How Do I Select a Mattress?
Before shopping for a mattress you need to arm yourself with pertinent
information. First determine what type of bed is best for you. Do you
like soft or hard beds? Would you prefer a standard mattress or a foam
mattress? If you are not sure, go try out a few different mattress
types. Second, consider your budget. This is not a purchase you want to
scrimp on, as a poor night's sleep can affect your whole day if you have wrong down comforter too, visit
Natural Sleep to choose right down comforter. Try to
get as much value as you can for your budget. Finally, size is a very
important factor especially if there is more than one person sleeping
in the bed. Ideally, you should both be able to lie on the bed with
your arms behind your heads and not touch. A bed needs to be 10-15 cm
longer than the tallest person sleeping in that bed. Also pay attention
to the height. Lower beds can be easy to get into but harder to get out
of. High beds can be hard to get into, especially for shorter people,
but very easy to hop out of in the morning.
The Exterior of a Mattress
The mattress exterior is called ticking. Visually it is really not too
important to select a "pretty" mattress as it will be covered most of
the time. Instead you want to make sure the ticking is sturdy and well
made and not prone to ripping. The higher quality ticking is made of
material that is knitted or woven using cotton or viscose yarn. Cheaper
mattresses are made of polypropylene or polyester. The cheapest
mattresses are made of stitchbond or bonded cloth. Manufacturers now
make external mattress covers with special features such as
anti-allergy, anti-bacterial and anti-static. They may be resistant to
staining, water and fire. Amazingly enough, there are even mattresses
that give off different scents conducive to a good night's sleep.
Spring Mattresses
There are three basic types of spring mattresses. A continuous spring
mattress is made from a single piece of wire woven into many springs.
The springs are linked in a vertical pattern. The wire is soft and the
coils are small. This generates more reaction from the mattress. An
open coil mattress is the most common form of mattress. The springs are
arranged horizontally and connected at their tops and on the bottom by
a twisting wire. The rods that run around the edge of the coils add
strength. A pocket spring mattress has coils that are placed in fabric
coverings. Instead of working as a unit, these springs function
separately. As a result movement between partners on the same bed can
not be felt by the other.
Foam Mattresses
Latex foam mattresses are quite responsive as they are actually made from rubber
tree sap. Known for their durability, they also have anti-allergy and
anti-microbial characteristics. These mattresses bounce back to their
original shape as soon as you get off the bed. Pressure is evenly
distributed too. A viscose elastic or memory foam bed is made of
polyurethane foam. It does not respond as quickly as a latex foam
mattress but is excellent at relieving pressure points on the body.
This foam mattress has several different densities making some harder
than others. Polyurethane foam beds are petroleum based. They too come
in different densities and are one of the more popular foam beds.
Water Beds
Waterbeds usually get their support from the amount of water in the mattress.
There is no pressure on the body at all. These beds are known to be
perfect for people suffering from allergies. Wave motion varies between
beds. Some waterbeds also come with heaters to keep the bed warm.
Futons
Futons are an Asian invention. They are normally made from multiple layers of
fibre or cotton. In the UK they are popular with younger people who are
on a very tight budget as they are very affordable. The mattresses can
be used on the floor or a frame can be purchased to make it more of a
bed.
Divan Bed Bases
Divans are simply boxes on wheels so they can be easily moved or boxes on legs so there is storage
underneath. Sprung edge divans have coils or springs set on a frame.
These are the most expensive style. Platform divans have a hardboard
top and are quite firm. Firm edge divans are made with small durable
springs in a wood frame. Flexible slatted divans are crafted with
bendable wood creating a slight bounciness. The slat tension can be
adjusted as needed on these flexible slatted beds.
Bedsteads
Bedsteads are what most of us consider a typical bed frame. The mattress support
is usually made of wood slats that can be very flexible or tough and
rigid. Wire mesh is another material used to make the support. The more
rigid and cheap slats are further apart but the gap should not exceed
10cm. In addition, the wider the space between the slats, the more
likely your mattress will be to wear out.
Adjustable Bases
Adjustable beds are becoming more and more popular but they are still very
expensive. They make it easy to sleep or read as the bed can be raised
or lowered as needed. They are also very helpful for people with
medical conditions. GERD (acid reflux) patients find there is less pain
sleeping in a raised position. In some situations the end of the bed
raises and this can help patients who suffer from leg cramps. Most of
these beds come as single beds. There are also double sized beds with
the two sides independently adjustable. Some extreme adjustable beds
can have up to 5 areas that can be altered. From the head to the feet
and every point in between, these are considered the elite of
adjustable beds. Because the mattresses are made especially to suit
each bed it is best to purchase the two together.
Hard Vs Soft Mattress
Mattresses come in a wide range of solidity. From the ultra soft to the extremely
hard, it is more a matter of preference than necessity. However, there
are some basic truths that hold for the majority of us. Very soft
cloud-like mattresses can wreak havoc on bad backs. This is because
there is very little support in a soft mattress. While hard mattresses
might be better for a bad back, very hard mattresses can cause just as
much trouble. It all boils down to what works best for each individual.
Mattresses for Overweight People
For those who prefer foam mattresses and are overweight consider the latex
mattress or the visco elastic mattress. Because these mattresses have
no springs there are no painful pressure points exacerbated by the
extra weight. In addition overweight people tend to wear out spring
mattresses faster than foam mattresses. When buying a foam mattress
select a high-density style, as it will last quite a bit longer.
Another good option for overweight people is an air mattress. Once
again there are no pressure points causing pain. The firmness is easily
adjusted by adding or releasing air. If an overweight person must
purchase a spring mattress try to get an inner coil mattress. Their
construction is perfectly suited to heavier individuals.
The Warranty
The best way to protect your mattress purchase is to make sure it comes
with a warranty. A typical warranty will last between 10 and 20 years.
They basically cover any flaws in the mattress. If the construction is
faulty or the materials are abnormally inadequate then you should be
covered. Adjustable beds, water beds and airbeds will also have
warranties on the various parts such as the motor or the controls. Keep
in mind the warranty will not cover the bed for normal deterioration.
When buying a mattress don't fall for the first soft bed. Visit different
mattress dealers and try out several different bed styles. Try to buy
the full bed set at once, mattress and frame, so you are sure they fit
each other perfectly. Carefully read the warranty before committing to
a bed frame and mattress.
The author specialises in beds and mattresses and regularly writes home improvement and furniture shopping guides.