What Makes a Platform Bed Different Than the Rest?

For a sleek and modern-looking bedroom, you needn’t search any further than platform beds. Built with one of the simplest frame and foundation setups, platform beds are exactly how they sound: a mattress resting on a flat, supportive platform.

Compared to traditional bed styles, platform beds are typically closer to the ground because of their lack of a box spring and their lower-profile frame. Instead, a platform mattress gets all the support it needs from a flat, often slatted base that is built into the frame, or is the frame itself. Utilitarian, platform beds can be fashioned into storage or captain’s beds with compartments, drawers and even nightstands factored into the body of the frame.

By cutting out the box spring, a bed’s height is reduced greatly, which can make rooms feel more spacious and the bed itself easier to get in and out of for some people. Less difficulty getting in or out of bed can make for beds teen and adolescent-aged kids love. Platform beds can be ornate and made from beautiful hardwoods as the master bedroom platform queen bed or king bed, while being easy enough for people on a budget to make with not much more than plywood and a sound base.

The support structure of a platform bed may not suit everyone, however. Some people prefer the loft that a traditional box spring offers, and those who prefer their beds very soft may find platform beds are firmer than they would prefer. But as with anything in life, it comes down to personal preference. Generally speaking though, there is no denying that platform beds are attractive and sensible options for bedrooms.