Platform Beds for Every Style

If the thought of a platform bed conjures up images of wide, low-slung beds suitable for contemporary spaces, well, you'd be right — but only part of the time. Crawling out of a bed only 12 inches above the floor isn't everyone's cup of tea, but there are lots of new styles that offer a much higher profile. They also fit into any type of decor, so no matter what your style, you can enjoy a platform bed.

Platform vs. box spring: It used to be that the box spring was an integral part of the mattress system absorbing shock as you got in and out of bed so it didn't feel too hard. The box spring also raises the height of the mattress so that it is easier to get in and out of bed. Oh, and it kept your mattress from falling on the floor.

But mattress construction has improved greatly over the past several years. Also, the increasing height of mattresses with their pillow tops has made it less necessary to have a 9-inch high box spring underneath. Today, with few exceptions, the box spring now just holds your mattress at the right height and provides a base for it to sit on inside the bed frame. You can even buy 2-inch thick "bunky boards" to take the place of a 9-inch-high box spring.

The curved slats in platform beds have enough give to provide the shock absorption the box spring used to handle. The open slats allow your mattress to have ventilation. All you need is the right bed frame to give you the height you prefer. And if you have a memory-foam mattress, they perform better on a wood support rather than any type of box spring.

So, enjoy this parade of platform bed styles. I predict that eventually the box spring will be a thing of the past. See what you think: