InnerSpring Mattress -Buying Tips for Comfort and SupportThis page will give you buying tips when shopping for traditional innerspring mattresses with comfort and support. Spring mattresses are of course the most common mattress people start to shop for. It is also the most confusing category when shopping for a mattress. There are four national brand name mattress companies that most shoppers will recognize. They all start with the letter S. (Serta, Sealy, Simmons and Spring Air). Then there are a lot of regional mattress companies that can make a good product also. To keep this simple, I am not going to recommend one mattress company over another as best. Instead, I’ll break mattresses into categories in which you’ll shop: Spring types (coils), support and plushness (comfort). InnerSpring Mattress Coil Types (Support)3 Basic Spring Cores: Buying Tips!When you are choosing a bed, you’ll need to know that there are 3 basic types of spring systems.A Bonnell Coil System
Bonnell Coil systems are the oldest and the most basic of coils. The coil is shaped like an hour glass. Most low end mattresses have this type of spring core. Queen size pricing will usually start at about $399 a set (mattress & foundation). This will also have a very basic layer of comfort foam. The outside cover (ticking) is very inexpensive and may have course feel to it. They are usually not in very appealing colors. Many stores may show 2 to 4 model of this starting price lineup. Prices usually increase at $100 increments. Each increase is built around the same spring core, but you will notice more comfort foam and nicer ticking. Each upgrade should feel more comfortable. This category of mattress are usually purchased for a guest room, children/teen or for people now sleeping on a really horrible mattress. Make Your Mattress More Comfortable BackSupporter Grid Coil Systems
BackSupporter type systems are generally a more premium spring core system than a Bonnell coils. This type of coil system is more of a “grid” system. There is more density and steel in this system for more support. Three well known brands use a variations of their own BackSupporter coil Systems. They are Serta, Sealy and Spring Air. InnerSpring Mattress: Individual Coil Systems.
Individual coil systems are independent coils shaped generally like a barrel. This system generally has a more “relaxed” feel and conforms to the contours of your body. Simmons Beauty Rest is best known for this system.
Serta 3 Inch Memory Foam Topper
Buying Tips! Premium Mattress Support and Comfort.Premium mattress can be broken down into 3 categories. The following information is “generally” true whether the spring core is a BackSupporter or an Individual Coil.
The starting price point of this category is going to be the premium coil system with a basic “comfort foam”. Comfort Foams can and are configured in different ways (flat or egg crated in various thickness and densities). Add a $100 dollars for each step in this category. More foam equals more comfort. This category will have at least 1 inch foam encasement wrapped around the sides of the coil system. In the lower priced mattress, if you feel the sides, you will feel the steel core. Foam encasement adds more support at the edge of the mattress. More important for this category is a more premium foam (memory and/or latex) on top of comfort foam and springs. Each step-up in price adds more layers of premium foam. These premium foams reduce pressure points better than just comfort foam. This category can have a subtle change in the innerspring core system (usually a higher coil count or more density in the coil system). Please don’t compare coil counts of one manufacturer to another. Counting coils is a consideration inside one manufacturer’s lineup! In other words, compare Serta to Serta or Sealy to Sealy. The biggest consideration in this category is again more layers of the premium foam. Usually, in this category, you’ll get Memory Foam piled high or Latex and sometimes a combination of the two. These can be very comfortable mattresses! Designer Bedding: Luxury Sheets & Comfortable! How to Select an InnerSpring Mattress for Comfort.Step 1.Your 1st Decision: BackSupporter or Individual coil system? This is where your first decision will be made between Innerspring Mattress Support Systems. Your choices will be either a “BackSupporter” style coil system, or an “Individual Coil” style system. This is where you need to lay on one of each style of mattress. There is a definite difference between the feel of the two coil systems. Your priority is comfort level. Determine which feels more comfortable. If you are a side sleeper, lay on your side. Focus on the different feels in the coil system. Don’t worry about foams, ticking or colors. Decide which system is most comfortable for you! Eliminate the other! Step 2 Decision: Firm, Medium or Soft. Determine your comfort. You will find the following comfort level in each of the above categories: Firm Medium (Referred to as: Pillow Soft or Plush) Soft (Referred to as: EuroTop or PillowTop) Beware of very firm mattresses! Many people believe that a firm mattress is more supportive when in actuality it causes more discomfort from pressure points. So now you need to lay on a Medium mattress and a PillowTop mattress. Concentrate on the difference! Lay in the position you usually sleep in most of the night. Which one feels better? If you can’t decide, factor in EuroTops/Pillowtops average about $100 more than medium soft mattress. Decide which firmness feels better for you! Eliminate the other choice. Step 3 Decision: Low, Medium or High Premium Mattress. Hopefully now you will know which coil system and mattress (firmness) comfort level you like best. Let’s say you like a medium (PillowSoft/Plush), you can now eliminate all other mattress and just lay on medium mattress comfort levels in each price point to make your decision. InnerSpring Mattresses: Are They Really On Sale? Buying Tips -About Box Springs for Innerspring Mattress.A Word about Mattress Foundations (Box springs). Be careful of trying to save money by buying just a mattress. A mattress and box spring are designed to work together. Foundations help to disperse weight and make your mattress wear evenly. Many mattress warranties can be voided if a foundation is faulty. A new mattress on an old box spring is a quick fix. In a short period of time the new mattress will conform to the weak areas in your box spring and reduce the amount of support and comfort.Low Profile Foundations Standard box springs are usually 8’’ tall. Modern mattress today can be very tall. You can order low profile boxes about 4’’ in height to lower the profile of your bed. Set prices should be unaffected. Split Queen Box Springs Split queen foundations are used when you cannot fit a regular Queen foundation around corners, up or down stairs. There is usually an extra cost of about $100 onto a mattress set.
Bedroom Lighting: Create A Romantic Mood You should have several different options for your master bedroom lights. You'll want lights that can change from functional to romantic to suit the need and mood of the moment. Mattress CarePremium InnerSpring Mattresses should have a 100% 10 year workmanship warranty. Mattress can wear beyond that warranty with proper care.
Bedding Needs: Designer Bed Covers and Sheets Bottom Line:Shop locally, take time to try different mattresses and put comfort ahead of price. Of course you have to consider the price you can, are willing or want to spend. My belief is that you shouldn’t buy the least expensive nor do you need to buy the most expensive mattress. Buy what you can best afford, but please put comfort level above pricing as your first consideration.
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