Meet My Dream Minimalistic, Non-Toxic Bed Frame

If you’re trying to make your bedroom a healthier place to sleep, switching to a natural and non-toxic bed frame can be “foundational.” (See what I did there? 😆)

When I was putting together my new sleep setup—mattress, frame, and all—I wanted to minimize synthetic materials, glues, and other potential toxicants that might “off-gas” into the air I breathe for eight hours a night.

I went with the Afton Bed Frame from Savvy Rest, and after using it for over a month now, I’ve got thoughts. Here’s everything you might want to know—from the setup process to whether or not it creaks, and more.

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. This article is not sponsored, but the bed frame was gifted (thank you!). As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine—I have been a fan of Savvy Rest for many years now.

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P.S. Before I get into all of the details, I want to make sure you know that I have a 20% off promo code for you. Just use the code THEFILTERY20 for 20% off all products.

A Natural, Non-Toxic Bed Frame Makes for a Healthier Bedroom

I have an entire guide on bed frames, so I won’t get too deep into it here. But basically: a bed frame that’s made out of solid wood and finished with a natural/non-toxic finish is going to help you create a healthier bed frame and just generally reduce the number of toxicants in your home.

Why I Chose the Afton From Savvy Rest

Honestly, my bed frame decision ended up being determined by my mattress decision.

I spent quite a bit of time deciding on the Savvy Rest Serenity for my mattress, and then it just kind of made sense to me to get a bed frame from the same brand.

Savvy Rest offers several different bed frames:

• The Afton (the one I got), which is a minimalistic solid wood option.
• The Esmont, which has a headboard.
• And an adjustable bed frame, which allows you to put the mattress at an incline or raise your feet.

There are several reasons why I love Savvy Rest in general:

• They’re a small, employee-owned company (in case you’re trying not to give your money to the big corporations these days).

• They have a LOT of initiatives for safety, sustainability, and transparency across their supply chains. Many of their products carry third-party certifications, they use almost entirely natural and organic materials, and their furniture is made-to-order to reduce waste.

• They also have a lot of other furniture and accessories for a healthier home, like mattresses, bedding, sofas, and more.

As for the bed frames specifically, they are:

• Made of verified sustainable Appalachian hardwood
  • (This is important to me because I live in Ohio and love the Appalachian Mountains. Some parts of the region contain some of the most biodiverse spots in the world! While I appreciate localized material sourcing, I also want to make sure we’re being as responsible as possible when it comes to preserving that biodiversity and preventing deforestation.)

• Made in the USA by expert craftspeople

• Free from any engineered wood (particleboard, MDF, etc). (They only use a very minimal amount of GREENGUARD Gold certified glue.)

• Designed to pair with latex mattresses—no box spring needed

I was really happy to get a bed frame that was made from natural materials, is low-VOC, and can easily be worked into any style of bedroom.

I get that a lot of interior designers will tell you to keep the headboard for aesthetics, but I don’t really use a headboard (I’m not sitting up in bed for long periods of time) and I decided to go with a more minimalistic vibe.

In fact, that’s one of my favorite things about this bed frame. I’m just generally more of a minimalistic person and I like how beautiful yet simple this bed frame is.

Plus, I kind of like the idea of having a stand-alone bed frame and then the option of making my own headboard. You could keep the same bed frame for decades and then just swap out the headboard every once in a while if you wanted to change the aesthetic in the bedroom, give it to a different family member, or whatever. There are so many headboard ideas on Pinterest! This bed frame would fit with so many different vibes—minimalist, modern, cozy, kids’ room, etc.

You can also add Savvy Rest’s Esmont headboard separately and add it to your Afton bed frame later on if you decide you want it!

In terms of color options: Savvy Rest’s bed frames are available in several different finishes, from light to dark. (Unfinished, Linseed Oil, Cedar, Mahogany, or Walnut.)

Initially, I was going to get the Untreated option because I was feeling indecisive and figured I could finish it myself another time if I wanted to. But ultimately, I ended up going with the Cedar, and I’m so glad I did because it matches the bedside tables my dad made me. 😊

Why didn’t I go for an upholstered or metal bed frame?

When I got really sick from mold exposure, we had to get rid of a lot of our upholstered furniture because it couldn’t be adequately cleaned from mold spores. It was sad and stressful. So, if something like that were to ever happen again, this bed frame would be easier to clean, and I’d likely be able to keep it. (I might just need to replace the inner slats because they aren’t finished and therefore mold spores can get into them. Or I could find the time to just finish them myself!)

I didn’t get metal because, well, it’s not as pretty! Also, some health conscious consumers worry about the potential for metal bed frames to be conductors of electricity and increase EMF exposure while you sleep. The verdict is still out on EMFs’ potential impact on health, but I can’t blame folks for taking the precautionary principle either, especially if you’re sensitive.

The Price

The price for the Afton ranges from $975 to $1,525. (They have twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and CA king.)

