I keep seeing pics of beds with no box spring. I thought you were supposed to use a box spring and a mattress. Is it just a matter of preference? Have box springs become overrated?

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I used a mattress without a box spring when I was in college and it was juts fine. I find a bed with frame (bed rails), box spring and mattress too high, I don't like it. I prefer the European style, so now I just use a box spring and mattress, no frame. The height is just right for me then.

You need a foundation. It can be slats on the frame (futon style), a box spring set-up, a stack of bricks, anything.

Never own a bed with frame. With the constant moving due to job relocations, I have never bothered with bed frames. At times, I just have a mattress.

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SoCal for now.

You can put any mattress on the floor but, a mattress can wear out more quickly without proper foundation. Platform beds have mattresses made specifically to be on plywood.

Read all about it- [en.wikipedia.org]