FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

🔨 What are your beds made from?

The Alter Ego Bed is handcrafted from solid pine wood. Although we are slowly introducing solid hardwood variants soon.  

We use real timber throughout the frame. No MDF and no engineered wood. Each bed is built to be strong, substantial and made for years of everyday use.

As we use natural solid timber, variations in grain, knots, tone and texture are completely normal and give each frame its own individual character.

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🪵 How is my bed finished?

Our beds are made from real timber and finished by hand at our UK manufacturing facility. Because of this, no two beds will ever look exactly the same.

Our Black Wash and Coffee Bean finishes are stained, allowing the natural character and grain of the timber to remain visible. Our White finish is professionally sprayed for a cleaner, more consistent appearance.

We previously offered a painted black finish, but found that paint was more susceptible to visible chips and scratches over time. We therefore moved to a stained Black Wash finish, prioritising durability and longevity while retaining the natural appearance of the wood.

We also offer an Untreated (Raw) option. This leaves the timber unfinished, giving you complete freedom to stain, paint, oil or otherwise finish your bed yourself to suit your space.

As timber is a natural material, grain, knots, colour and absorption will vary from piece to piece. Different areas of the wood may absorb stain differently, creating natural variations in tone and depth across the frame.

These variations are part of the character of a handmade solid timber product rather than a manufacturing defect. Every Alter Ego Bed will therefore have its own individual finish and appearance.


 Where are Alter Ego Beds made?

Every Alter Ego Bed is made to order in the United Kingdom. 

Each frame is individually manufactured, finished and quality checked before being carefully packaged for delivery.

Moving our production to the UK has also allowed us to significantly improve our manufacturing process, packaging and overall production times.


📦 Do you offer delivery?

Yes. We currently deliver throughout the UK and internationally to selected countries, including Europe, the USA and Canada.

UK delivery is FREE.

International delivery is charged separately and calculated at checkout based on your destination.


⏳ How long will my bed take?

Every Alter Ego Bed is made to order.

We aim to complete production within approximately 2–3 weeks from the date you place your order.

For UK customers, we aim to manufacture and deliver within this 2–3 week timeframe wherever possible.

International delivery times are additional to production:

  • Europe: approximately 5–7 additional days

  • USA: approximately 10–14 additional days

  • Canada: approximately 10–14 additional days

These are estimated lead times and may occasionally vary depending on current order volumes, customs clearance, carrier delays and other circumstances outside our control.


🌍 Will I have to pay import duties or taxes?

No.

International orders are shipped Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), meaning applicable import duties, taxes and customs charges are paid by us.

The price you pay to us is the final price. There should be no additional import duties or taxes to pay when your order arrives.

In the exceptional event that DDP is unavailable for your destination, we will let you know before your order is dispatched.

UK customers: Prices include applicable UK VAT and UK delivery is free.


🪛 Is assembly required?

Yes.

Our latest bed frame has been redesigned with a more efficient flat-pack assembly system, making transportation and installation considerably easier than our previous design.

Your bed will arrive as individual solid wood components together with the required hardware and clear assembly instructions.

As our frames are made from solid wood, we strongly recommend using a cordless drill/driver for assembly. This will make installation considerably quicker and easier than using a manual screwdriver. We recommend using a suitable bit and a controlled, low torque setting to avoid overtightening the fixings.

Due to the size and weight of the finished bed, we also strongly recommend two people for assembly.
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🛏️ Will my bed look different from those shown on social media?

Possibly, yes.

The Alter Ego Bed is our flagship product, and we are constantly refining and improving the design based on manufacturing developments and feedback from our customers.

As of September 2026, we are currently on Version 4 (V4) of the Alter Ego Bed.

Because our social media contains photos and videos collected over several years, some content may show earlier versions of the bed with differences in construction, hardware, finishes, dimensions or other design details.

When you order, you will receive our latest production version, incorporating all of the improvements we have made to date.

We believe in continually improving the bed rather than keeping an older design simply for consistency with historic content. Where changes are made, our priority is always quality, durability, ease of assembly and the overall customer experience.


📏 What sizes do you offer?

We offer bed sizes specifically designed for different international mattress standards.

