Definitely do not need a box spring, but we put ours on because our german shephard would be all in our face in the mornings. The bed is quite sturdy and has 4 wired drawers that also latch to the bed by lifting them a bit. I love the outlet and USB ports. We are remodeling our bedroom, so Im not sure about the color just yet, but my husband said the wood parts can be easily replaced by any type of wood, and the metal can also be spray painted. Im opting to wait and see how it looks with my natural decor with moody earth tones. My goal is to create a space that feels like a nature retreat. With the box spring- Im definitely getting tree house vibes from it being so high up. Haha.