Buying a mattress is a more important decision than many realise. Hopefully, it will serve you well and provide you with plenty of quality sleep, but in order for that to happen, you need to know which mattress type is the best for you.
There are many factors to consider – how firm you want your new mattress to be, how big your budget is, how much you want it to last… all of this can vary quite a bit with each category, so knowing what you’re buying becomes exceptionally important.
To help you out, here’s a list of the most important things you need to know about each mattress type.
Innerspring mattress
Let’s start things off with the most traditional form of mattress. Innerspring mattresses have been around for a very long time, so their technology is very much tested and proven to work.
They are based on a series of springs inside of the mattress which provides a fair amount of support and quite a lot of bounce, which is something many buyers will appreciate.
The biggest advantage, however, is their price – innerspring mattresses are generally the most affordable on the market.
Furthermore, they provide excellent support for people who like to sleep on their back or stomach and for heavier sleepers and they are more on the heavier side of the spectrum.
It should be noted that they have a slightly shorter lifespan than other mattress types, but you can still expect to get at least five years out of one. That’s why this is generally a very good choice for first-time buyers.
Foam mattress
Foam mattresses are a bit more expensive than innerspring mattresses, but they are still fairly affordable, all things considered.
As the name suggests, they are filled with layers of foam instead of coils. This has several important consequences for the sleeper.
First of all, the firmness of the mattress is significantly lower, which means there is a bit less support. This can be a problem, depending on what type of sleeper you are.
However, this also helps people who sleep on their side sleep much more comfortably.
Furthermore, since there are no coils, you won’t have to worry about weird and unpleasant sounds every time you change your position in bed. Also, the foam is very good at insulating sleepers from each other in terms of motion, so you won’t even notice the person next to you moving while they sleep.
A drawback is that foam mattresses sometimes retain heat, which can make sleeping on them unpleasant.
But with more durability than innerspring mattresses, this mattress type is certainly worth considering.
Hybrid mattress
Hybrid mattresses have a core that is a combination of innerspring mattresses (coils) and foam mattresses (different types of foam on top of the coils). This allows them to take the best of both worlds, but also comes with certain drawbacks.
For example, they are heavier and more expensive than both innerspring and foam mattresses.
On the other hand, some of their features are a consequence of combining the two types of mattresses, so you will get less heat here than in foam mattresses but also more movement transfer.
This is ideal if both innerspring and foam mattresses don’t suit you or if your partner has different mattress preferences than you. It’s softer than usual coils, but not as soft as pure foam, has solid back support, is relatively quiet, and doesn’t retain heat that much.
Latex mattress
Now we’re into the territory that belongs to somewhat more expensive mattresses. Latex mattresses have medium firmness but are generally very durable, so you can expect one to last you for a decade or even more.
Because of its features, latex will adjust to your body very well and is fairly bouncy. The latter fact allows you to move fairly easily on it, while the former helps keep your spine in a good position. It needs to be noted, however, that this mattress will not adjust as much as a foam mattress, but it also won’t give you that sinking sensation.
For some buyers, an important advantage will be that these mattresses can be produced of completely natural materials, but be careful because people with latex allergies won’t be able to sleep here.
Other types of mattresses
Apart from these, let’s call them the main types of mattresses, there are a few other categories that may be worth considering, depending on what you’re looking for.
Airbeds, for example, are a great solution if you’re looking for something for your guests to sleep on. They are fairly reasonably priced but don’t last as long as most other mattresses, which is why they are predominantly used for guest rooms. If they are not going to be used every night, they are very useful.
You can also consider futons, mattresses made of organic materials other than latex, pillow-top mattresses, even waterbeds (although they are not nearly as popular now as they used to be). Find the right bed for you on reliable websites such as Crafted Beds and order them in a few clicks!
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many types of mattresses to choose from. Some will provide better support, others will retain less body heat, some will be ideal for young people because they are affordable, others will attract because of the fact they are made of natural materials… The list of features goes on and on.
There can even be notable differences among different examples of the same category – hybrid mattresses, for example, can differ a whole lot from each other.
All of this means that proper research is vital if you want to make the right decision. Inform yourself on the mattress type you’re aiming for and see if it’s right for you. That way, you will always be able to buy the bed which will provide you with all the rest you need and serve you well in the years to come.