I do like the arched style of the headboard as it complements the vaulted ceiling in the bedroom. The manufacturer says a box spring is not needed, I have found otherwise. With a 12" hybrid mattress this headboard has a gap between the mattress and where the panels begin. I found that my pillows would slip under the headboard through this gap until I acquired an 8" box spring. The frame comes with only 5 horizontal slats for the mattress to rest upon, which I found to be minimally adequate to support the mattress which tended to sink a bit where my head and shoulders were positioned.