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Kathy Kilbourn

How do I choose a Mattress?


There are so many Choices of Mattresses!

Wow, there are a lot of choices in mattresses! Where do I begin to figure it out? This seems to be a major question in a lot of items today….there are just so many variables and features. To make a good choice, you need to understand what is in a mattress and what kind of sleep support it will give!

Many people decide what mattress to purchase by price. Generally that will get you a mattress but not necessarily a comfortable sleep. You need to understand your body’s needed support to get the best sleep. Let’s look at a couple of mattress styles and their characteristics! This will help you understand what mattresses offer today.

Innerspring Mattresses

Tips to help you pick a mattress

Innerspring mattresses are the way mattresses have been made for many years. Steel springs will be the core of the support system. There are variables in the number of coils as well as the weight of the steel. Coil counts may range from 188 coils to 2000 coils. The size of the coil will vary as well and there may be a coil inside a coil….and all the coils count!

The gauge of steel makes a difference in how the body weight will be supported. A “1” gauge steel would be as large as a pencil and is used many times as a border wire. A 13 gauge is lighter weight than a 12 gauge, and therefore would give a softer feel. How the coils are connected as well as the steel weight will vary the feel.

Two sided mattresses are at Tri City Furniture in Auburn

Innerspring mattresses were originally made with padding on both sides so that the bed could be flipped. I should say, had to be flipped to even out the wear patterns. Many people did not or could not flip their beds and body impressions became evident. Because of this problem, many manufacturers came up with easy care beds which did not require flipping.

Popular Current Styles:

  1. Presidential (2 sided/ Flip-able)

  2. Perfect Sleeper Thornburg

  3. iComfort Applause

Foam Mattresses

Foam mattresses have become very popular in the last 30 years. Specialty foams are memory foam and latex foam. These two foams have different characteristics and therefore offer support much different from each other!

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a synthetic closed cell foam. It allows for you to sink into it, so it

Cooling Gel in your Mattress so you sleep cooler at Tri City Furniture

cradles your body without pressure points. Because of the closed cell, it reflects your body temperature back up. Serta iComfort has added a blue cooling gel to the foam to help keep you cooler. Remember that there are many ways to make a foam mattress, by adding different layers of foams-not all layers will be memory foam! This is the way to get variable prices! Memory foam reacts to temperature, so it will be firmer in colder temperatures and gets softer the warmer it is. This foam allows you to sink into it, cuddling every part of your body.

Latex Foam

Latex foam is a natural product, much like real foam rubber. It is made from the sap of a tree, then cooled to get the foam consistency. It is poured into a shape that is like a ‘bed of nails.’

Because of this design, latex foam breaths and does not cause you to sleep warm. Latex has a firmer tendency which gives more support to your body. You will lay more on this foam, feeling it pushing up giving your body support

These two foams have longer life resiliency, so usually carry longer warranties. Their feels do not change over time like polyurethane foams, so you want to make sure you love the feel! Remember, memory foam you will sink in and latex foam you will sleep on!

Popular Current Styles:

  1. Blue Max 100

  2. Blue Max 500

  3. Blue Max 1000

Hybrid Mattresses

The hybrid mattress is a combination of coils and specialty foams. Today people are intrigued by the specialty foam beds but do not want to jump into an all foam bed. Hybrid Mattresses combine the innerspring system with memory foam or latex foam padding systems to take advantage of the benefits of both technologies. Hybrid mattresses allow you to enjoy the perfect blend of sturdy support and contouring comfort.

The coils and the padding systems the are two main variables, but other things like the foundation as well as your bed support system can cause variable feels.

Popular Current Styles:

  1. iComfort Applause

  2. iComfort Adviser

  3. iComfort Observer

We will help you understand the difference as you try each of the bed styles, so come with some time to relax and try the support system styles. Looking at a bed or sitting on the edge is not going to give you the best understanding of how your body will feel after 8 hours of sleep

Great Prices on Serta Mattresses at TriCity Furniture

We have selected beds made by Serta,

IComfort, Serta Perfect Sleepers and Majestic Sleep, and all made in Michigan with 100% American products. Come on over and we will help you find the perfect mattress!

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