A Brief Review of Five Types of Mattress

When your mattress finally wears out and you go shopping for a new one, you will be amazed by the number of options out there. Educating yourself on what is available before hitting the stores is a great way to make mattress shopping less stressful. Many types of mattresses exist, and knowing the basics beforehand will allow you to choose the perfect new mattress for a good night's sleep.

Innerspring Mattresses

Picture a basic traditional mattress in your head, and you are most likely imagining an innerspring mattress. These mattresses have wire coils, also known as bed springs, inside with a strong border wire around the edges for support. The edges of the mattress are reinforced with differently shaped springs or foam so the bed is supported from edge to edge. Between the springs and the upholstery of the mattress there will be an insulator, often a tough padding or netting layer to prevent the outer fabric from sinking between the coils.

Waterbeds

One of the largest advantages of a waterbed is that it can be easily heated. If you live in an area where winters are particularly chilly, it can be cozy and comfortable to climb into a nice, warm bed in the colder months. Traditional waterbeds are hard-sided, meaning they have a water mattress surrounded by wooden sides to help keep the mattress rigid.

Modern waterbeds also come in soft-sided, meaning they are a sort of combination of a conventional mattress and a waterbed. These beds have water chambers inside a fabric mattress casing. Waterbeds can be great for people with allergies, since they can usually be wiped down to eliminate mites or pollen. These updated mattresses can last for over 10 years. Consider where in your house you'll be placing your bed as waterbeds can be quite heavy.

Air Mattresses

Air beds and mattresses have become more available and more popular over the last several years. These mattresses distribute weight across the mattresses surface by displacing your body weight rather than absorbing it. Air mattresses have outer upholstery with a central area filled with air. The bed has a pump attached and the softness can be adjusted to whatever level of support is most comfortable for you to sleep on.

One advantage of these beds is that if you have a bedmate that prefers a different level of support than you, you may be able to separately adjust each side of the bed. This allows you to both be comfortable while sleeping in the same bed.

Foam Mattresses

The foam used in foam mattresses was originally created through funding by NASA in the 1970's. They found that reducing g-forces on the body during shuttle launches was aided by using a material that would conform to the astronaut's bodies. This lead to the creation of foam that was viscoelastic which means it was able to conform to a shape but come back to its original shape once pressure was removed.

These mattresses are now known as memory foam, and feel solid to the touch. It does not feel like it is pushing against your body. You can also get foam mattresses made of latex foam, which has a higher elasticity, and feels springier to the touch.

Futon Mattresses

Futon mattresses originated in Japan, and have been thickened for the Western market. These mattresses are typically 6 to 10 inches thick and often sit on a frame which can be folded up and down for use as a couch or bed.

Futon mattresses tend to be fairly firm, and are one of the more inexpensive options when searching for a mattress. This makes them popular with college students and urban livers. The main difference between futons and innerspring mattresses is that futons do not contain springs, but are made of layers that can include wool, cotton, foam, latex & polyester. Futons can be heavy depending on the thickness of mattress you choose.

Getting a good night's sleep is important, and choosing the right mattress is the key. No matter what type of mattress you're interested in, make sure to shop around and actually test out the different options by laying on them in the store. Retailers understand the importance of laying on mattresses and encourage you to try them out before your purchase.