18 Favorite Modern Vintage Beds for a Low Budget

But Robert and I did do a bed switcheroo in our four year-old’s room recently to make it more functional.

Since we exchanged the twin beds for a quintessentially vintage style poster bed though, I’m confident it’s here to stay!

As much as I loved the look of Regan’s twin beds that we added during her toddler bedroom transition from her all white nursery a couple of years ago, we discovered over time that the trundle setup for cousin sleepovers and drawers underneath weren’t used as often as we thought.

She wanted room to sprawl out and lots of extra room for cuddles with mommy and daddy, so I was more than happy to accommodate the request.

After searching for the perfect vintage bed on Facebook Marketplace for a couple of months without any success, I finally sprung for this vintage style poster bed that cost less than $700. It’s absolutely perfect!

Why Large Antique Beds are Hard to Find

The challenging aspect about buying an authentically vintage or antique bed is they can be hard to find in queen and king sizes.

I kept finding plenty of secondhand twin, 3/4, and full sized vintage beds that weren’t large enough for our needs since we wanted a queen sized bed for the bedroom.

Many antique beds were made 48 inches wide, three-quarters of the width of a modern day full (double) mattress. Antique were often made 75 inches in length, the same as a full mattress. You may find antique beds quite a bit shorter than that.

So if you prefer more space for you or your guests to sleep comfortably on a queen or king mattress, opting for a newer vintage style bed might be an easier option than searching for an antique.

I thought it might help to share a list of budget-friendly vintage looking beds that blend modern styles to create a clean, classic bedroom look.

Many of the beds I found are created to look like upscale designer versions for less than $1,000.

Modern Vintage Beds Under $600

Prices reflected are at the time of this post publishing. Prices are subject to change.

Modern Vintage Beds Under $1,000

Prices reflected are at the time of this post publishing. Prices are subject to change.

How to Choose the Best Bed for a Bedroom

1. Set a budget for yourself. Consider buying a bed that doesn’t require a boxspring to reduce overall cost. Or save money by purchasing just a headboard and basic bed frame to stretch the budget.
2. Measure the room. And measure it again. Allow a minimum of 30 inches around each side of the bed and at the end of the bed to leave plenty of walking space.
3. Consider your ceiling height and light fixture. You can create the illusion of higher ceilings in a bedroom by choosing a bed that sits lower to the floor. A bed that sits higher makes a room look smaller. If you want to use a canopy bed in your bedroom, make sure it won’t collide with the light fixture on a low ceiling.
4. Think about the style you prefer most out of the main decorating styles: rustic, cottage, organic modern, midcentury modern, coastal, traditional, eclectic, transitional, boho, Scandinavian, minimalist, industrial, country, contemporary, or glam.

So now I guess I’ll be on the hunt for the perfect nightstands to go with this perfect bed!

As for the bedding, I did a quick Target same-day pickup on a whim to get it all ready in a hurry for Regan. She was so thrilled to sleep in her “big princess bed”! I guarantee her enthusiasm for sleep goes downhill from here. 😉

More Bedroom Decorating Ideas