It’s definitely an investment for many folks. While you can certainly get a cheaper bed frame at somewhere like IKEA or Wayfair, the Savvy Rest pricing is pretty comparable to places like Crate & Barrel or popular direct-to-consumer brands like Thuma.

I never blame anyone for going with the more affordable option—life is expensive! But if you have the means to invest in furniture that you know is sustainably-sourced, where the employees are paid living wages (something that can’t necessarily be said for places like Wayfair), and that won’t just end up in a landfill in five years, then why not?

*If you’re on a tighter budget and are choosing between spending more on a non-toxic mattress or a non-toxic bed frame, I would absolutely say to prioritize the mattress. Not only does the mattress have a bigger impact on your overall toxic load since it’s right against your body, but it also has a bigger impact on things like body pain and sleep quality.

Also, they do have financing available through Affirm if that’s a good option for you.

First Impression & Setup

This is no IKEA furniture—the setup was very easy. In fact, the bed frame was easier to put together than the mattress was!

The hardest part was pulling the wooden slats out of the box. (The bed frame came in one long box.) After that, you basically just slip the side rails into the metal supports and then lay all of the slats down, aligning the holes with the little wooden pegs.

It took me less than half an hour to do by myself. You don’t even need any tools.

Here are the full directions that came in the box:

Just like with the mattress, there was no smell when I pulled the wood out of the box. As someone who is sensitive to smells, I really appreciate a scent-less new piece of furniture!

It was a little bit dusty though, so I did wipe it down with a wet rag as I was putting it together.

You can tell right away that the wood is high-quality. This isn’t the cheap stuff! It’s sturdy, smooth to the touch, and has a beautiful finish. I really like how it has a matte finish as opposed to a shiny one. There are no “imperfections” in the wood, like holes or notches. There are only the swirls of natural wood, which I personally think are lovely.

Here’s a very sped-up version of me putting together the mattress and the bed frame:

My Experience After Sleeping On It

I’ve only had it for about a month, so I can’t say what will happen over time, but as of right now, it’s super sturdy, pretty quiet, and it doesn’t move or wiggle. It does sometimes have the slightest creakiness when I move around, but I didn’t notice it until I actually paid attention for the purposes of writing this review.

Because the slats are close together and made from the same solid wood, it provides a really supportive base for my latex mattress—no sagging or weird dips. It also feels like my mattress stays put. There isn’t any sliding or shifting on the frame.

All-in-all, everything feels great and I have zero complaints so far.

Other Random Things You Might Want To Know:

• There’s 12 inches of space between the floor and the bottom of the bed frame, which means there’s plenty of space for storage underneath if you need it.

• At the time of publication, the lead time is about 4 weeks.

• Shipping is free within the contiguous U.S.

• Unfortunately, there are no returns. This is partly because they’re made-to-order and partly because returning items to resell them would require the company to ‘sanitize’ the furniture using products that most health-conscious consumers don’t want on their products.

• If you do decide to get one of these bed frames, keeping it clean is easy. You can literally just use a wet rag to dust it. (If you’ve been following my work for a while, you know how important it is to dust regularly, as toxic chemicals can stick to household dust and become a primary route of ingestion for things like PFAS, phthalates, etc.) If you need something more than water, you can use a non-toxic dish soap or all-purpose cleaner. Just don’t use anything super harsh because it can damage the finish.

How It Pairs With My Savvy Rest Serenity Mattress

As I mentioned, I also got a new mattress from Savvy Rest. You can see my whole review on that here.

I felt good knowing that these two were literally made for each other, and that my mattress has the proper base it needs to ensure longevity. It’s got sturdy slats that are about 2-3 inches apart—close enough for proper support while also allowing for optimal airflow. (The all-latex mattress is naturally mold-resistant, but this breathability helps to prevent mold, too!)

Can You Use It With Your Existing Mattress?

Yes! You can use it with any type of mattress (spring, memory foam, etc.), as long as it is the correct size. Depending on what type of mattress you’re using, you may or may not want to add a box spring as well.

Pros & Cons of the Savvy Rest Bed Frame in a Nutshell

Final Verdict

To sum it all up, I am very happy with my Afton bed frame from Savvy Rest and I would definitely recommend it. I’m happy I went with this one! It’s sturdy, it’s got a beautiful smooth matte finish, and it’s just generally well-made. Plus, of course, I’ve got more peace of mind knowing I’ve decreased the amount of toxic chemicals in my bedroom.

Who It’s Best For

• People trying to minimize toxic materials in their bedroom
• Mold-sensitive folks who need good airflow and no upholstered materials
• Couples who want something quiet and sturdy
• Anyone looking for a long-term, sustainable piece of furniture
• Parents looking for kid-safe furniture
• People who want a versatile bed frame that can fit into a variety of different aesthetics

Don’t forget! If you do decide to buy a bed frame (or anything else from Savvy Rest) use the code THEFILTERY20 for 20% off all products.

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