5 Different Types of Mattresses
If you find it difficult to sleep at night or you always have back pain every morning, it’s probably because of your bed. A comfortable mattress is one factor for a good sleep quality. After a very tiring day, you deserve to lay on a soft and comfortable bed. If your mattress can’t give you that, then it’s not for you. Let us look at the different types of mattresses to know your other options.
1. Innerspring Mattresses
It was BERLINER HEINRICH WESTPHAL who invented the innerspring mattress in the 1870s. He used METAL COILS to develop a new model of mattress that provides users with a firm and springy sleep surface. Up until today, the innerspring mattress is well-known because it’s the most comfortable to sleep on and the most affordable one.
The innerspring bed is composed of three layers: the foundation, the core, and the comfort layer. The foundation, usually made of wool, is the bottom part of the bed. It provides support to the coils and springs at the core layer, or the middle part of the bed. The comfort layer is where you sleep, which is either made of foam or fiber.
Types of Innerspring Mattresses
A. POCKET COILS- they have independent coils, so when you apply pressure on one side, the other parts will not remain unaffected
B. OFFSET COILS- they have coils that are hourglass shaped with flat tops and bottoms
C. BONNELL COILS- they also have hourglass-shaped coils and they sink when weight is applied
D. CONTINUOUS COILS- they have S-shaped coils intertwined together
Pros
- great for stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and those with lower back pains
- budget friendly
- comfortable to sleep on
Cons
- springs may break
- springs that are old tend to get noisy
Price Range
The cheapest innerspring can cost you $100, while the most expensive one can cost you $1,500.
2. Foam Mattresses
Foam mattresses, also known as memory foams, were first introduced by NASA in the 1980s. They were first intended as seat cushions and crash protection for airlines, but they were developed into mattresses later on that is very responsive to heat and pressure.
Foam mattresses are made of SYNTHETIC MEMORY FOAM that is dense, durable and soft. It compresses when you lie on it, but when you stand up, it will go back to its original shape. This bed is usually preferred by people who suffer from chronic pain, especially back pain, because it gives them instant relief.
Types of Foam Mattresses
A. TRADITIONAL- it conforms to your sleeping position and has a closed cell structure that traps heat
B. OPEN-CELL- this bed is less dense and softer. The open cells of the foam act like tunnels where heat can escape
C. FOAM WITH GEL PODS- the gel pods give natural bounce and make the sleep surface cooler and more flexible
Pros
- lasts for 10 years
- relieves pain
- conforms to any sleeping positions
- motion isolation
Cons
- heavy
- too hot
- pricey
Price Range
The queen-size foam bed can cost anywhere from $900 TO $1,300.
3. Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattress is the answer for people who are looking for a bed that can offer them pressure relief and comfort at the same time. Basically, hybrid mattresses are a combination of innersprings and foam.
The layers that make up a hybrid mattress are a combination of memory foam and springs. At its base is a 1 inch foam, which provides sturdiness and stability to the mattress. On top of that is the support core, where pocket-wrapped coils are located. This part is the main body of the mattress. The comfort layer is where you sleep, which is usually made of memory foam, latex, or cool-inducing gel. To provide additional cushioning, some hybrid mattresses even have a pillow top.
Types Of Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattresses only vary according to the materials that make up the comfort layer.
A. MEMORY FOAM-gives deeper contouring and better motion isolation
B. LATEX FOAM- for a cooler and bouncier mattress
Pros
- can last a long time
- really comfortable, like sleeping on a cloud
- better pressure relief
- more comfort layers
Cons
- lower quality motion isolation
- expensive
Price Range
A queen-size hybrid mattress costs from $1,300 to $2,000.
4. Latex Mattresses
Latex mattress is an option for environmentally conscious people. Latex is a natural product extracted from rubber trees. It was the DUNLOP COMPANY that first turned the sap of rubber trees into foam, and that was in the 1920s. A decade after that, the first latex mattress was introduced to the market.
The comfort layer and the support system of this bed type are all made of latex. The latex in the support system is formulated to be firmer and denser to provide stability to the mattress, while the latex in the comfort layer allows for more contouring.
Types of Latex Mattresses
A. NATURAL- the latex foam of these mattresses is 100% made from the sap of rubber trees
B. SYNTHETIC- these are affordable alternatives to the first type and are made from styrene-butadiene rubber
C. BLENDED- these are made from 70% synthetic and 30% natural latex
Pros
- natural and hypoallergenic sleep surface
- eco-friendly
- lighter feel and more bouncier
- low maintenance
Cons
- expensive
- heavier
- poor motion isolation
Price Range
The process of extracting sap from rubber trees is a tedious process, so expect latex mattresses to be expensive. A queen-size mattress of this type can cost anywhere from $1,600 TO $2,000.
5. Airbed Mattresses
The first air-filled mattress on the market was sold by Mechanical Mfg. Co. in 1896. It is popularly known for being customizable and lightweight due to its AIR CHAMBER SUPPORT CORE. You can decide how soft you want your bed to be with airbeds by just pumping air inside their air chambers.
Airbeds are usually used for camping and can be temporarily used as beds for your visitors. They are available in different sizes, from twin to king-size airbeds. Airbeds are usually made of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, but airbeds made from rubber and urethane plastic are now available.
Pros
- helps prevent pressure sores
- comfortable, like sleeping on air
- adjustable firmness
- portable
Cons
- hard to assemble
- additional cost for pumps
Price Range
You can find a queen-size airbeds for a price ranging from $2,000 TO $2,400.
These are just basic categories that every available mattress can fall into. There are still other types you can choose from, like waterbeds or sofa-beds. It is important to pick a bed that will suit your lifestyle and provide what you need. In order to live, you need to get good sleep, so you have to find a mattress that can give you that.