We got the white bunk bed, and it's extremely sturdy and solid. It looks great - doesnt look cheap at all and is a heavy, solid wood. My kids adore it. We did not get any special bunk mattresses or those bunkbed box springs. We used their regular sized twin mattresses and put them directly on the bunks. They are a little high, but dont go above the rail, and there is absolutely enough support in terms of the wooden slats. My kids love it, and I love it. After much research on many websites, this was one of the most cost effective and was well worth it.