Get Design Advice: Buying Bedding

Since one-third of an average person's life is spent in bed, choosing comfortable bedding is extremely important. As you prepare to shop for new bedding, consider the following information.

Comfort Level

Mattresses are designed in specific comfort levels including firm, plush, pillow top and Euro top, to name a few. The best way to select the proper comfort level is to lie down on the mattress and try different sleep positions. To make the most of your shopping experience, wear comfortable clothing to the store, and take time to test several different mattress models. Allow ample time for each, to find the support that best suits your sleeping habits, before making a decision.

Composition

The two most common mattress types on the market are spring mattresses and foam mattresses.

Spring mattresses come in two varieties: open-spring and pocket-spring.

Open-spring mattress cores are made from approximately 300 hourglass-shaped springs, which are tied together to form a mat. Different thicknesses, or gauges, of wire springs make a harder or softer mattress.

Pocket-spring mattresses have a core made from around 1,000 tubular or barrel shaped springs, each enclosed within in a cloth pocket.

In addition to a sound core, a good quality mattress will have two or more layers of filling. The first layer is tough and fibrous; the outer layers provide depth and softness.

Pillow-top mattresses will also have an additional, semi-attached layer for extra softness.

Finally, foam mattresses are available in a wide range of comfort levels and prices. For better support, a good foam mattress is made primarily of a latex foam core (natural rubber foam).

The mattress's outer cover is the final layer. Most mattresses are covered in fabric blends such as viscose or poly-cotton mixtures for comfort and durability. Outer covers can also be enhanced with features such as stain-resistant, water-resistant and fire-resistant fibers.

Extras

When it comes to luxury and quality, extra features often play an important role.

Edge guard
Most quality bedding sets, regardless of core composition, will feature mattresses with a perimeter edge guard. Edge guards provide more mattress surface and more stability when getting in and out of bed, and they allow you to sit on the edge of the bed with minimal shape distortion.

Allergy care fibers
A higher quality mattress may also include a layer of allergy care fiber to help reduce indoor allergens like microbes and dust mites, which can trigger allergic reactions and asthma.

No-flip design
This durable one-sided design does not need to be flipped on a regular basis, unlike other two-sided spring mattresses.

Motion separation
Motion separation, or no-motion transfer, is a superior feature found in dense pocket-coil and foam mattresses, which prevents partners from disturbing one another's sleep due to movement.

Size

An adequate amount of sleep space is essential for a good night's sleep. Mattresses come in four standard sizes: twin, full, queen and king. Twin size measures 39" x 75". Full is 54" x 75". Queen spans 60" x 80", and King measures 76" x 80".

You should fit onto a mattress comfortably with plenty of leg and elbow room. Consider this: a full-size mattress provides 27" in width per person for two sleepers - that's the same width as a baby's crib mattress.

Buy The Set

Experts recommend buying bedding as a set. Most sleep systems come with a box spring foundation that is specifically designed and built to support the mattress. Purchasing a mattress and box spring separately or not using a box spring will hinder the overall effectiveness of the mattress and compromise its support and durability.

While most beds and frames, including platform beds, are built to accommodate a traditional box spring, a mattress set may seem higher at home than it did in the store. If an overall increase in the height of bedding is a concern, keep in mind that many mattresses come with a low- profile foundation option. Along with offering maximum visibility of the headboard and footboard, a low-profile foundation reduces the overall height of a mattress set while maintaining all of its features and benefits.

Quality

According to consumer experts, the best assurance you have of buying a quality mattress is choosing a major manufacturer and shopping at a reputable store. A reputable store will display product information and cutaway models for comparison and will train its sales associates to answer questions and help you through the decision process.

Mattress Maintenance

To ensure your mattress's longevity, consider the following:

• Purchase a washable mattress cover to protect the mattress.
• Flip your mattress approximately once every three months, unless it's a no-flip design.
• Change your mattress every ten years, per the manufacturer's recommendation.