A Twin Bed Frame That Doesn't Use Box Springs

Daybeds

• Daybeds are frames that use a twin-size mattress to provide for a daytime sofa and a nighttime mattress. Instead of the traditional box spring, daybed frames use link springs or slats. Most commonly used are link springs, which create a low-profile foundation and use a mesh-like, spring-grid design reinforced to the daybed frame itself. Other daybeds utilize slats. The elimination of the box spring lowers the overall height of the mattress and allows for storage beneath the frame.

Bunk Beds

• Bunk beds cannot use box springs because it would eliminate sleeping space for the bottom bunk and make the mattress too high on the top bunk. Instead of a traditional box spring, the stacked design of a bunk bed utilizes either bunk board or slats to provide a foundation for the mattress. A bunk board is thin but supportive piece of wood that lies on the outer edges of the bunk-bed frame. The mattress is laid on top of the bunk board. Slats are thin strips of wood that sit on the frame horizontally, supporting the mattress. Bunk beds are most commonly found in twin sizes but can also be manufactured with a full-size mattress.

Futon and Sofa Beds

• Sofa beds and futons are not commonly seen in twin sizes but are available. A twin size futon or sofa bed will be the same width of a twin-size mattress and fold out into the 75-inch length for sleeping. The sofa beds utilizes the link-spring foundation, just like a daybed. Twin-size futons use a metal or wood frame that, when unfolded, will give support similar to that of slats.

Slats, Link Springs and Bunk Boards

• Some daybeds and bunk beds will make the decision of slats or link springs an easy one with their design. Many metal-framed bunk beds will have metal slats built into the design of the bed that eliminate the need for a bunk board. The same applies to daybeds with which link springs are typically installed into the frame. If the bed base of a daybed does not include link springs, slats will have to be used.