Beds and Mattresses

There are essentially two main mattress constructions – those with springs and those without springs.

Mattresses with springs – Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses are the most popular and familiar type of mattress today. The coils and wires called the innerspring unit provide support while, the upholstery or comfort layers made up of foam, padding and fibres provide cushioning. There are two types of innerspring mattresses:

Open Spring
This is the most common type of spring system used in mattresses, particularly in the lower to middle price ranges. The unit is made up of traditional coil springs. The spring coils are all wired together so that they all move when pressure is applied.

Pocket Spring
These are used in higher quality mattresses. Each spring is ‘cocooned” in its own pocket of material and packed closely together a bit like a honeycomb. The springs work independently of each other to reduce the ‘roll together’ effect and give maximum support to your body shape. The higher the number of springs the greater support.

Mattresses without springs
Full latex, foam and visco elastic memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their comfort and overall body support. Latex is a natural body-conforming material often used to increase softness and relieve pressure points while visco elastic memory foam is a synthetic material that responds to body temperature and weight which has evolved out of recent space technology.

Latex Mattresses
Latex is a natural, biodegradable foam derived from rubber trees. Latex foam contours to the body’s curves, and moves with the sleeper as they move, providing continuous orthopedic support. Body weight is spread over the entire sleeping surface, minimizing “pressure points” and creating a more comfortable sleep.
Latex foam has an “open cell” structure that enables the mattress to “breath”. This allows the release of body heat and moisture keeping the sleeping surface comfortable.

A latex mattress may be a good option for allergy sufferers because they’re less likely to harbour mould and dust mites.

Visco Elastic Memory Foam Mattresses
Visco Elastic or Memory Foam was developed by NASA about 30 years ago. It is made from polyurethane, but has a different cell structure to other foams, which makes it less ‘springy’ and slower to recover — it ‘remembers’ your shape even after you’ve moved.

Memory foam reacts to body temperature and weight, conforming and moulding the mattress to the shape of the body. Body weight is spread over the entire sleeping surface, minimizing “pressure points at the shoulders, hips and feet.

Like latex foam, memory foam is highly resistant to bacteria, mould, mildew and mites and may be a good option for allergy sufferers.

Choosing a new bed can sometimes be a little confusing if your not familiar with mattress terminology. At bedsonsale we’ve composed a list of common mattress terminology to make purchasing your bed a lot easier.

• BASE: A base is designed to support a mattress and acts as a shock absorber prolonging mattress life. A mattress and base together comprise a sleep set or ensemble providing prolonged support and durability.

• BONNELL COIL: An innerspring mattress coil with an hourglass shape.

• COMFORT LEVEL: Comfort level is the degree of softness of the mattress surface and is delivered to the body by the upholstery layers on top of the mattress.

• DURABILITY: The lifespan of a mattress with normal nightly use. A good base which properly supports the mattress will significantly impact on durability and extend the overall life of the sleep set.

• ENSEMBLE: The term used for a mattress and base combined.

• FOAM: Polyurethane foam is used as padding material in innerspring mattresses and forms the edges of hybrid waterbeds. It can also be used as the major supportive material.

• INNERSPRING MATTRESS: Most popular type of mattress with a spring construction.

• INNERSPRING UNIT: The coil / spring unit which forms the heart of an innerspring mattress.

• INSULATOR: A tough fiber padding, wire or netting that separates innerspring mattress coils form the cushioning and protects against the coils damaging the top layers of the mattress.

• LATEX MATTRESS: Quality mattress made from natural latex which increases softness and relieves pressure points.

• MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS: New technology foam mattress made form a synthetic material which reacts to body temperature and weight, conforming and molding the mattress to the shape of the body.

• PILLOW TOP MATTRESS: A top quilt treatment where a large pillow of soft materials is sewn over the entire surface of the mattress.

• POCKET COILS: Cylindrical innerspring mattress coils, enclosed in separate flexible fabric pockets. The pockets are attached to adjacent pockets.

• SUPPORT: Support is the type of reinforcement underneath the body provided by the innerspring system and is delivered to the back through the innerspring’s ability to resist downward pressure, which is applied to it from body weight.

• TICKING: The outer fabric covering on a mattress. These fabrics are prints or woven damasks, cotton and fabric combinations.