Do You Need to Support a Twin Mattress?

Support

• All mattresses need support to last long and to provide a comfortable night's sleep. There is nothing to stop you from placing a mattress on the floor -- excellent support -- and then lying on top of it. A floor isn't recommended, however; it can shorten the useful life of a mattress. A strong foundation such as slats, a solid daybed or a traditional box spring provide a certain degree of support, but also allow for flexibility as well.

Box Spring

• A box spring is a traditional mattress foundation. A box spring requires an open bed frame, which lets the box spring rest on the outer edges of a steel frame. A minimal amount of clearance is provided beneath the mattress. A box spring is composed of a wooden frame with metal supports resting between its top and bottom.

Slats

• Slat foundations are less expensive than box springs and are most often found on futons and bunk beds. Slat foundations are wooden or metal strips that are placed across the width of the bed and spaced evenly, providing support the entire length of the mattress in place of a box spring. Slats are sold in a variety of wood qualities from cost-effective pine to more flexible and durable oak, maple and birch woods.

Daybeds

• Daybeds are sold primarily in twin size frames. A daybed's structure lets a person sit on it during the day, using it as a sofa, then remove some pillows to use it as a bed. Daybeds usually have built-in foundations with either slats or a more common link spring design. This mesh-like grid is designed to provide support and bounce to the frame without the need of a box spring or slats.