All I want is a sub-$200 bed that isn't ugly.
August 6, 2008 11:33 PM Subscribe
IkeaFilter: Do I need to buy a 'slatted bed base' if I have a box spring?
I'm thinking of buying this bed, but I'm confused about something. Every bed I've looked at makes a point of saying "slatted bed base sold separately," and if you go to check out, the site reminds you yet again to buy the slatted bed base.
Problem is, I have no idea if I need one or not. Does the base replace the box spring, or does it work with it? Can I just put the mattress and box on the frame without worrying about it? Will it look stupid if I do that?
I'm thinking of buying this bed, but I'm confused about something. Every bed I've looked at makes a point of saying "slatted bed base sold separately," and if you go to check out, the site reminds you yet again to buy the slatted bed base.
Problem is, I have no idea if I need one or not. Does the base replace the box spring, or does it work with it? Can I just put the mattress and box on the frame without worrying about it? Will it look stupid if I do that?
Yes, the bed slats function the same way that a box spring does. From there on, it's a question of aesthetics, not physics.
In response to Dipsomaniac's answer...mattresses don't just move side-to-side on top of box springs. You're not going to go sailing off the side because you've not got your mattress encased in a frame.
posted by phunniemee at 12:03 AM on August 7, 2008
In response to Dipsomaniac's answer...mattresses don't just move side-to-side on top of box springs. You're not going to go sailing off the side because you've not got your mattress encased in a frame.
posted by phunniemee at 12:03 AM on August 7, 2008
I have an Ikea bed like the one pictured and it would be impossible to put a box spring on the frame along with a mattress, because there is nothing "under" the frame to hold either box spring or mattress in place. There are "lips" around the inside of the frame which hold the slats, but I wouldn't feel comfortable with a mattress on there all by its lonesome.
The other reason to get one is so you NEVER HAVE TO MOVE A BOX SPRING AGAIN. The wood slats provide enough support and leave lots of under-bed space. It's a great design.
posted by mdonley at 12:21 AM on August 7, 2008
The other reason to get one is so you NEVER HAVE TO MOVE A BOX SPRING AGAIN. The wood slats provide enough support and leave lots of under-bed space. It's a great design.
posted by mdonley at 12:21 AM on August 7, 2008
It may not slide right off, but it will shift around a lot.
As for the slats.. no, if you have a boxspring you shouldn't need them.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:22 AM on August 7, 2008
As for the slats.. no, if you have a boxspring you shouldn't need them.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:22 AM on August 7, 2008
The mattress won't slide around unless you keep them in plastic and spray it down with Pam every night. I can't even begin to guess how many millions of people have this bed frame. I am one of them. My mattress has never moved a millimeter off of the box spring unless I've wanted it to. And it was hard. Because mattresses are heavy. The mattress isn't going to shift around a lot.
OK, sorry, I'm done.
No wait I lied...I have also never fallen through to the floor despite only having an inch and a half of lip holding up the box spring.
posted by phunniemee at 12:30 AM on August 7, 2008
OK, sorry, I'm done.
No wait I lied...I have also never fallen through to the floor despite only having an inch and a half of lip holding up the box spring.
posted by phunniemee at 12:30 AM on August 7, 2008
That bed (and afaik all Ikea beds) are not really designed to be used with box springs. Box springs, although the seem to be the norm in the US, and relatively uncommon in Europe, and that's where Ikea stuff originates.
The bed has a lip around the edge, and in the case of double/king size beds, a beam running down the middle. You fit the bed slats onto these, forming a base on which a mattress can comfortably lie. The slats come in two varieties: cheap pine solid slats and slightly more expensive flexible (plywood?) slats. Choose the latter if you want a slightly more springy feel; they also don't snap and drop you out the bottom of the bed if you're overweight (yes, it happened to me). The mattress (sprung or foam) rests on top of the slats, which support its weight evenly.
Ikea beds fit Ikea mattresses best; check the measurements as Ikea stuff tends to be a bit non-standard in terms of sizing. Dipsomaniac is right to be concerned about the mattress size. I'm not confident that your box spring will fit this bed.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:09 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
The bed has a lip around the edge, and in the case of double/king size beds, a beam running down the middle. You fit the bed slats onto these, forming a base on which a mattress can comfortably lie. The slats come in two varieties: cheap pine solid slats and slightly more expensive flexible (plywood?) slats. Choose the latter if you want a slightly more springy feel; they also don't snap and drop you out the bottom of the bed if you're overweight (yes, it happened to me). The mattress (sprung or foam) rests on top of the slats, which support its weight evenly.
Ikea beds fit Ikea mattresses best; check the measurements as Ikea stuff tends to be a bit non-standard in terms of sizing. Dipsomaniac is right to be concerned about the mattress size. I'm not confident that your box spring will fit this bed.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 2:09 AM on August 7, 2008 [1 favorite]
Ikea beds fit Ikea mattresses best
This hasn't been true for a long time. Ikea in North America went with North American mattress sizes years and years ago. Our Posturepedic fits our MALM fine.
