LEARN ABOUT MATTRESSES

If you haven't shopped for a new mattress in a while, you'll be surprised to find a wide variety of new choices. Just as computer, wireless and electronic technology gets more advanced each year, new developments are continuously being introduced that make the latest model mattresses and boxsprings/foundations a new experience in comfort.

The right mattress for a great night’s sleep is the one that meets your personal needs for comfort and support. But before you start shopping for a new mattress, you will need to know some bedding basics. With some general mattress information on the variety of choices available, it will be easier to choose the right bed for you - and get a great night’s sleep.

Regardless of the type of sleep system you decide to purchase, always evaluate a mattress for comfort, support, durability and space. The mattress that best addresses these needs is the mattress for you.

Comfort- Today’s top quality mattress and boxspring/foundation ensembles are built for superior comfort. Comfort is delivered to your body through the use of cushioning materials layered on top of the support system. Through the use of firming pads, and harder, high density foam, varying levels of hardness (firmness) can be obtained. If a support system is layered with soft materials like convoluted foam, low density foam, and fiber materials like  wool, silk, or cashmere, then varying levels of softness (plush) are obtained. Luxurious new cushioning materials and extra-soft surface treatments create a plusher, more comfortable feel 

To identify the feel of every mattress we sell, most consumers make the mistake of thinking that a firm mattress will provide better support for their back than a plush or pillow top mattress. This is simply not the case. In fact, most manufacturers use the exact same innerspring in firm, plush, and pillow top mattresses. In other words, the hardest mattress would provide the exact same support for your back as the softest mattress.

Comfort levels are described as Firm, Plush and Pillowtops.

• Firm mattresses offer the least surface "give" and would be considered harder in feel to the other surface comforts.
• Plush mattresses offer more surface "give" and provide a softer surface comfort.
• Pillowtop mattresses offer the most surface "give" and provide the softest surface comfort.

Support- A good mattress and foundation will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture. When lying on the mattress, pay special attention to your shoulders, hips and lower back—the heaviest parts of the body.  Support can be delivered to your back through two different methods. In the traditional innnerspring method, or commonly known as coils, the innerspring will sense the weight that is applied from various parts of your body, and respond with the proper upward resistance - thus support is achieved.  In the specialty method, commonly known as memory foam and latex,  weight is evenly distributed and the spine is aligned to a neutral position. This allows all the muscles to completely relax for the ultimate rest. 

Innerspring- The most widely purchased type of bedding uses the support of tempered steel coils in a variety of configurations. Varying types and layers of upholstery provide insulation and cushioning between your body and the spring unit, resulting in a range of comfort choices. 

Learn about Coils

Foam- Solid foam mattresses also offer a wide choice of sleeping sensations or “feels.” They can be made of a solid core or of several layers of different types of foam laminated together. Advanced technology in polyurethane foams, refinements to traditional latex and the new visco-elastic ("memory") foams have added to the choice of comfort, support and performance. 
 
Learn about Memory Foam
Learn about Latex

Durability- It’s the quality of the materials used and how they’re put together that determines how long a mattress and boxspring/foundation will provide comfort and support.

Learn about Mattress Construction
Learn about Mattress Care
Learn about Mattress History

Space- Cramped quarters can turn sleeping into a nighttime wrestling match. A healthy person moves anywhere from 40-60 times a night, including dozens of full body turns. You need freedom of motion while you sleep, so make sure that your mattress gives you room to move around comfortably throughout the night.

Size 

• Twin : 38" x 75"
• Full : 54" x 75"
• Queen :60" x 80"
• King : 76" x 80"
• Cal King 72" x 84" 

Two people sleeping on a full sized (‘double’) mattress only have as much personal sleeping space as a baby in a crib. It is recommended that bed partners buy a mattress no smaller than a queen mattress.

Deciding between a queen or king size mattress really boils down to personal choice. A queen bed is 60 inches wide by approximately 80 inches long, perfect for couples who prefer close quarters. King beds are 76 inches wide by 80 inches long, the best choice for couples that want maximum personal sleeping space.

Queen bed recommendations: Queen size is a good choice for guest rooms, smaller master bedrooms and for couples who prefer close quarters. It's also a great choice for single sleepers who are also "sprawlers."

Both twin and full sizes are approximately 75 inches long, which may be too short for some adults, especially men. Full bed recommendations:  A full size bed is only enough space for a single sleeper and only if the person is shorter than 5 feet 5 inches tall. Parents are increasingly choosing full size over twin for teenage bedrooms. Parents are even making this choice for younger children to give themselves a more comfortable place to rest when reading together at tuck-in time.

It is important to have an educated salesperson who can guide you through the many choices in bedding to help you find the best mattress that meets your personal preferences. Always shop at a store you trust. many years is to buy the highest quality sleep set you can afford.

The Matching Foundation. A good foundation is as important as a good mattress. After selecting a mattress, buy the manufacturer’s recommended foundation to support the mattress, as the two are designed to work together. In fact, buying the mattress without its matching foundation may affect the terms of the warranty and could also compromise its level of fire resistance. You should never put a new mattress on an old foundation.