A bed frame is the full structure including headboard, rails and legs, while a base is simply the platform the mattress rests on. Many frames include a slat base, so you only add a mattress.

A closely spaced slat base suits most mattresses and improves airflow, and memory foam and latex in particular benefit from a firm, evenly spaced base.

Aim for at least 60 to 70cm on each side you walk past, with enough clearance for wardrobes and drawers to open fully.

Single is 92 by 187cm, king single 107 by 203cm, double 137 by 187cm, queen 153 by 203cm and king 183 by 203cm. Australian sizes differ from US and European ones, so buying sheets or a mattress from overseas can leave you with an awkward fit.

Almost all bed frames ship flat packed and are assembled in the room, so the boxes rather than the finished bed are what has to fit. The one to watch is a tall upholstered headboard, which arrives as a single piece. Measure your stairwell, landing and any tight turns if you are upstairs.

They ship flat packed with fixings and instructions. Allow an hour or two, and a second person makes it much easier, particularly when fitting the headboard and squaring the rails. Assemble it roughly in position, since a built frame is awkward to move.

Nearly always loose fixings rather than a fault. Bolts settle in the first few weeks as timber and joints bed in, so going around and retightening everything usually solves it. Check the centre rail feet are touching the floor evenly, and check the slats sit properly in their brackets.

In a small bedroom or an apartment, it is one of the best uses of space you already have. Drawers suit a room where you can pull them out fully, so check the side clearance. A gas lift base holds far more and works where a drawer would hit a wall, but needs the room to lift the mattress.

Comfortable is usually where your feet sit flat on the floor with knees at about a right angle when sitting on the edge. Remember the mattress adds its own height, so a thick mattress on a tall frame can end up higher than expected. Lower frames suit small rooms since they make the ceiling feel higher.

Yes, provided it is the same Australian size. Check the slat spacing suits it, since memory foam and latex need closely spaced slats to avoid sagging between them. Some mattress warranties specify a minimum support requirement, so it is worth a quick look at yours.

Timber and metal are the easiest to live with and wipe clean. Upholstered frames are more comfortable to sit up against and quieter, but fabric marks and needs occasional vacuuming, which is worth thinking about in a room where children or pets end up on the bed.