When you bring home an expensive item like a brand new mattress, the last thing you want to do is leave it on the floor where it can be damaged. Not only could dirt ruin its appearance, but its ability to properly do its job could be in jeopardy, greatly reducing the years of useful life it holds.
It is important to protect your mattress with a great foundation. With so many options out there, it is hard to know what the best foundation would be for your particular mattress. This all depends on the kind of mattress you have selected. Innerspring, memory foam, or latex, even waterbeds and air mattresses need a good foundation for proper usage.
So which foundation is really the best for your mattress? To best answer that question, let’s take a look at each type of mattress individually.
Table of Contents
The Best Foundation for Your Mattress
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses are those that contain steel coils inside in order to better support the weight of the person sleeping on it. There are a few varieties available, with some containing coils that connect into one single unit, while others contain separate pocketed coils. We have reviewed one of the leading Innerspring Mattress in the market currently, you can click here to read our full review – Serta Perfect Sleeper Review.
These mattresses can vary based on the number of coils included, as well as the gauge, design, and shape of the coils. In addition, the material used to cover the innersprings can also vary, including things such as fibers, foams, and even layers of smaller springs.
When all of this is taken into consideration, the best option for an innerspring mattress is to find one with the highest number of support points, or coils.
Boxsprings are typically comprised of a wooden frame with a skid-resistant fabric covering. These foundations are used to absorb weight when working together with the wire coils found inside innerspring mattresses, making them a great option for use as a foundation in this situation.
The boxspring not only offers additional support and protection for the mattress, but also increases the amount of space between the sleeper and the floor, which allows for extra breathing room between the user and dust or cold.
Boxsprings come in a number of varieties, from the more high-quality options that are made with modular grids and square coils to coil spring beds with cone-shaped wire coils. While the square coils offer more durability, the cone-shaped coils offer more support and flexibility, so in most cases it is a good idea to test them out first.
Another option is the semi-flex box spring, which contains a wooden frame with a metal grid above additional slats. This type of boxspring offers the user additional support while at the same time lessening the amount of flexing that occurs within the mattress.
All of these types of boxsprings tend to work better when placed beneath a double-sided innerspring mattress. This is because the coils of the mattress work together with the coils of the boxspring to provide extra comfort as they combine to better absorb the weight of the sleeper as movement occurs throughout the night.
Boxsprings are not typically suggested for use under a single-sided, no-flip coil mattress.
Memory Foam Mattresses
A memory foam, or viscoelastic, mattress is typically comprised of many layers of high-density polyurethane foam that is capable of conforming to the shape of the person laying on it. The foam reacts to heat levels at the same time to provide optimum comfort for the sleeper all night long. If you’re looking for a new memory foam mattress then make sure you check out our reviews – Amerisleep Review, BedInABox Review and Sleep Number Review.
Platform/Slatted Foundations
In general, platform, or slatted, foundations are highly suggested for use with memory foam mattresses. This is because these types of foundations are made up of wooden slats placed close together, which allow for mattress to breathe. This is required of memory foam mattresses because of the core layer of the foam’s many layers. In addition, it helps to reduce the buildup of mildew or mold.
It is suggested that the slats be placed no more than three inches apart from each other, with additional slats being placed if necessary. Experts agree, it is better where mattress support and airflow are concerned to have more slats than less.
Two types of platform foundations currently exist, the curved European flexible slatted foundation and the solid wood slats. The main difference between the two is that while the European model contains flexible slats that conform to the size and weight of each individual laying on the mattress, the solid wood option offers better stability as it lessens the bounce and motion felt by the sleepers.
Platform foundations are also looked upon favorably as they tend to help smaller bedrooms appear bigger, as many models also include hidden storage.
Boxspring Foundations
Boxspring foundations that are made of memory foam can be used to support memory foam mattresses, so long as they are laid on a flat and rigid surface in order to ensure better support is offered to the user. It is not suggested to use a traditional boxspring with a memory foam mattress, or one with coiled springs, as these are made to compress when pressure is placed on them. Instead, a foundation made of wood or steel grids offer equal weight distribution and tend to have less give to them.
In addition, it is suggested that a middle support bar be present in order to gain additional stability so as to prevent any mattress sagging.
In general, there are a few things to remember when choosing the best foundation for your memory foam mattress.
- A foundation made from wood will typically have a longer lifespan than one made of different material.
- It is important to choose a foundation that is equal in size to your mattress in order to offer optimal support and comfort.
- You want to purchase a durable foundation in order to protect the comfort level of your bed as a whole.
- A stable foundation is important, as you want it to continue to withstand the pressure and weight placed on it each night.
- The foundation should have a similar shape to that of the mattress that will be placed on it. A foundation with a different shape could result in the mattress being damaged.
- Because memory foam mattresses are made up of several layers of high-density foam, it is important to allow the mattress to breathe so as to not allow moisture from any perspiration or accidental spills to remain trapped inside.
Latex Mattresses
Latex mattresses are typically made from either natural latex, coming from the sap of the rubber tree, or a man-made latex chemically produced using SBR, or styrene butadiene. Check out some of the best hybrid mattress in the market right now. These mattresses are not only known for elasticity and response, but also for how long they last, with those made from natural latex lasting over 40 years in some cases!
Latex mattresses are great options for those with allergies, as they are anti-microbial, hypo-allergenic, and resistant to dust mites.
Slatted Wood Foundations
Latex mattresses are similar to memory foam in that they respond best when used in conjunction with a solid foundation that will not only support the weight of the mattress but also the sleepers laying on top. Because these mattresses tend to be heavier than most others on the market to date, it is important to ensure that the gaps between the slats in the foundation be close enough together that the mattress stays on top.
Metal Wire Grid Foundations
A metal wire grid base is another great option for a foundation for your latex mattress.
Airbeds
This bed makes use of air within a chamber as its sole way of offering support to its users. Many come covered with upholstery and additional padding, such as foam or a variety of fibers.
While an airbed may have a similar look to a traditional mattress, they differ in that each side of the mattress can be adjusted for firmness on an individual level, allowing users on either side of the bed to have their own level of comfort while sleeping together.
Because these mattresses cannot be used with more traditional wooden bed frames, there are a number of other options for those seeking a more comfortable nights sleep with this type of mattress.
Plywood
The first option is to place a piece of plywood, the same size as the mattress and 0.75 inches thick, underneath. Some sort of sheet or tarp can be placed on top of the plywood for added durability and prevention of wood splinters. A finished piece of plywood could be put on a bed frame with the airbed laid on top of that.
Boxspring
An additional option is to place a boxspring on a bed frame with a tarp placed over it to protect the mattress placed on top of it.
Waterbeds
In place of air within its chambers, waterbeds instead use water to offer support for those sleeping on top of it. Two types of waterbeds exist. Hard-sided waterbeds include a rectangular wooden frame, while soft-sided beds are held within a frame made of rigid foam. The water within this type of bed flows either with the support of fibers within, which is referred to as “waveless,” or “free flow” when nothing helps the flow of the water within.
Each type of waterbed is capable of having a platform underneath for additional support. However, several different options are available for each kind. Hard-side waterbed foundations are typically referred to as Pedestal or Riser and do not have the look of a traditional boxspring. Meanwhile, the foundations for soft-side waterbeds do look similar to a boxspring and can support more weight than a traditional mattress set.
Conclusion
There are so many foundation options available on the market today, and finding the best option for you can be a bit of a juggling act at the time between personal style and what is best for your
Looking for perfect Mattress size chart? Check this article now!