How does your mattress have a "look" that would complicate things? Maybe I'm missing something, but if I needed a new bed, but for sure a new mattress, I'd get the mattress first and then keep looking for the right bed. Then bedding. It seems there are lots of options available.

Linelle, I am worried that the simple beds that I like may not work with the popular tall mattress heights. Or that it may end up that the bed I love looks best platform style and we waste money buying a mattress and foundation. Looking through Craigslist, I see many beds that look messy or out of proportion. Tall mattresses covering half the headboard, foundations jutting over the sides of rails or bedding jammed in corners because there is no room for the fabric.

Just trying to plan ahead so everything works together and looks nice.

The first thing I'd do is decide whether you want a platform bed (which tends to be a more contemporary look) or a bed that required a mattress and box spring. Whether you prefer no footboard for ease of making the bed and like your feet to hang out over the end of the bed, etc. If you like a bed with posters, it's unlikely you'll find a platform bed so that should solve your problem as to whether or not you need a box spring.

You can have a four poster bed with simply slats and no box spring.

It also depends on what type of mattress you're getting, whether regular coil/innerspring or foam or latex. We're dealing with this now, sigh.

If you have a particular bed in mind, get the bed first. Then find a mattress that works, then a foundation, if necessary, that works with the mattress and bed. Then the bedding. My two cents : )

You can get lower foundations (2" and 4"), and you can also get a bunky/bunkie board.

You can get this Shaker four poster platform style or to take a regular mattress and box spring.

"You can have a four poster bed with simply slats and no box spring."

From my experience, the box spring always sits on the slats. I cannot imagine putting the mattress directly on the slats which would not support all parts of the mattress equally. Of course, perhaps there is some new trick with newly-manufactured beds. I guess you could have a sheet of plywood cut to replace slats. I did that for the top bunk when my son was little. No box spring needed then.

Platform beds now come in a variety to styles, my daughters is a sled in dark wood, ours is a more transitional style, some like ours are still high in height because they have drawers under them. The extra storage was key for us AND we saved the expense of the box spring.

Because of the varied options available these days, I'd suggest figuring out what style bed you want first, then buy the mattress and then the bedding.

If you are finding limited choices in your preferred bed style, I'd find the bed then shop for the mattress. There are infinite mattress choices, as well as bedding choices.

Find the bed you want. Find the mattress that works with the bed. Buy your bedding based on mattress size. Cuddledown of Maine has some very beautiful, simple wood beds. They are expensive, but then this is for life, isn't it?

I'd say find the bed first. Then you will know if you need a lower profile box spring or not.

But if you are really having a hard time finding the right bed, then get the mattress first. If you end up with a bed that makes the mattress too high, you could then get a lower profile box spring--they are only a couple hundred dollars, not nearly as expensive as a mattress. Or you can put plywood over the slats and forego the box spring. But do check your mattress warranty to make sure what you do doesn't void the warranty.

Most new beds are made to accommodate the height of the new mattresses. When you see a mattress covering half the headboard, it is usually a case of a new mattress on an older bed. It's an issue that is fixable with a lower box spring, but a lot of people don't take the headboard height into consideration when buying a new bed. (The last mattress I bought, I had to check off something that said the salesperson had discussed box spring height with me, so I suspect the height of the mattress/box spring combo is an issue with new mattress buyers. )

I have a Charleston Rice bed that is about 35 yrs old. It is a VERY high bed and if I used today's mattresses and box springs, it would not only cover the headboard, but I would need a ladder to get in bed! So, I have my mattress and box springs custom made at a local company. It is actually cheaper than many dept store and mattress store mattresses, and the box springs actually have springs in them.