is the precise installed measurement, because connection geometry can affect the result.
9. How Should You Choose Between Regular Seam, French Seam and Channel Tufted?
Beyond the frame and headboard shape, upholstery details can change the overall design considerably.
We developed different finishes because customers have different tastes.
These treatments are primarily aesthetic choices, not differences in the underlying steel-frame strength.
Regular Seam: Clean, Modern and Classic
Regular Seam creates a clean, understated look.
It's the option we'd recommend for someone who wants the silhouette of the bed to take centre stage.
It works especially well with modern, minimalist and timeless bedrooms.
French Seam: Relaxed and Bohemian
French Seam has a softer, more casual appearance.
We developed it for customers who prefer a relaxed or boho-inspired design language.
It can add an intentional textile detail without making the overall headboard feel formal.
Channel Tufted: Elevated and Aspirational
Channel Tufted introduces repeated upholstered detailing.
We created it to give the bed a more elevated, refined and aspirational appearance.
It's particularly suited to customers who want their headboard to feel like a prominent design feature.
Are All Finishes Available on Every Headboard?
No. The supported finish combinations depend on the selected headboard.
For example, the design references associate Regular Seam with the simpler upholstered styles, Regular and French Seam options with Pillow, and French Seam and Channel Tufted treatments with Extended.
Customers should use the current configurator to confirm available combinations rather than assume every seam finish applies to every design.
10. Which Ara Fabric and Colour Should You Choose?
We wanted Ara Upholstered to use the same familiar fabric approach as our sofas.
That means customers can choose from Cozey upholstery materials, colours and textures while benefiting from removable, washable covers.
Depending on current availability, Ara fabrics include options from our performance fabric, chenille, Aquaforte™, velvet and bouclé families.
Each has a different texture and appearance.
Consider the Whole Bedroom
A lighter fabric may help create an airy, understated room.
A darker or richer colour may create more contrast and make the bed a stronger focal point.
Texture also matters.
A soft-looking chenille can create a different mood from a smoother performance fabric or a more pronounced bouclé.
Consider Maintenance
All supported Ara Upholstered covers are removable and machine-washable according to their specific care instructions.
But washable doesn't mean stain-proof, snag-proof or maintenance-free.
Pet hair, spills, fading and everyday wear can affect fabrics differently.
We recommend ordering available fabric swatches before making the final decision.
This helps customers assess the material in their actual bedroom lighting and alongside their existing furniture.
11. Should You Choose Storage or Non-Storage?
Ara gives customers the ability to choose storage based on their needs rather than their preferred upholstered frame shape.
For Ara Upholstered, Round and Square are available with or without drawers.
For Ara Wood, the Fluted frame offers a storage version, while the raised Leg frame is non-storage.
Why We Chose Four Side-Access Drawers
We wanted customers to access belongings without lifting the mattress or disturbing someone using the bed.
Ara storage configurations include four drawers, two on each side.
Each drawer opens independently.
You can retrieve bedding or clothing without removing the pillows and duvet or lifting the sleeping surface.
How Much Storage Do the Drawers Provide?
The following are the nominal internal dimensions of each drawer.
Nominal interior dimensions and volume of each Ara storage drawer
| Bed size | Interior dimensions per drawer | Approximate internal volume per drawer |
|---|---|---|
| Full | 64.9 × 63.4 × 12.85 cm | 53 L |
| Queen | 72.4 × 69.8 × 12.85 cm | 65 L |
| King | 90.7 × 69.87 × 12.85 cm | 81 L |
With four drawers, the approximate nominal internal volumes total 212 L for Full, 260 L for Queen and 326 L for King.
Each drawer has a separate maximum load of 9 kg (20 lb).
Actual usable storage depends on the size and shape of the belongings.
What Is the Main Disadvantage?
Side drawers require room to open.
A bedside table, wall or other furniture may block access.
Measure the surrounding floor space before choosing storage.
The outside frame dimensions alone don't tell you whether all four drawers will be convenient to use.
12. Can You Change Your Ara Bed After Buying It?
Yes. This is one of the most important characteristics of the Ara Bed System.
We didn't want customization to end once a customer placed an order.
Within the supported product family, customers can change selected components without replacing the entire steel foundation.
Can You Change the Fabric Colour?
Yes.
