In my opinion, a rice bed would not work. All my beds have footboards and headboard's and I have every size but a king.

Below is a picture of a bed that looks good without a footboard, but it is not a KING. But, it's good looking, no? Maybe you could find something like this, or you may have to buy both head/foot boards. Just leave the footboard off. But a rice bed, won't look right IMO.

If you buy something that is fancy at the top, like the one below you can get away without a footboard. What do you think?

{{!gwi}}

If you have the room, I'd do the complete bed. It just looks more inviting.

But, I don't think I'd walk into a room where there wasn't a footboard and think - wow this looks odd. I think when it's all made up etc. it will look nice either way.

One option would be to order the headboard and if you feel it looks incomplete, you can then order the side rails and footboard.

To my mind, a rice bed is just a four-poster bed with rice detail in the carving. With only a headboard, you won't get the same effect, but that is because of having only two posters instead of four, not because of the rice carving. The same goes for any other carving.

In other words, if a two-poster bed (headboard only) is what you want, and if you can get just the headboard with rice carving, I don't see what the problem is.

Four posters will make the bed look more enclosed, and more prominent, but if the room is not large or the ceiling is not high, that may not be desirable. For example, the MBR in my house has only ordinary ceilings and there would not be a lot of open space around a king bed, so I would not use four posters there, but two posters would be OK.

I forgot to add ONE HUGE DETAIL!!! The mattress height from the top of the mattress to the floor is 29" with a steel frame that is 8" from the floor. Boxspring is 9", mattress is 12." So the bottom of the bottom of the mattress sits 8" from the floor. Most complete beds with a head and footboard are 10+" from the bottom of the boxspring. I would be adding at least two additionalinches to the bed height! That is my DILEMMA! This is what happens when I peruse the forum prior to having my morning coffee!!!

Sorry I inadvertently left out this big detail. That is the reason I do not think I can use a foot-board. I don't want a step stool (or ladder -haha) to get into the bed! I know the style of bed I want, but the challenges lies in trying to find that bed with a frame that is less than 10" from the floor.

Carol, I like the bed. What kind of post is that? I do not believe I have seen that style. I agree with ok re. the four poster will make the bed more enclosed and defined. I have 9' ceilings and the room is large and can definitely accommodate the king bed; however, as mentioned in previous post, my primary concern is the height of the bed.

I am thinking I probably should have gone with the low profile boxspring, but the downside is I would not be able to use a dust ruffle, which probably would not matter since I have never had much success with dust ruffles staying in place on the boxspring. They always appear sloppy on my beds!! I am having a custom bedSPREAD made. I just didn't want to lose that option if down the road I wanted to use a dust ruffle.

Although my bed is a four poster rice bed, I cropped out the foot to show you what a two post would look like. I am assuming that the headboard would be more prominent with a lower frame. I think it would be perfectly fine if that's what you want and they are sold that way. I've see them in hotels without the footboard.

BTW - I do have to use steps to get into the bed. ;)

{{!gwi}}

Personally I prefer the complete bed. I'd think that just the headboard with the posters might look like something unfinished or a hotel room. I also like that a footboard helps control the bedding while I'm sleeping--I hate it when the covers slide off towards the foot of the bed in hotels.

If you don't do a footboard, you might consider a nice padded bench at the end of the bed, assuming you have the space.

I have a rice bed ($200 off craigslist!!) and I don't know if it's the particular make or what but it's very high off the ground. I don't need a footstool but I'm close to needing one. You can see how our nightstands need to be replaced because they're too low. I'm still searching ...

I do think it would look incomplete without the footboard because the posts aren't substantial enough.

I bet mine is higher!!!! Measure yours and let me know. It might just be the picture, but mine is 29.5 from the floor. My concern is if I go with a complete bed, I will be adding and additional 2+ inches to the height. How tall are your n/stands??? Mine need replacing, too. I believe mine are 25 of 26" tall. You were extremely lucky to find such a nice bed on Craig's List...and for $200.00! That is a deal!