This is a very nice bed.  As you can see in my picture the bed sits up high.  We used both our box spring and mattress.  You have two options when you put it together....we did not use the arched slats to raise it because we wanted to use our box spring.  I would say the picture they show of the bed...there is no box spring so the bed is sitting lower to show more of the headboard.  The bed itself was very easy to put together and the beige material is very nice.  Make sure you or your husband has an electric screwdriver for allen wrench (forgive spelling). The only downfall is because we used the box spring, you can see some of it on the side of the bed if your comforter doesn't come all the way down.  I got a fitted beige sheet and it blends nicely.