I just bought a house and am looking for an inexpensive bed. I've been looking around and finding lots of platform beds for around $200. Apparently they use a futon mattress, which I've never slept on.
Sleeping on a mattress and box springs will benefit your back in the long run. Futons are ok for small,light weight people or kids, but the older u get the more you need the support. A mattress and box springs a like an investment. You need to shop around till u find one you like and then watch for a sale Good luck
Most modern mattresses don't use box springs. When I bought my new bed, there was no box spring, just a platform that fit under the matress so it would be the right height.. You can use a good quality regular mattress on a platform bed.
If you buy a platform bed - DON'T use a futon mattress, they're awful to sleep on. Buy a good quality pillow-top mattress, they're are made so well now days that you really don't need a box-spring.
Platform beds don't necessarily have to have a futon-type mattress--and if you do use one, they're likely to be rather hard. Also futon mattresses generally have a shorter lifespan than a regular mattress--they tend to compact quickly. You can use a regular mattress with a platform bed, and if so, the bed should be as comfortable as a regular bed with a box spring, although the appearance would not be quite as low and sleek as a bed would with the futon-style mattress.
I have two platform beds and I love them. One of them has a conventional mattress on top and the other has an eight inch memory foam mattress. I wouldn't do a futon mattress. They are not all that comfortable.
