Most people know that getting a good night’s rest is imperative. If you can’t get good sleep at night, then you’re not going to be very energetic during the day.
This is why you need to have a comfortable bed that you can sleep in at night. Investing in a good mattress is going to be a wise choice no matter who you are.
Usually, you want to ensure that you have a good box spring for your mattress so that you’ll have enough support. There are a lot of people out there who are simply sleeping on mattresses without box springs, though.
If you’re one of the many who aren’t currently using a box spring, then you might want to find another way to support your mattress. Is there a good way to support the mattress without having to shell out the cash to get a box spring?
Keep reading to learn about various ideas that can help you to support a mattress when you don’t have a box spring. This should make it a lot easier to get results that you can be comfortable with.
1 – Buy a Platform Bed Frame
One of the most practical things that you can do is to buy a platform bed frame. Bed frames such as this will support the mattress instead of you having to use a box spring.
Many platform bed frames are simple in their design, but they do a fantastic job of supporting mattresses. You’ll be able to fit the mattress in the appropriate spot and then you’ll be good to go.
There are quite a few different types of bed frame designs that make it unnecessary to use a box spring. Some of the simple ones are made out of various types of aluminum and steel.
You can buy standard platform metal bed frames without spending much money at all. In many cases, you can find pretty solid bed frame options for under $100, but you could also find a more rugged frame if you’re willing to spend a bit more cash.
From a design standpoint, you can expect these bed frames to support your mattress with slats. The slats help to give the mattress ample support while also ensuring that you have good airflow.
There are also wooden bed frames that look a bit fancier that can be used in the same way. Some of these will even have a headboard and drawers for storage toward the bottom of the bed.
If you do happen to want to purchase a box spring at some point later on, then many of these platform bed frames are designed to be used with or without one. This means that you can add a box spring at a later time if you’d like your mattress to sit higher.
Of course, this isn’t always going to be the case. Some bed frames might not be designed with box springs in mind.
2 – Try Placing a Board Under the Mattress
Have you thought about trying to place a board under the mattress? This might sound like an unusual idea at first, but placing a board under the mattress might make a big difference.
Often, people who are struggling without a box spring will experience issues such as sagging. The mattress might be sagging so much that it makes you feel as though you’re sinking into it.
Under normal circumstances, you’d have some type of box spring providing support and keeping the mattress from sagging too much. If this isn’t the case, then you can always try to use a board to keep the mattress feeling firm.
Even something as simple as a sheet of plywood should be able to get the job done. Ideally, you’re going to want the sheet of plywood to be about three or four inches thick so that you won’t have any issues.
There are a few ways that you can go about doing this. You can buy plywood from the hardware store and ask them to cut it to the right size for you.
Many hardware stores will be able to do this without it being a big issue. Otherwise, you can go home and measure the bed to see how big the piece of plywood needs to be.
Then you’ll be able to cut the plywood yourself using some type of power saw. It’s not hard to cut a piece of plywood yourself, but you will want to have the right tools to get the job done.
For most people, it’ll be a lot easier to just buy a piece of plywood that’s already cut to the right size. Take the board home and slip it underneath your mattress so that you can have the necessary support.
3 – Just Put the Mattress on the Floor
Another option is to simply put the mattress on the floor instead of bothering with a frame. This is a popular option among many college students who don’t have a lot of cash to spare.
Even if you’re low on funds, you’re still going to need to get a good night’s rest. If your mattress isn’t giving you the support that you need on a frame, then it might be better to just place it directly on the floor.
Perhaps you don’t even have the money to buy a bed frame right now. This is a good way to save yourself money because the floor will support the mattress and you’ll be able to use the bed as intended.
The flat nature of the floor is great when it comes to supporting your mattress. This might not seem appealing to you at first, but it can actually be a really good solution even if you aren’t dealing with substantial money issues.
There are positive and negative aspects to choosing to do this that you should be aware of. First, consider the positive things.
Many people say that placing mattresses directly on the floor will help with back pain if you’re a back sleeper. Some even say that having the mattress on the floor has improved their posture.
