Learn all about the different mattresses you can buy for your bed. Many options, materials, sizes and more. Ultimate mattress buying guide.
Is it time to replace your mattress for your bed? Depending on how much you use it and the type you have, you could be due for an upgrade if it’s ten years or more old.
You may also find that you’re waking up with aches and pains, or you’re not sleeping well at all. If you have lumps or bumps in your sleep surface, these are all signs that it’s time to go shopping for a mattress, whether that’s a Sleep Number Bed Alternative, or another type, or perhaps it’s been so long that you don’t really know what is it you are looking for!
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Mattress Buying Guide
There are lots of options to consider when you’re in the market for a new mattress. Construction technology has come in a long way in recent years, and now you have different materials and firmness ratings to choose from to maximize your comfort.
Other factors, like the position you sleep in, can also influence which type might be best for you. Here we’ll explore the different options available, and discuss other considerations to help you make the best selection for your needs.
A. Types of Mattresses
The five most common types of mattresses are memory foam, innerspring, hybrid, latex, and adjustable air. Here we’ll give you details on each one to help you weigh the pros and cons and pick which is the right fit for your bedroom.
1. Memory Foam
Memory foam is found abundantly in pillows and mattresses today, but it was actually invented back in the 1970’s by NASA. Its original purpose was to provide better seat cushioning and crash protection for passengers and pilots on airplanes and is still used in that capacity today.
The material might be the perfect bed padding for you for several reasons. Also called Visco Elastic foam, it conforms to the curves of your body while dispersing your weight evenly over the surface. For this reason, it is one of the best mattress types for an adjustable bed as it can be configured into multiple shapes. You can click here for information about this.
2. Innerspring
Innerspring is the oldest and most common design. They’ve come a long way from 1857 when they were first invented, and modern upgrades make them more comfortable and stable than ever before.
Innerspring models use a steel coil support system to provide support to the sleeper. The coils can be arranged in one of two ways, connected or individually wrapped.
In a connected design, the coils all feed into a single unit, and the bed has a bouncier feel. When you sleep on this type, you might feel the movement of your partner because the coils will respond as one unit.
3. Hybrid
Hybrids are an example of how the sleep industry has combined the best of both worlds into one comfortable product. Most options pair the sophisticated memory foam technology with an advanced innerspring core to create a surface that offers excellent support, durability, and comfort.
There are several advantages to a hybrid design. First, by using the stand-alone pocketed coil technology, the sleeper experiences less motion transfer at night which results in a more restful sleep.
4. Latex
Latex options were first invented in the 1930’s and went mainstream to consumers in the 1960’s. Because of extremely high material and production costs, latex options were more expensive than their competitors and were far out of reach for the average person.
In the past 20 years, advances in technology have brought down the price of producing latex beds, and now they are a more affordable if still high-end sleep option.
Made from plant or petroleum-based materials, latex is popular among the eco–conscious because there are options that are environmentally friendly. The resilient material offers support similar to memory foam, providing a comfortable surface that keeps the pressure off of areas like hips and shoulders and helps the sleeper maintain proper alignment.
5. Adjustable Air Mattress
Air mattresses have long been used by outdoor enthusiasts to improve the camping experience. Recent innovations have brought air technology into the bedroom, giving you the option to fill the independent air chambers to your desired firmness providing and adjustable sleep experience.
The air chamber is then covered by padding and upholstery materials, which might include things like memory foam or latex, to create a comfortable sleep surface.
While they are designed to look like a conventional bed, most air beds come with a remote control that will allow you to adjust the firmness. Because they have numerous air chambers in their construction, you can usually adjust each side of the bed separately, providing a customized sleep experience for couples who prefer different sleep settings.
6. Waterbed
In the 1970’s and 80’s, the waterbed wasn’t only popular; it was considered sexy. While they lost popularity in the 1990’s, you can still purchase one of the structure and design appeal to you.
They provide support through a water chamber system and come in either a hard-sided or soft-sided design.
Hard-sided waterbeds have their water chamber housed inside a rectangular wood frame while the soft-sided option stores theirs inside a rectangular rigid foam frame that is then zipped inside a fabric casing.
7. Futon Mattress
If you have a futon, you need a futon mattress that doubles as a sofa cushion when the futon is converted into a sofa (from a bed).
Many people, especially in small living areas, use a futon for a bed which doubles as a sofa. This is a great option in studio apartments.
Futon mattresses are fairly firm, but are made to fold to accommodate the sofa configuration.