The thing about the slats is that while they'll fit a box spring (which has the same dimensions as a mattress, after all), a mattress and box spring are at least twice as thick as a mattress alone, and it won't look like the picture.
posted by mendel at 4:36 AM on August 7, 2008
This hasn't been true for a long time. Ikea in North America went with North American mattress sizes years and years ago. Our Posturepedic fits our MALM fine.
The thing about the slats is that while they'll fit a box spring (which has the same dimensions as a mattress, after all), a mattress and box spring are at least twice as thick as a mattress alone, and it won't look like the picture.
posted by mendel at 4:36 AM on August 7, 2008
from the page you give, click on "bedroom" (top yellow bar) then "mattress guide" (on the left) and then "the complete sultan range" (on left) and finally "wooden base spring" on the right.
that clearly describes how they expect box springs to be used - standalone with legs.
the bed you are looking it is not intended for box springs. you need to add the slats and then put the mattress on the slats. you can then throw the box spring (the lower, box-like supporting part) away. in europe you either have a box spring or a bed frame. not both.
the reason slats are sold separately is not because they are optional. it is probably because it is cheaper for them to produce that way - all the different beds will use the same slats, so its simpler for them to produce the slats separataely.
posted by not sure this is a good idea at 4:43 AM on August 7, 2008
that clearly describes how they expect box springs to be used - standalone with legs.
the bed you are looking it is not intended for box springs. you need to add the slats and then put the mattress on the slats. you can then throw the box spring (the lower, box-like supporting part) away. in europe you either have a box spring or a bed frame. not both.
the reason slats are sold separately is not because they are optional. it is probably because it is cheaper for them to produce that way - all the different beds will use the same slats, so its simpler for them to produce the slats separataely.
posted by not sure this is a good idea at 4:43 AM on August 7, 2008
Nth the people above with regards to a mattress 'sliding'. They don't slide, ever; it's really that simple.
I've also considered using my box spring combined with a Ikea bedframe. I may still try, either with ikea or another similar bedframe made elsewhere, ie one that's designed for use without the box, but has tall enough foot/head boards so that it won't look stupid. My reasoning? I bought the boxspring, and it's still perfectly good condition, and there's not exactly a great market for used ones. It's like pretending you just have a very tall mattress. Plus, it'll be a PITA to throw out. What I do with it when I move is still up for debate, however. (Moving that thing is a huge pain!)
I'd say go for it, using the box spring instead of the slats. If it doesn't work, toss the boxspring and then get the slats.
Or do what I'm doing until I get my bed -- my box spring and mattress is right on the floor. Classy, I know. I had one of the frames phunniemee linked to above, but it doesn't work well on hardwood; it scratched up the floor, and my bed kept rolling away from the wall...
posted by cgg at 7:13 AM on August 7, 2008
I've also considered using my box spring combined with a Ikea bedframe. I may still try, either with ikea or another similar bedframe made elsewhere, ie one that's designed for use without the box, but has tall enough foot/head boards so that it won't look stupid. My reasoning? I bought the boxspring, and it's still perfectly good condition, and there's not exactly a great market for used ones. It's like pretending you just have a very tall mattress. Plus, it'll be a PITA to throw out. What I do with it when I move is still up for debate, however. (Moving that thing is a huge pain!)
I'd say go for it, using the box spring instead of the slats. If it doesn't work, toss the boxspring and then get the slats.
Or do what I'm doing until I get my bed -- my box spring and mattress is right on the floor. Classy, I know. I had one of the frames phunniemee linked to above, but it doesn't work well on hardwood; it scratched up the floor, and my bed kept rolling away from the wall...
posted by cgg at 7:13 AM on August 7, 2008
We have an ikea bed and use a boxspring. It works fine. With our model, there were instructions on how to assemble the bed for a boxspring.
posted by jpdoane at 8:11 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by jpdoane at 8:11 AM on August 7, 2008
I have this Ikea bed, with wooden slats and I just tossed the boxspring that came with the mattress. It is a very good bed, the mattress doesn't slide, it's sleek and modern and it is silent, which can't be said of all beds. Plus the metal frame makes for excellent handholds.
posted by maremare at 8:23 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by maremare at 8:23 AM on August 7, 2008
Unfortunately, they don't seem to have your model online, but here are the directions for my model that show different setups for slats vs boxspring (3rd page of pdf, figure 7)
posted by jpdoane at 8:46 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by jpdoane at 8:46 AM on August 7, 2008
The bed is designed to be used with wooden slats and not a box-spring. Box-spring beds are considered very old-fashioned in Europe (where this design originates) - you tend to find these mainly in low-end beds.
