Having a boho bed is the epitome of island glamorous. You throw open your front door, kick off your shoes, and leap onto a bouncy mattress covered in Egyptian-cotton sheets, with a lustrous canopy overhead. There's probably even a tree and cooing birds outside, too. Yes, it's a magical bedroom setup.
But, before you go sans frame for aesthetic reasons, there are a few things to consider. Climate, the type of mattress, and flooring are all variables to keep in mind. Not to mention, dust on your comforter is a real issue. We chatted with a few mattress companies for the breakdown of concerns.
The Mattress Matters
Not just any springy platform will do. Daehee Park, co-founder of Tuft & Needle, suggests to check your manufacturing tag before laying it down. "Most mattress brands will not honor product warranties if you don't use a specific setup, so take a look at the fine print." It's also key to know if you have a foam versus a spring product. The two are, surprisingly, not always easy to tell apart. Joe Alexander, CEO at Nest Bedding, says a foam bed directly on the ground is denser, and a spring model can allow for more air flow. If you're a heavy sweater (sorry, but we had to go there), you should reconsider putting it down altogether. "Sweat from overheating, which is a natural occurrence during the course of a night's sleep, needs to evaporate. The mattress on the floor will prevent that from fully occurring," Alexander says.
Not just any springy platform will do. Daehee Park, co-founder of Tuft & Needle, suggests to check your manufacturing tag before laying it down. "Most mattress brands will not honor product warranties if you don't use a specific setup, so take a look at the fine print." It's also key to know if you have a foam versus a spring product. The two are, surprisingly, not always easy to tell apart. Joe Alexander, CEO at Nest Bedding, says a foam bed directly on the ground is denser, and a spring model can allow for more air flow. If you're a heavy sweater (sorry, but we had to go there), you should reconsider putting it down altogether. "Sweat from overheating, which is a natural occurrence during the course of a night's sleep, needs to evaporate. The mattress on the floor will prevent that from fully occurring," Alexander says.
Surface Dictates Comfort
Lindsay Kaplan, VP of communications at Casper, says you may find your bed feels mushier on a shaggy carpet, compared to placing it on a sturdy, hardwood floor. A firm structure will help it seem more stable and secure. "All mattresses benefit from direct support, but that may be the floor, a foundation, a platform bed, or wood slats," she says. However, it's a myth that all mattresses need a box spring. If you do place yours on carpet, Park says synthetic materials tend to be better because they don't absorb and hold moisture, which can lead to mildew or mold if you're not careful: "Make sure it's a synthetic carpeting rather than natural material like wool, and a hardwood rather than a composite wood." Climate Is Key
There's no way around it. If you live in a highly humid part of the world, a floor arrangement can be dicey. "There is a better chance of moisture getting trapped between the bottom of the mattress and the ground," says Park. "For very humid climates, we recommend using a frame — even if it's very simple and low-profile."
Lindsay Kaplan, VP of communications at Casper, says you may find your bed feels mushier on a shaggy carpet, compared to placing it on a sturdy, hardwood floor. A firm structure will help it seem more stable and secure. "All mattresses benefit from direct support, but that may be the floor, a foundation, a platform bed, or wood slats," she says. However, it's a myth that all mattresses need a box spring. If you do place yours on carpet, Park says synthetic materials tend to be better because they don't absorb and hold moisture, which can lead to mildew or mold if you're not careful: "Make sure it's a synthetic carpeting rather than natural material like wool, and a hardwood rather than a composite wood." Climate Is Key
There's no way around it. If you live in a highly humid part of the world, a floor arrangement can be dicey. "There is a better chance of moisture getting trapped between the bottom of the mattress and the ground," says Park. "For very humid climates, we recommend using a frame — even if it's very simple and low-profile."