I can't tell you how many compliments I've gotten on this bed!  It looks so expensive, but thanks to Wayfair to wasn't!  The fabric looks kind of like burlap, which I love.  It is well padded.  It took my husband about an hour and a half to set this bed up.  We did not use the curved slats because we have a box spring.  Even with the box spring, you can still see plenty of the headboard.