How To Pick The Right Mattress

PBteen realizes getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just enjoyable, it’s good for your health, too. Sleep is restorative; it’s the time when your body heals and repairs itself from everyday wear and tear. While many different factors play a role in your ability to get good sleep, much as with anything else, it’s important to start with a strong and supportive foundation: your mattress and the bed it sits on. Choosing the right mattress is important. There are many options available, each offering a different benefit.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are very traditional and common. They are comprised of an interior network of coils that provide flexibility and support all across the bed. An innerspring bed has an additional layer of padding on the top and bottom of the mattress, providing you with protection from the springs while you sleep. Depending on the brand or model, it may have many small springs or just a few larger springs.

Generally speaking, a mattress with a higher coil count directly translates into better support and durability. Most innerspring mattresses must be used in tandem with a box spring in order to preserve the bed’s shape. They are frequently used in children’s beds, bunk beds and adult beds.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam isn’t a new technology, but its use in mattresses has only become popular over the last two decades. This innovative foam springs back into its original shape when pressure is placed against it and then removed. When used in a mattress, this provides a luxurious, bump-free sleeping surface that molds to your body, providing customized support where you need it most.

When purchasing a memory foam mattress, understand that height and density are the two most important factors. If you want to use memory foam by itself, ensure that the mattress is a minimum of 8" high. Anything smaller than this works well as a topper for a traditional mattress, but may not provide enough support on its own. For best results, pair this type of mattress with a platform bed, as they provide even support across the entire surface.

When it comes to density, regardless if you’re shopping for a topper or a full mattress, the higher it is, the better. Low densities of 2 to 3 pounds won’t provide good support; medium densities of 3 to 4.5 pounds are better and high densities of 5.5 pounds and over, are best. 

Pillowtop Mattresses

There’s nothing better than snuggling into a warm, soft bed, cuddling up with your favorite decorative pillow and slipping off to dreamland. Pillowtop mattresses provide the feeling of a soft, cushy pillow with the traditional support of either a memory foam or innerspring mattress. These mattresses are made in layers; the first, a box spring for support, and then the second, a coil or memory foam mattress. Finally, the third and top layer – that’s the layer next to your body – is quilted or pillow-stitched to provide additional softness and support.

Pillowtop mattresses are often looked at as luxurious, and with good reason: they reduce pressure on certain points of your body, like the hips, back, and legs. For this reason, they are especially suitable for those with back problems or joint trouble. Some people choose to use a mattress pad paired with a traditional coil mattress to achieve the same result.

Because pillowtop mattresses almost always have a box spring built into them, rather than being entirely separate, they are also taller than traditional coil spring mattresses. If you decide to purchase a luxurious pillowtop mattress, take note of the total height, as you may need to purchase sheets and bed skirts with additional depth to accommodate them.