A bedstead is the framework of a bed that holds up the mattress and box spring. It's the structural part you see when you look at a bed without its blankets and pillows: the headboard at the top, the footboard at the bottom, and the side rails connecting them.

Bedsteads can be made from wood, metal, or other materials, and they range from simple platforms to elaborate carved frames. An antique brass bedstead might have decorative posts and scrollwork, while a modern bedstead might be a minimalist wooden platform. The bedstead is what makes a bed a piece of furniture rather than just a mattress on the floor.

You might hear people say they're shopping for a new bedstead when they want to replace their bed frame but keep their mattress. In older books, you'll often read about characters lying on a bedstead rather than simply “in bed,” because the bedstead was considered an important and valuable piece of household furniture.