In the US, slatted base beds are referred to as "platform beds." The term can also be used for a solid wooden base, but as this is not good for your mattress (they go moldy), a platform bed tends to have a slatted wooden base that allows the mattress to air/dry out. So you do not need to buy a box-spring. If you try to use a box-spring with this bed, you may warp the bed-frame or overload it in some way. You either need to buy a bedframe elsewhere, as all IKEA beds seem to be designed to use wooden slats, or go for the slats and lose the box-spring.
Wooden slats are way better for your back in most cases than a box-spring anyway, as they do not lose their support over time (the word "spring" in the box-spring should tip you off that this is going to develop a decided indent which will make the bed very uncomfortable as it ages - wooden slats can warp but the better quality ones last for 30-40 years).
posted by Susurration at 8:58 AM on August 7, 2008
In the US, slatted base beds are referred to as "platform beds." The term can also be used for a solid wooden base, but as this is not good for your mattress (they go moldy), a platform bed tends to have a slatted wooden base that allows the mattress to air/dry out. So you do not need to buy a box-spring. If you try to use a box-spring with this bed, you may warp the bed-frame or overload it in some way. You either need to buy a bedframe elsewhere, as all IKEA beds seem to be designed to use wooden slats, or go for the slats and lose the box-spring.
Wooden slats are way better for your back in most cases than a box-spring anyway, as they do not lose their support over time (the word "spring" in the box-spring should tip you off that this is going to develop a decided indent which will make the bed very uncomfortable as it ages - wooden slats can warp but the better quality ones last for 30-40 years).
posted by Susurration at 8:58 AM on August 7, 2008
I use a box spring on an Ikea frame... with the slats. And yes, I think you would need the slats. The box spring might fit on the lip around the edge (like on the standard bedframe that phunniemee links too), but you can only be more stable and better supported with the slats. Whether it's worth it depends on whether you have a good box spring or not. I've had crap ones (literally a plywood box), and now I have a really really good one. The difference in comfort with my good mattress and box spring is phenomenal. The only issue on the Ikea frame is that my bed is bit high, but I like that. But given the style of bed that you've chosen, the head and foot board might be only a little taller than the mattress and box spring combo.
posted by kimdog at 9:24 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by kimdog at 9:24 AM on August 7, 2008
Response by poster: I really don't want to toss my box spring, since I bought it less than a year ago and the set cost $600. Right now I'm on one of those stupid metal rectangles on wheels, and I really hate it because it freaking rolls everywhere.
Is there anywhere at all where I can buy a cheap bed that's designed for use with a box spring?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:50 AM on August 7, 2008
Is there anywhere at all where I can buy a cheap bed that's designed for use with a box spring?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:50 AM on August 7, 2008
They have these awesome little bedframe "cups" that you put under those wheels to keep 'em from rolling. $10 (or less) solution.
posted by amanda at 10:21 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by amanda at 10:21 AM on August 7, 2008
"They" meaning any homewares store: Target, Fred Meyer, etc.
posted by amanda at 10:21 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by amanda at 10:21 AM on August 7, 2008
Some Ikea beds can be used with a box spring. We have a bed similar to this one and it was deep enough to put both a box spring & mattress on top of the pine slats. it gets you kind of high off the ground though. We now have the same frame & mattress sans box spring and the only difference is being 10 inches closer to the ground. it feels the same to sleep in.
The bed you linked to will work fine with a box spring but I would buy the pine slats to go underneath it.
posted by GuyZero at 10:26 AM on August 7, 2008
The bed you linked to will work fine with a box spring but I would buy the pine slats to go underneath it.
posted by GuyZero at 10:26 AM on August 7, 2008
Along the same lines as amanda's comment, you can also buy non-wheel feet to replace the wheels on your cheapo metal frame. They call them "glides," somewhat confusingly. If your main concerns are cheapness and not rolling around, that's an option.
posted by doift at 10:34 AM on August 7, 2008
posted by doift at 10:34 AM on August 7, 2008
More often than not, you need the slats. And more importantly, you need the right size slats. You can use many of them with a boxspring, but they're mostly designed to not have a boxspring. You don't remove the slats from the webbing that they're stapled onto -- this helps keep them the right distance from each other. On all the IKEA beds I've put together (3 or 4), the slats are necessary to provide an even surface to whatever you're putting on top (box OR mattress).
posted by fishfucker at 8:46 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by fishfucker at 8:46 PM on August 7, 2008
Also, if you live anywhere that has decent craigslist activity, you'll be able to find people practically giving away bed sets every day. Especially in college towns.
posted by fishfucker at 8:47 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by fishfucker at 8:47 PM on August 7, 2008
Or use 1/2" chip-board plywood (the cheap stuff, not the slick-faced stuff), cut to fit the bed bottom (undersized by 1/4" to make putting it in place easier). You'll need 2 plywood pieces; no need to join them in any way. As previously mentioned, a bed is HEAVY, and won't slide once placed on top.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:31 PM on August 11, 2008
posted by IAmBroom at 1:31 PM on August 11, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 11:38 PM on August 6, 2008