Size

• Because most mattress sizes and styles will work with platform beds, you will have a lot to choose from. Platform beds come in all standard bed sizes: twin, extra-long twin, full, queen, king and California king.
  
  

Comfort

• Your mattress may feel firmer on your platform bed than it would on a traditional box spring. Visit furniture or mattress stores and test out a variety of mattresses. Lie down on a mattress for a number of minutes, noting how soft or firm it feels on your back. Take your time, it will ultimately be worth it.
  
  

Types

• The most common type of mattress is the innerspring, which comes in many degrees of firmness. Air mattresses can be adjusted to be as soft or as firm as you like. Foam mattresses can consist of latex foam, memory foam or traditional foam. Because platform beds provide extra support and can make standard mattresses feel extra-firm, foam mattresses are a good fit. They mold to your body shape for optimal comfort.
  
  While not as popular, you can even get a water mattress, which can either be entirely filled with water or be a conventional mattress with water pockets.
  
  

Pricing

• There are many varieties to choose from.bed image by Leonid Nyshko from Fotolia.com
  
  Mattress prices can vary depending on the type and size you choose. Air mattresses can cost as little as $30. Standard innerspring mattresses can start at around $300, while foam mattresses can be much more expensive. Heavy foam mattresses can range from about $800 to around $2,000.
  
  

Durability

• Many mattresses can last up to 10 years. If your mattress carries a warranty, check if the warranty coverage changes if you use it on a platform instead of on a matching box spring, advises the Better Sleep Council.