Customers can purchase compatible replacement covers for the upholstered frame and headboard.
For example, someone who initially chose a light neutral fabric can later select another available colour without replacing the steel frame.
Changing the upholstery is separate from changing the structural foundation.
Can You Change the Headboard?
Yes.
To change from one upholstered headboard design to another, customers need to purchase the new compatible headboard and its appropriate covers.
The main steel bed structure can remain.
This allows a customer to change the character of the bed—for example, from Round to Pillow or from Square to Extended—without starting again with an entirely new bed.
Can You Convert From Non-Storage to Storage?
Yes.
Ara was designed so customers can retain their metal structural frame and headboard when changing between supported storage and non-storage configurations.
The conversion requires the appropriate exterior bed-frame components and covers.
To add storage, the customer also needs the drawer components.
To remove storage, the drawers are removed and the appropriate non-storage exterior frame components are installed.
The foundation does not need to be replaced simply because the storage configuration changes.
Can You Change the Bed-Frame Shape?
Within a supported product family, customers can also change compatible exterior frame components and covers while retaining the steel foundation.
The correct combination of panels, upholstery and hardware matters.
How Do You Purchase the Right Components?
Contact Cozey's Customer Happiness team or use the current replacement-component options to confirm compatibility and availability.
Individual parts, covers and conversion components should be matched to the correct bed size and production version.
Do not assume that every component across distinct product families is interchangeable.
13. What Is the Most Popular Ara Configuration?
Our most popular upholstered combination is:
Round headboard + Round bed frame + Storage.
There are several reasons we believe this configuration resonates with customers.
The rounded design is modern but versatile.
It fits naturally into many interiors without being overly decorative.
It's also a more accessible headboard choice than Pillow or Extended.
And the four side-access drawers add practical storage without changing the fundamental sleeping structure.
For many customers, the combination provides a strong balance of appearance, price and functionality.
Would We Recommend It to Everyone?
Not necessarily.
Someone who frequently sits upright in bed may prefer Pillow.
Someone designing a spacious hotel-inspired primary bedroom may prefer Extended.
Someone who loves architectural lines may choose Square.
And someone who prefers wood grain may be happier with Ara Wood.
Our most popular combination is a useful starting point, not the correct answer for every bedroom.
14. Which Ara Configuration Is Best for Your Needs?
Recommended Ara configuration by main priority
| Your main priority | Our recommendation |
|---|---|
| Modern, versatile design | Round headboard + Round frame |
| Classic, structured bedroom | Square headboard and/or Square frame |
| Sitting up to read or watch TV | Pillow headboard |
| Luxurious hotel-inspired bedroom | Extended headboard |
| Limited front-to-back room | Round, Square or Extended rather than Pillow |
| Limited headboard wall width | Compare Round, Square and Pillow widths; avoid Extended if space is tight |
| Maximum built-in storage | Storage frame with four drawers |
| More open appearance beneath a wood bed | Ara Wood raised Leg frame |
| Modern, airy wood aesthetic | Ara Wood Round headboard |
| Classic, detailed wood design | Ara Wood Fluted headboard |
| Relaxed, boho upholstery detail | French Seam where offered |
| Elevated upholstered detailing | Channel Tufted where offered |
| Easiest upholstery refresh | Ara Upholstered with replacement covers |
| Broadly popular combination | Round headboard + Round frame + Storage |
Final Thoughts: A Bed That Can Feel Like Your Own
When we created Ara, we wanted to make the bed-buying experience more personal.
We wanted customers to choose a headboard that suited their design preferences, a frame that worked with their bedroom, storage that served their needs and fabrics that reflected their style.
We also wanted Ara to share some of the strongest practical advantages of Cozey sofas: modular construction, compact delivery, removable and machine-washable upholstery, and the ability to replace or change individual components.
That flexibility was part of the original product brief.
A customer can begin with a simple Round bed in a neutral fabric, then choose a different upholstered headboard, change the covers or add storage later using the compatible components.
Someone who prefers wood can choose a different design language through Ara Wood.
The important thing is that customers shouldn't have to accept one fixed interpretation of what their bedroom should look like.
Ara was designed to be more than a bed. It's a personalized bedroom system that balances structural support, thoughtful design and the freedom to make your space your own. Explore the Ara Bed System.