Do I Need A Box Spring? No, But You Need SOMETHING
I’m so glad you’re asking yourself, “do I need a box spring?”. They’ve been a part of our bedroom setups for our entire lives, it’s something that isn’t questioned much. You might even find it difficult to picture sleeping without one. BUT, box springs are becoming outdated. Their springs are notorious for wearing out, leading to bad sleep no matter what your mattress. They don’t have a nice modern look either.
That leaves you with some questions:
- If I don’t need a box spring, why have I been using one for so long?
- Is a box spring still useful?
- What could I use instead of a box spring?
Why We’ve Been Using Box Springs For So Long
Box springs have been part of most people’s bed setups for their entire lives. They have been an important part of our bedroom set up and despite the fact that you might be rethinking whether you need a box spring anymore, they will have played a big part in keeping you comfortable throughout the night.
Traditionally, a box spring had three important jobs to do:
- Raise the height of the bed to make it easier to get in and out of
- Absorb shock and reduce wear to the mattress
- Create a flat and firm structure for the mattress to lie on
Remember, box springs have been around for years and years. Mattresses used to be thin, uncomfortable and were not very resilient. There have been massive leaps in mattress construction and comfort since then, and the only reason out of the three traditional roles for a box spring is that it can provide a flat and firm structure for a mattress to lie on.
Is A Box Spring Still Useful?
Like I said above, a box spring can still do the job of providing a flat and firm structure for your mattress to lie on.
I advise against putting your mattress directly on the floor so a box spring can provide a platform for it. Here’s why:
- Air can’t circulate underneath the mattress. This is particularly a problem for foam mattresses because air can’t move through the foam support core and mold can grow on the bottom if there is no air circulation underneath it.
- Allergies. Dust mites and other allergens love to live in our carpets. If you have your mattress directly on the floor, you’re putting yourself a lot closer to them.
- Bed height. Having your mattress directly on the floor will make your bed quite low. Some people will find it hard to get in and out of bed if it’s too low.
- Many modern mattresses advise against putting their mattress directly on the floor. You don’t want to risk voiding your warranty.
So a box spring will elevate your bed off the floor and do that job. You can get modern box springs that don’t actually contain springs (they are more like a platform – here’s an article about a robust and sturdy one if you still want a box spring) but there are loads of other ways you can keep your mattress off the floor without using a box spring.
Box Spring Alternatives
There are many great alternatives to box springs out there. They will all do the job of keeping your mattress elevated off the floor on a supportive surface.
Platform Base/Frame
A platform bed is a frame of variable height, with or without a headboard, that has slats running across the body of it. It can be made from wood or steel. They come in loads of different styles, meaning you’ll be able to find one to match whatever look you’re aiming for. Even better, you can choose one that will allow you to store stuff under your bed, which you can’t do with a box spring.
Click here to read my article about three top selling budget bed frames
Click here to read my article about a beautiful, luxurious, reclaimed wooden bed frame
Adjustable Base
An adjustable base is a base where you can change the angle of either the top or bottom of the bed to create a custom sleep position other than just lying flat. Many companies make adjustable bases and every single mattress I’ve reviewed online is suitable for use with an adjustable base.
I have not reviewed any adjustable bases yet, so I’m not going to send you anywhere to read more about them sorry! Watch this space and I’ll have some recommendations for you soon.