United Kingdom

  • Double

  • King

  • Super King

Europe

  • EU Double

  • EU King

  • EU Grand King

USA/CANADA

  • Full

  • Queen

  • Standard King

Please select the appropriate market and carefully check the dimensions shown on the product page before ordering.

Mattress dimensions vary between countries, so we strongly recommend checking your existing mattress measurements rather than relying solely on the name of the size.


🎨 Can I customise my bed?

You can configure your Alter Ego Bed using the options available on the product page.

Depending on the model, this includes your choice of bed size, wood finish, hardware finish and product configuration.

Our hardware finishes include Gold, Silver and Black.

Additional accessories and upgrades may also be available.


💬 Why is it called Alter Ego Beds?

Alter Ego was created around a simple idea: why should a bed designed for more than sleep have to look like one?

We wanted to create a beautifully crafted bed that could sit proudly in any bedroom while discreetly concealing an entirely different side.

In its everyday configuration, it's simply a solid wood bed frame.

What happens when you reveal its Alter Ego is entirely up to you.


🔐 Does the Alter Ego Bed have locking mechanisms?

No.

Our bed frames are intentionally designed without locking mechanisms.

The primary function of every Alter Ego Bed is to provide a strong, high-quality bed for everyday sleeping and comfort. Its discreet secondary features are entirely optional and intended exclusively for consenting adults.

Any alternative use should always involve clear communication, mutual trust and freely given, continuing consent.

Consent can be withdrawn at any time.


🛡️ Does my bed come with a warranty?

Yes.

Every Alter Ego Bed frame is supplied with a 5-Year Limited Warranty from the date of delivery.

This covers qualifying manufacturing defects affecting the structural frame, materials and workmanship during normal and intended use.

The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, accidental damage, misuse, incorrect assembly or unauthorised modifications.

Your warranty is provided in addition to your statutory consumer rights.


🔒 Is payment secure?

Yes.

Our store is powered by Shopify and uses secure encrypted checkout technology.

We accept major credit and debit cards together with the additional payment methods displayed at checkout.


🔁 What is your return policy?

Because every Alter Ego Bed is made to order, we strongly recommend checking your selected size, dimensions, finish and configuration carefully before completing your purchase.

Your cancellation and return rights depend on the circumstances of the order and applicable consumer law.

If you discover an ordering error before production begins, contact us immediately and we will make reasonable efforts to amend your order.

Where we have correctly manufactured and supplied the product ordered but the customer has selected the incorrect size or configuration, return transportation costs may be the customer's responsibility where permitted by applicable law.

Please see our Refund, Cancellation & Returns Policy for full details.


🚚 What happens if my bed arrives damaged?

Every bed is quality checked and carefully packaged before leaving production.

If you discover damage following delivery, please photograph the affected component and packaging and contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Please keep the original packaging while we investigate.

Where Alter Ego Beds is responsible for the issue, we'll work with you to provide an appropriate resolution.


⚖️ How heavy is an Alter Ego Bed?

Alter Ego Beds are substantial solid wood bed frames, so individual packages can be heavy.

The exact packaged weight and number of cartons varies depending on the bed size and configuration ordered.

Your bed is supplied in multiple protected packages containing the individual solid wood components, hardware and assembly instructions.

Due to the weight of the components, we strongly recommend two people for handling and assembly.


🛠 How does your production process work?

Every Alter Ego Bed is made specifically for the customer who orders it rather than being taken from warehouse stock.

Once your order is confirmed, it enters our UK production schedule.

We aim to complete production within approximately 2–3 weeks from the date of order.

During this process, your bed is manufactured, finished, quality checked and packaged ready for delivery.

Because every frame is made individually, production times can occasionally vary during particularly busy periods or where material availability affects the production schedule.


📍 Can I change my order after purchasing?

Contact us as quickly as possible.

If production has not yet begun, we will make reasonable efforts to change your size, finish or configuration.

Once manufacturing has started, we may no longer be able to make changes because materials and components may already have been committed to your particular order.


💌 How can I contact Alter Ego Beds?

You can contact us at:

info@alteregobeds.com

You can also use the contact form available on our website.

Please include your order number when contacting us about an existing order so we can assist you more quickly.