For many of us, IKEA has long been one of the first places we turn to when furnishing a flat or bedroom without spending a fortune. Myself included. I still remember the excitement surrounding the opening of one of the first IKEA stores in France in the 1980s. We would spend hours exploring the bedroom displays, the furniture with names we could barely pronounce, and all those decorating ideas that felt so new at the time.
Decades later, that habit has stayed with us. When looking for a bed, bookcase, chest of drawers or coffee table, IKEA is still often one of the first retailers we check. So it is hardly surprising that many of us also search for an IKEA four-poster bed.
Does IKEA Actually Sell a Four-Poster Bed?
Photo credit: Ikea
Yes. Despite the limited search results, IKEA currently sells a genuine four-poster bed: the VITARNA. However, the choice more or less ends there.
If you are looking for a wooden four-poster bed, a black frame, a more romantic design or simply a wider range of styles and finishes, you will need to look elsewhere.
The basic model is a white steel frame with exceptionally clean lines. Its design is deliberately minimalist: four upright posts connected by a rectangular overhead frame, with no ornamentation or decorative details.
This simplicity means you can leave the frame bare in a contemporary bedroom or dress it with fabrics, sheer curtains and other accessories.
Photo credit: Ikea
KEA also offers a second VITARNA configuration with SKÅDIS pegboards at the head of the bed. These panels come in several finishes, including white, wood-effect and black, providing a few more ways to personalise the bed and attach accessories from the SKÅDIS range.
Nevertheless, the offering still centres on the same bed. These are different VITARNA configurations rather than a genuine choice of separate four-poster bed designs.
At the time of writing, the white 140 × 200 cm VITARNA frame is listed at €169. However, take care when comparing this price with other beds: it covers the frame only, with the bed base and mattress sold separately. Check exactly what is included before deciding whether another model is more or less expensive.
The good news is that there is now a much wider choice of four-poster beds, including affordable options. Let us explore the alternatives to help you find a bed that suits your bedroom, style and budget.
What Sizes Does the IKEA Four-Poster Bed Come In?
IKEA currently offers the VITARNA in just one size: 140 × 200 cm. If you are looking for an IKEA four-poster bed measuring 160 × 200 cm or 180 × 200 cm, these sizes are not available in the current range.
This is a significant limitation for anyone who wants more sleeping space, particularly when sharing a bed. You will need to look at other manufacturers, where the choice of sizes is much broader.
Before choosing an alternative, check both the mattress size and the overall dimensions of the frame. With its upright posts and overhead frame, a four-poster bed takes up more visual space, and sometimes more physical space, than a standard bed with the same mattress size.
If 140 × 200 cm does not meet your needs, broadening your search will give you access to more sizes, as well as a much wider range of materials, colours and styles.
Why Look at Alternatives to the IKEA Four-Poster Bed?
The main drawback of IKEA’s offering is not necessarily the VITARNA itself. If you want a simple, white, relatively inexpensive frame with clean lines, it may be perfectly suitable. The real limitation is the lack of choice.
A four-poster bed is not quite like other pieces of furniture. Of course, its main purpose is still to support a bed base and mattress, but we also choose it—often primarily—for what it brings to a room. Its frame immediately draws the eye and adds height and definition to the sleeping area. It can turn a very simple bedroom into something romantic, bohemian, contemporary, exotic or dramatic.
However, if you dream of a wooden four-poster bed, a black frame for an industrial bedroom, a more decorative design for a romantic setting or simply a bed with a stronger sense of character, IKEA’s catalogue soon reaches its limits.
This is precisely where the alternatives become interesting. And contrary to a fairly common assumption, looking beyond IKEA does not necessarily mean doubling your budget. Four-poster frames are now available at comparable prices, sometimes with a bed base already included. You simply need to compare like for like.
Alternatives to the IKEA Four-Poster Bed: White Metal Frames
If you like the look of the VITARNA but want to compare options before buying, white metal four-poster beds are the obvious place to start. They retain that light, airy feel while offering, depending on the model, more decorative lines, different heights or additional detailing.
White is also exceptionally easy to work with. In a small bedroom, a white frame blends into the surroundings more readily than a substantial black one. Paired with white bedding and a few natural materials, it can look distinctly contemporary; dressed with sheer curtains and soft pastel fabrics, it immediately feels more romantic.
