ᐅ Box spring bed or solid wood bed? What would you recommend?

KarstenausNRW schrieb:

A box spring bed or a solid wood bed is just about the appearance. What really matters is the mattress.
And I have always – for nearly 30 years – chosen a waterbed. Currently in a “box spring bed” frame, but I have also used one in a solid wood bed. It has almost exclusively advantages:
- body-warm (adjustable for both partners)
- much more hygienic and even better for allergy sufferers
- ALWAYS the perfect and ergonomic lying position. If you gain or lose about 3kg (6.6 lbs), you simply adjust the mattress perfectly (by adding or removing liters of water)
- mattress often lasts 15–20 years
- cheaper than conventional beds (over the years)
- and no, you don’t get seasick or constantly rock. You can choose freely – although longtime waterbed users prefer the slight movement and the natural feeling it provides

Is it possible that you don’t really understand what a box spring bed actually is?
It’s not about the frame itself, but rather a three-layer system.

It consists of a box, mattress, and topper, which together give the box spring bed a comfortable height that makes getting in and out easier. Another advantage of box spring beds is the special comfort they provide through the combination of these components. Therefore, a box spring bed cannot at the same time be a waterbed.

We discussed this at length and visited many trade shows and stores because I always have problems finding the right bed to lie on.

With box spring beds, I felt the topper was the crucial part. Among my friends, these toppers were already sagging after a few years despite being from well-known brands. Also, we wanted different firmness levels, which is why we ultimately went for a solid wood bed with mattresses that have a gel layer. I am satisfied now but can imagine everything else just as well. The frame is extra high, so getting in is just as comfortable as with a box spring bed.

Snowy36 schrieb:

Could it be that you don’t really know what a box spring bed actually is?

I know exactly what it is. That’s why I put “box spring bed” in quotation marks in my post. It looks like a box spring bed.
I don’t believe in just stacking a few layers on top of each other and then having a better bed—no matter how it’s built or which topper I choose. You will always end up with a version that isn’t ideal for your back, whether you sleep on your back, stomach, or side.

Trying out a bed also sounds nice. But apart from a first impression, it doesn’t really help. It’s like finding shoes great in the store but then constantly getting blisters when walking. Only buy a bed or mattress that you can return 100% after an extensive trial at home. Waterbeds also need at least a week for your back to properly relax. Before that, you can’t really tell whether you sleep well or not.

KarstenausNRW schrieb:

The difference between a box spring bed and a solid wood bed is mostly just appearance. The mattress is what really matters.
And for that, I’ve always chosen – for almost 30 years now – a waterbed. Currently, it’s in a "box spring bed." But I’ve also used it in a solid wood bed. It has almost exclusively advantages:
- body-warm (adjustable for both partners)
- much more hygienic and especially better for allergy sufferers
- ALWAYS the right and ergonomic lying position. If you gain or lose about 3 kg (6.6 lbs), you simply adjust the mattress perfectly by adding or removing water (liters)
- mattress lifespan often 15-20 years
- more cost-effective than traditional beds (over the years)
- and no, you don’t get seasick or constantly feel rocking. You can choose that freely – although long-term waterbed users usually prefer some "rocking," which feels natural when lying down

However, it’s not suitable for everyone. We had one but eventually got rid of it because neither of us was happy with it.
You didn’t mention the downside: every turn is exhausting. We both turn a lot during the night and often woke up from it.
People often say you rarely turn over in a waterbed, but that wasn’t our experience.

Since then, we have a box spring bed from IKEA. There, you can also choose the mattresses and replace them if needed.

A waterbed is not an option for us. We would only consider a solid wood bed with a mattress or a box spring bed.

We also treated ourselves to a new box spring bed. We visited many stores, tried out different models, and sought advice.

In the end, we chose swiss sense. The consultation was excellent and took quite some time. We selected the bed with varying firmness levels and a matching topper. We've had the bed for over 6 months now, and I've never slept better than in this box spring bed 🙂

What do you think about the Emma box spring beds or mattresses? Or the Emma wooden bed frame?