IKEA KURA: Mattress on the Floor or on a Slatted Base – What Does 5 cm of Clearance Bring?

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iLoveKURA

October 28, 2026

On October 2, 2026

A mattress under the IKEA KURA – is that enough?

There is room under the IKEA KURA, a 90 × 200 cm mattress fits in, and the second sleeping place already seems ready. For a sibling or the next sleepover guest, it is an obvious idea.

When setting up, we first look at what promises comfort: a suitable mattress, soft bedding and the favourite cuddly toy. What lies beneath the mattress is easily overlooked.

Yet that is exactly where two solutions differ: placed directly on the floor, the mattress rests on it over its whole surface. A slatted base with a suitable support structure creates clearance from the floor and leaves areas of the mattress underside free between its slats.

What do about 5 cm of support height bring? And why is it worth planning the base from the start? We show what matters for the lower sleeping place in the IKEA KURA – before the bedding goes on top.

Mattress on the floor or on a slatted base: what is the difference?

From above, both sleeping places look similar. The difference only shows beneath the mattress: on the floor it rests over its whole surface. On a slatted base, open areas remain between the wooden slats.

Directly on the floor: little air at the underside

If the mattress lies directly on the floor, there is no free air space beneath it. To air or check its underside, it has to be lifted. Simply folding back the duvet does not expose this area.

What about 5 cm of support height changes

NestUp Base raises the support surface of the lower mattress about 5 cm above the floor. Together with the gaps between the slats, this creates room for air beneath the mattress. It no longer lies directly on the floor, but is carried by individual wooden slats.

The roughly 5 cm describes the height at which the mattress rests. The free distance under the slats is correspondingly smaller. What matters is the interplay of floor clearance, open gaps and a free air path.

A better base still needs attention

The slatted base provides the structural conditions for ventilation from below. Regular airing and care according to the mattress manufacturer’s instructions are still part of it. The underside should also be checked; clearance alone does not guarantee protection against moisture or mould.

Anyone setting up a sleeping place under the IKEA KURA should therefore not only ask: “Which mattress fits in?”, but also: “How does it rest there?” A suitable support structure takes both into account: the bearing for the slatted base and the clearance from the floor.

A good sleeping place starts beneath the mattress: with the right support and room for air.

A second sleeping place without setting up a second bed

A sibling needs a sleeping place of their own. Or the best friend finally wants to stay the night. But where should another bed go when the wooden train set is already running its rounds on the floor?

With NestUp Base, you use the area under the upper sleeping surface of the IKEA KURA. This creates a lower sleeping place for a 90 × 200 cm mattress – with its own bedding, favourite pillow and cuddly toy.

For siblings: two separate sleeping surfaces within the same bed footprint.

For sleepover guests: a prepared place, without setting up an additional guest bed in the room.

For play during the day: the floor space next to the KURA stays free, because no further bed has to stand there.

The previous play or cuddle corner under the KURA becomes the sleeping place. So you decide deliberately how you want to use the available space.

NestUp Base provides the right foundation for this: the mattress lies on a slatted base instead of directly on the floor. This way, you combine an additional bed with a thought that is easily forgotten when furnishing – the area under the mattress also needs a well-thought-out solution.

Frequently asked questions

Do I still need to air the mattress despite the slatted base?

Yes. Follow the care instructions of the mattress manufacturer and also check the underside regularly. The slatted base leaves areas under the mattress open, but it does not replace its care.

Can I use an existing slatted base under the IKEA KURA?

That depends on its actual dimensions and the support it needs. The specification “90 × 200 cm” alone is not enough. Under the KURA, the slatted base needs a suitable support structure on which it rests according to its manufacturer’s specifications.

Does my mattress fit NestUp Base?

NestUp Base is designed for a 90 × 200 cm mattress. Also check whether the mattress manufacturer allows a flat, rigid base with about 8 cm of spacing between the slats.

Do I also need the NestUp Storage platform for this?

No. The complete NestUp Base set can be used without the additional NestUp Storage platform.

Good to know

Do you want to keep using the existing mattress? First check its requirements for the base. That way you can clarify before buying whether the mattress and the slatted base fit together.

Not every mattress needs a new bed. But every mattress needs a suitable foundation.