Metal Four-Poster Beds
Metal frames, often in black or white, work beautifully in industrial, modern or romantic interiors, particularly wrought-iron designs. Their visually lighter appearance makes them a good fit for smaller spaces. Depending on the model, they can feature decorative curves or minimalist lines.
When comparing these models with the VITARNA, pay particular attention to the total price, overall dimensions, height, whether a bed base is included and the maximum weight capacity. A bed priced a few dozen euros higher may offer equally good value if some components are already included.
Alternatives to the IKEA Four-Poster Bed: Choose Wood for a Warmer Bedroom
This is probably where the difference from IKEA’s offering becomes most apparent. Wood completely changes the feel of a four-poster bed. While white metal creates a clean-lined, relatively understated frame, wood brings more texture, warmth and presence.
A light wood four-poster bed works particularly well in a natural, Scandinavian, bohemian or Japandi bedroom. Paired with linen, washed cotton, cream tones and a few natural fibres, it creates a wonderfully soothing atmosphere without the need for lots of decorative accessories.
Wood can also suit a more traditional or country chic setting, depending on the finish and frame design. This makes it a particularly appealing option if you started your search at IKEA but realised that the VITARNA’s white metal look does not suit your home.
Again, do not compare prices alone. Check the wood species or type of wood used, the overall dimensions, whether a bed base is included and the delivery terms. With such a large piece of furniture, these differences can matter just as much as the initial price.
Premium Alternatives: When a Four-Poster Bed Becomes the Centrepiece
If your budget stretches beyond entry-level models, the choice opens up considerably. A four-poster bed can then become a true centrepiece around which the entire bedroom is designed.
Frames become more substantial or intricate, the wood can have more character, and metal designs can take on a much more architectural feel. At this point, the aim is no longer necessarily to find “a cheaper equivalent to the VITARNA”, but to use the four-poster design to give your bedroom a distinctive identity.
Which Four-Poster Bed Suits Your Bedroom Style?
One of the greatest appeals of a four-poster bed is how completely its character can change depending on the material and how you dress it. Before choosing a model on price alone, it is worth considering the atmosphere you want to create.
Romantic bedroom
In a romantic bedroom, white or grey frames and slender designs work particularly well with light sheer curtains, sumptuous bedding and a few soft pastel touches.
There is no need to turn the bed into a princess’s castle: carefully chosen fabrics and soft lighting are often enough to create that comforting, enveloping feeling associated with a four-poster bed.
Country Chic Bedroom
For a country chic atmosphere, light, natural or gently whitewashed wood is particularly suitable. Pair it with textured materials, linen, natural colours and perhaps a few subtle floral patterns.
A four-poster bed can then bring character to the room without making it feel overly formal.
Industrial Bedroom
In an industrial interior, black metal is almost the aesthetic opposite of the white VITARNA.
It gives the bed a strong outline and works particularly well with raw wood, grey tones, walls with character and a few details inspired by workshops and lofts.
Princess-Style Bedroom
A princess-style bedroom is more about how you dress the four-poster frame. A light-coloured frame with sheer curtains, soft fabrics and delicate lighting can create a fairy-tale setting without the need for an extremely ornate bed.
For a child’s bedroom, however, make sure that any fabric or decorative element attached to the frame is securely and safely fitted.
Japandi Bedroom
In a Japandi bedroom, focus on restraint and simple lines. A natural wood four-poster bed works beautifully, but a black frame in wood or metal can also introduce an elegant graphic contrast.
Pair it with plain bedding, natural materials and a palette of beige, cream, off-white or light brown. Keep any sheer curtains very light, or leave them out altogether: here, the frame’s main purpose is to define the sleeping area without overwhelming the room.
Bohemian Bedroom
Finally, bohemian style allows much more freedom. Light wood, white-painted or whitewashed wood, bamboo, natural fabrics, loosely draped sheers, baskets, woven fibres and a few plants can all complement the bed.
Earthy shades, terracotta, ochre and sage green work particularly well, but you can also introduce patterns and richer colours for a more expressive bohemian look.
Fairy lights or a natural-fibre pendant light can add to the warm atmosphere. Just avoid piling on too many elements: the four-poster frame already has a strong visual presence.
How Can You Personalise a Four-Poster Bed?
