Simba Jesmond Bed Review: Is the Navy Velvet Bed Worth It?

Simba gifted me this bed frame (and the Natural Hybrid Source mattress) for review. Every opinion below is my own, and I’ve included the things you should weigh up before buying, not just the parts I loved.

When Simba offered me a bed frame to go with the Simba Sleep Natural Hybrid Source mattress I was testing, I chose the Jesmond in navy velvet. I’d wanted an upholstered bed with a statement headboard for ages, and I was curious whether a velvet bed could look this good and still feel solid enough to live with every day. After 2 months of sleeping, reading and lounging on it, here’s my honest take. In this Simba Jesmond bed review, I’ll cover the design, comfort, storage, delivery and how sustainable it really is.

At a glance: Simba Jesmond bed specs

Best for: anyone who wants a statement upholstered bed with storage and a tall headboard for sitting up in bed.

Think twice if: you’d rather wipe furniture clean than vacuum or dust roller it, or your budget is tight.

Design: the reason I chose it

The first thing everyone notices is the headboard. It has a soft, curved shape that is modern and stylish, and in navy velvet it looks rich and calming. It suited my bedroom straight away and works with the off white panelled walls and rattan and natural wood furniture. Simba describes the style as ‘Modern Luxe’ and the curved headboard is also very trendy for 2026 and creates a boutique hotel feel.

The velvet is lovely and soft to touch, with a slight sheen (but not overly shiny like some velvets) that changes in the light. It makes the whole room feel a little more luxurious, which is exactly what I wanted from an upholstered bed. The feet on the bed are dark oak legs in a fluted style which make the bedframe feel elegant. 

If navy isn’t for you, Simba offers the Jesmond in a wide range of 18 colours and fabrics, from neutral greys, warm chocolates, and ecru to olive and oxblood, plus chenille, fleece and tweed fabrics.

Comfort: made for reading in bed

This is where the Jesmond surprised me most. The headboard is tall enough that I can sit right back against it with a pillow behind me and read comfortably, without the top digging into my shoulders. I can lean my head right back against the headboard and it is still supported as the headboard is comfortable and padded. Compared to the majority of bed frames which cut off around shoulder height when sat in bed, this was my favourite feature about the Jesmond. If you read, work or watch TV in bed, the headboard height makes a real difference.

The padding is soft enough to lean against for long stretches, and the curved edges mean there are no hard corners. If you have lower ceilings like I do, then this taller headboard can elongate the vertical height of the room, making it feel taller. 

Build quality: sturdy and quiet

I was half expecting an upholstered bed to wobble or creak a bit, but the Jesmond has been solid from the first night. There are no creaks when I turn over, sit up or move on the bed as with my previous wooden bed. It feels very sturdy and well put together. The feet are also very sturdy and I love their fluted style. The bed frame height is a suitable height off the floor with the mattress resting on top of it so when you sit on the edge of the mattress your feet touch the floor firmly, it is not too high or too low. This bed frame would be a suitable choice for someone who might struggle with getting in and out of the bed and wanted something with a well considered ergonomic height.

Storage

I chose the base with 4 drawers, as I knew I needed more storage in my bedroom which is a big plus in a smaller bedroom where there’s not room to add another set of drawers. There was plenty of room for bedding in one of them, my rotational summer/winter duvet in another, and my workout clothes and pyjamas in the other two. I open the drawers multiple times a day to grab clothes and pyjamas from them so they get a lot of use! Every time they slide open and shut easily and they seem very sturdy and not like they will break. This very smooth upgrade was a nice comparison to my old second hand bed, which was at the end of its life and had tired wheels on the bottom of the drawers which would rattle noisily when using the drawers.

Simba offers four base designs with three storage options (2 drawers, 4 drawers or ottoman which lifts up), so you can choose the no storage option if you’d rather keep the cost down.