It’s also better to have a mattress on the floor when you’re someone who hates how hot it can get when you’re trying to sleep. It’s naturally cooler the closer to the floor that you get, and this might help you to sleep more soundly.
Of course, it’s great that you don’t have to spend cash to simply place the mattress on the floor as well. It makes it a fantastic option for anyone who is on a budget.
The negative aspects of having a mattress on a floor might make you shy away from doing this, though. You will be more exposed to microorganisms than you would be in an elevated position.
Also, you might have more back pain if you’re a side sleeper. Depending on how you sleep, this might be less than perfect for you.
Some people can’t get used to sleeping so low to the ground as well. If it makes you feel weird to sleep without some sort of elevation, then you might be better off getting a platform bed frame.
4 – Create a Makeshift Bed Frame Using Milk Crates
Perhaps you don’t want to spend money on a bed frame because you’re not in the best financial position right now. You also might not like the idea of sleeping on the floor because of some of the negative aspects of that choice.
In this instance, it might be good to consider what you can do to make some type of makeshift bed frame. One of the simplest ideas that you could utilize involves using milk crates.
If you’re able to gather enough milk crates, then you could use them as a platform for your mattress. This will help to provide some level of support for the mattress and you might feel a bit better on the bed.
You can often get milk crates for free at grocery stores and department stores if you ask the managers. They might have many that they were going to throw away anyway that they will be willing to part with.
Just understand that this idea is not necessarily an incredible one. For some people, it has worked well enough to help them feel comfortable while sleeping at night, but it can go wrong depending on various factors.
For example, if you’re someone who weighs a bit more than average, then there’s a good chance that the milk crates won’t be able to support your weight for long. You could even wind up falling through the milk crates during the night as you sleep.
This depends on how much you weigh and how strong the milk crates that you’re using are. It’s also important to consider the weight of your partner who might be sleeping with you.
Mattress Toppers
Mattress toppers can help mattresses to feel firmer than usual. If your worries are mostly related to the comfort level of your bed, then you might want to consider purchasing an inexpensive mattress topper.
This isn’t going to support the mattress in any way, but it will make the mattress feel firmer overall. If you’re just wanting to feel less as though you’re sinking while you’re trying to sleep, then this might be a good purchase to make.
There are many different types of mattress toppers that you can buy. Some of them will really help you to sleep better at night because of how much more comfort they can provide.
It’s easy to put a mattress topper on as well since they go on just the same way as sheets. You won’t have to spend a huge sum of money to get a mattress topper, and this will make sense for many people.
Just Buy a Box Spring
It’s imperative to be able to get restful sleep at night so that you can stay healthy. Your best options are to buy a box spring or to purchase a platform bed frame of some sort.
If you’re worried that you just don’t have the money right now, then you might want to consider certain things that could help you out. You could go to a second-hand store and look around at what they have in stock.
Many thrift stores will have box springs for sale that will cost a lot less money than they would cost brand new. You’ll be able to spend a bit of cash to get a box spring when you’re able to find one at a thrift store.
Most areas have at least one or two thrift stores around, and it’s worthwhile to check them out when you need household items. Well-known thrift chains such as Salvation Army and Goodwill should be a perfect place to start.
They might also sell platform bed frames that have been donated by people who don’t need them any longer. This gives you a chance to get one of those at a low price if you’re having financial woes.
Yard sales and garage sales can also be good places to look for items such as this. People will sell furniture items that they no longer need at these sales, and you’ll often be able to get a great deal.
You can even haggle with people at yard sales to try to get the best deal possible. If someone knows that you really need a bed frame or box spring, then they might be more willing to cut you a deal out of pure kindness.
It isn’t necessary to just accept that you have to live without a box spring. You can go out and buy one so long as you know where to look to get a good deal.
Final Thoughts
There are many different options available to you when it comes to supporting your mattress. If you don’t have a box spring, then it might be a good idea to just go buy a platform bed frame.
This is a good choice for anyone who would prefer not to use a box spring. It’s also possible to support the mattress by using a piece of plywood or by placing the mattress directly on the floor.
Just remember that the best option that you have is usually going to involve spending a bit of cash. You could try to get a bed frame or a box spring at a second-hand store or a yard sale if cash is an issue.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.