FIND YOUR MATCH
Foam and innerspring mattresses offer different levels of support
Choosing and buying a new mattress is not an easy task. From where to shop (online or in person), to cost and quality, purchasing a future good night's sleep can be less than a dreamy experience.
The traditional practice of going to a store and testing beds while someone in a suit stands over you making a sales pitch isn't much fun, to say nothing of the challenges of shopping during the pandemic. Now that stores are open, it's admittedly still the best way to compare mattresses. That said, if you know what you want, most mattress companies offer a risk-free trial period for online (and in-store) purchases, making shopping at home a viable option.
To help, I've compiled a rundown on the pros and cons of the two most popular mattress types — foam and inner spring. Read on, friends. Sweet dreams are made of these!
FOAM MATTRESSES
Instead of compressing under the heaviest parts of the body, foam mattresses respond to the weight and warmth of the body by moulding to its overall shape, providing a soft, conforming support.
Features: Available in all comfort levels (firm to soft); easy to transport (most foam mattresses are delivered rolled in a box); available in various thicknesses. A thinner mattress (five to eight inches) is great for a low, modern bed, while a thicker (nine to 16 inches) is great for a higher-sitting traditional style bed. Benefits: Offers a sink-in feeling, which smooths out pressure points. Great for people with pain or discomfort. They offer low-motion transfer, so are great for sharing with another sleeper who tosses and turns.
Cons: Might feel too soft for some sleepers, especially those with larger or heavier body types. Foam mattresses can also build up body heat (if you overheat at night, add a cooling gel or gel memory top).
Shopping tip: Polysleep's highend Zephyr memory foam mattress has specialized Gelflex foam and breathable top layer that helps to regulate body temperature and reduce fatigue. Unlike many foam mattresses, the Zephyr provides zoned supports to the shoulders and hips.
INNERSPRING MATTRESSES
Constructed of interlocked metal springs topped by layers of foam or fibre, the innerspring type is one of the oldest and most familiar styles of mattress.
Features: Offers a firm, supportive feel for pressure-point relief (unlike foam mattresses that offer a softer support on pressure points). Most have firm, supportive edges that help you get in and out of bed.
Benefits: Very good at offering specific pressure-point support. Favourable for heavier people because the coils support and distribute weight evenly.
Cons: May not offer softness (especially for lighter people). To achieve a soft support, opt for a coil mattress with a pillow or “Euro” top for a cushy feel. Shopping tip: Innovations in support, comfort and cooling have created a much improved, modern innerspring mattress. I find the Beautyrest Unity Lux Ocean mattress particularly impressive. It's got a cool-to-touch sleep surface that features fabric made in partnership with Seaqual, an initiative that removes post-consumer plastic from the oceans and turns it into luxe sustainable fabrics.
Each mattress is made with up to 50 ocean-recovered plastic water bottles. The plush top mattress also has 1,200 triple-stranded coils and a double titanium lumbar support for a longer lasting mattress. Knowing I'm helping to clean the oceans would certainly give me a better night's sleep. Do you have a decor dilemma or want to give feedback? You can contact Karl on Instagram at Karl Lohnes.