Delivery and assembly

Simba’s team delivered and assembled the bed for me, so I didn’t have to build anything myself. The VIP Home delivery and assembly service was great and very efficient. This included a complete set up and packaging removal and is £100. I got a text from the delivery company 3 days before to confirm if the day was suitable for me. Once confirming I then got a 3 hour timeframe window and the delivery team were on time as scheduled. They were very efficient and two men carried in the bed which arrived in 3 parts (the bottom half, the top half and the headboard). It took them just 20 mins to assemble the bed and the headboard which was ideal for me as I had a very busy schedule that day and I didn’t have to worry about assembling it. After they were done they took all the packaging away which I was surprised at as I thought I would have to dispose of this myself, so this was great for how tidy they were. I must say, I had problems opening the drawers which I initially thought were stuck, but after contacting the Customer Service team, who replied within the hour, they advised me that you need to cut the fabric beneath the drawers so the drawer will open. This fabric is there to protect the drawers from sliding open during transit and damaging the product, so I was glad this was there. The fabric can just be tucked into the drawers like mine has, or if you really don’t want to see it you could cut it tight up to the top edge to get rid of it.

Simba says the bed arrives in two to four boxes depending on size and which base option you go for (with drawers or not), and the largest headboard box is around 148cm tall, so check it will fit up your stairs.

Standard delivery for bed bases and frames is £30. If you want your old mattress to be removed and recycled you can choose the Mattress Removal & Recycling Service for £50 as a paid add-on at checkout. I really like that Simba offers this, as it helps keep old mattresses out of landfill.

How sustainable is it (and why it matters)?

Sustainability isn’t just about doing the right thing for the planet. It often comes down to very practical things: a bed that’s built to last means you’re not paying to replace it in a few years, you’re not wrestling with another flat pack frame that starts to wobble, and you’re not sending a bulky bed to landfill. A well made bed also tends to hold its value better if you ever sell it on. And as the bedroom is where you spend a big part of your life, knowing what your furniture is made from is worth a few minutes of research.

I look at every product through the same lens, and I try to separate what’s verified from what’s marketing.

What’s good:

• Made in the UK. Simba says the Jesmond is made in the UK in Yorkshire by experienced craftspeople, which means a shorter supply chain than beds shipped from overseas. This is also great to support the local UK economy and keep manufacturing local.
• FSC certified wood. Simba says the wood in the headboard and bed frame uses FSC certified wood, meaning it comes from responsibly managed forests.
• B Corp company. Simba has been a Certified B Corp since February 2023, with an overall score of 97.5 according to B Lab’s public directory.
• A bed you keep for years. A sturdy frame with a 10 year guarantee against manufacturing defects is likely to last far longer than a cheap flat-pack bed, and that’s one of the best things you can do for sustainability. This also saves money in the long term, and investing in a quality bed frame is far better than a cheap flat pack.
• Storage built in. Choosing a base with drawers means you may not need a separate chest of drawers or under bed boxes, so it’s one piece of furniture doing two jobs, saving you money.
• Packaging: delivered in wrap featuring recycled plastic with corner protection and if you choose the delivery team option then they remove it for recycling.

What I’d like to know more about:

• Padding and fillings. Simba doesn’t list what’s inside the headboard and base padding.
• End of life. I couldn’t find information on how to recycle the bed frame when it eventually reaches the end of its life. This would be really useful to have on their website like they do for their mattresses.

Things to consider before you buy

• Velvet needs care. Velvet can show marks and pick up dust or pet hair, so expect to give it a quick vacuum or brush now and then. Giving it a clean every 2 weeks or so helps keep the dust off and the fabric clean.
• Price. At around £1,000 for a king, it’s an investment. 
• Extras add up. Delivery, assembly and storage all affect the final price, so budget for this and check your total at checkout.

Is it worth the price?

For me, yes, if you’ll use the headboard and storage. You’re paying for a bed that’s made in the UK, feels solid, looks really beautiful and is really comfortable to sit up in. If you just want somewhere to put your mattress, a simpler frame would do the job for less.

FAQs

My verdict: Simba Jesmond bed review

The Simba Jesmond is a beautiful, sturdy bed that does exactly what I wanted: it makes my bedroom feel calm and special, it’s comfortable to read in, and it’s quiet and solid every night. If you’d rather have something wipe-clean, or you only need a simple frame for your mattress, a more basic bed would do the job for less. The 4 drawers were perfect for adding extra storage in my room and if you have a smaller space around the bed, I would highly recommend this. If you want your bedroom to feel like a calming sanctuary and somewhere you look forward to returning to every night after a long day, then hopefully this bed will give you that feeling as much as it has done for me. As a UK made bed you’ll keep for years that also supports local jobs and production, it’s one I’m really happy with.

If you’re interested in Simba Sleep products, you can read my review of the Simba Sleep Natural Hybrid Source mattress here or alternatively browse the Bedroom category for more bed frames, bedding, pillows and more!