One advantage of a simple four-poster frame is that it can provide the starting point for very different looks. The same black bed, for example, can feel striking and masculine in a black-and-white bedroom, or much softer and more natural when paired with light wood, beige, linen and natural materials in a Japandi setting.
Black Four-Poster Bed in a Contemporary Bedroom
Paired with white, taupe and a few graphic patterns, a black four-poster bed immediately defines the space and gives the bedroom a stronger, more sophisticated character.
Black Four-Poster Bed in a Minimalist Japandi Setting
In a lighter interior, paired with wood and natural tones, the same type of black frame feels much softer and highlights the bedroom’s clean lines.
Sheer curtains are, of course, the easiest way to change its appearance. A very light white fabric creates an airy, romantic effect, while heavier textiles make the bed feel more enclosed and cosy. You can also drape just part of the frame rather than surrounding the entire bed, which often gives a more contemporary result.
Lighting deserves careful consideration too. Warm lighting near the bed is generally more flattering than a very bright ceiling light. Fairy lights can work in certain settings, provided they are used sparingly and are suitable for the intended use.
Finally, the frame’s colour does not necessarily have to stay the same. Some metal or wooden beds can be repainted, provided the surface is properly prepared and the paint is suitable for the material. This can be a useful way to achieve a colour that is difficult to find in the shops, but always check the manufacturer’s recommendations before
A four-poster bed is more than a piece of furniture: it sets the mood. Explore our selection to find the ideal model for your home, and browse our website for more decorating advice and inspiration.
Found Your Four-Poster Bed, but Still Imagining the Rest of the Bedroom?
Choosing the bed is the first step. Then comes everything around it: colours, furniture, bedding, lighting and accessories all need to work together to create a truly harmonious bedroom.
Working with your room, your bed and your ideas, we can help you visualise the transformation or develop a complete interior design scheme, depending on the level of support you need.
IKEA Four-Poster Bed or an Alternative: Which Should You Choose?
The VITARNA meets a very specific brief: a white, minimalist, affordable metal four-poster bed, available only in 140 × 200 cm. If those criteria match your project exactly, it is certainly worth considering.
But as soon as you want a different size, another colour, wood, a more romantic design or simply more choice, IKEA’s range quickly shows its limitations. This is where looking at alternatives becomes worthwhile: there is now a much broader selection of four-poster beds, including affordable options.
Natural wood, black or white metal, romantic, bohemian, country chic or industrial styling, or something more dramatic: there are now four-poster beds that can become a genuine bedroom centrepiece in all kinds of interiors.
There is no need to give up on your four-poster bed simply because you have not found the ideal model at IKEA. Compare materials, sizes, what is actually included in the price and, above all, the style you want to create in your bedroom. The right four-poster bed may turn out to be quite different from the one you had in mind when you first started looking at IKEA.
FAQ: Common Questions About IKEA Four-Poster Beds
Does IKEA Offer Several Four-Poster Bed Models?
The current range centres mainly on the VITARNA, a white steel frame. IKEA also offers a configuration with SKÅDIS pegboards at the head of the bed, available in several finishes. These are variations on the same design rather than a full collection of four-poster beds.
Is a Bed Base Included with the IKEA VITARNA Four-Poster Bed?
Not with the VITARNA frame sold on its own: the bed base and mattress must be purchased separately. This is an important point when comparing its price with another four-poster bed that already includes a base.
Does IKEA Sell a Wooden Four-Poster Bed?
The current VITARNA range uses a steel frame. If you are looking for the warmth of a genuine wooden four-poster bed, you will need to explore alternatives from other manufacturers.
Can You Add Curtains or Sheer Drapes to an IKEA Four-Poster Bed?
The VITARNA’s overhead frame looks well suited to this type of styling. However, choose lightweight fabrics and a suitable fixing method, without affecting the bed’s stability or normal use.
Can You Paint the VITARNA a Different Colour?
Repainting a metal frame is technically possible with suitable preparation and paint, but it does involve modifying the product. Before starting, check the care recommendations and any potential implications for the warranty. If you already know you want a black bed or another finish, buying a model in that colour will often be simpler.
Are Alternatives to the IKEA Four-Poster Bed Always More Expensive?
No. Some models fall within a comparable price range. The key is to check what each offer includes: the frame, bed base, headboard, any accessories and delivery. The advertised price alone is not always enough to make a meaningful comparison.