Which Type of Mattress Should You Choose

Having so many choices these days does not make the task of choosing a mattress any easier, but it does give you the advantage of selecting one that really suits your needs. After all, once you've made your bed, you have to lie in it for years. Sleeping on a comfortable bed not only relaxes you, but it gives great benefits for your health and overall being. Now you can choose a bed made of springs and coils, foam, air or water.

Spring mattresses
Modern mattress cores are composed of steel coils often referred to as innersprings. These springs are the ones that provide our body the much-needed firmness and support, which is determined by the thickness of the coils, or coil gauge. Most brands carry mattresses that have a coil gauge typically ranging from 12 to 15.5. If you are looking for a firmer mattress, get one with a lower gauge. This means fewer and thicker coils. A higher gauge means there are more coils which are thinner and more bendable so they are more flexible, making the mattress softer.

Foam mattresses
These mattresses are the way to go if you are looking for great overall support. Memory foam mattresses are visco-elastic, which means they have the ability to reshape and conform to your body's curves as you lie in it, yet still retain their original shape when there is no pressure applied. This means that no matter how much you move around your bed, you still get the same kind of support in any area and your body weight is still distributed evenly. Memory foam mattresses also come in different levels of firmness so you can get one that's just right for your body. This resolves the problem of too much pressure caused by a very firm mattress and lessens the tossing and turning in bed every night.

Air mattresses
These gained popularity as a perfect pullout bed for when a guest comes over or when you go camping and you can't bring along bulky foam or spring mattresses. It's simple - take it out of its storage, attach an electric pump (a foot pump works just as well) and do something else while it fills up with enough air. The best thing about this kind of mattresses is your control over its firmness by adjusting the amount of air in it. Nowadays, some bed manufacturers have taken this technology to another level and created beds whose amount of air can be controlled with the simple push of a remote control button. Some beds even have different controls for both sides so two people can adjust a single bed to suit both their comfort needs. Plus, there's no need to fight over that remote.

Waterbeds
The modern waterbed made its appearance in the 70s and are still used until now, but not as popular as it was back then, of course. Waterbeds are wonderful because you can warm the water up to keep you comfortable and sleeping soundly even when the coldest winter comes around. Aside from that, these beds also conform to your body's shape and minimize pressure and discomfort. Plus, they're very easy to clean since the material doesn't have a porous surface, thus preventing dust, mites, and liquids from getting in. The unappealing side to them, though, is that it would cost you a lot to warm it up. And then, of course, there's the chance of getting a leak in your bedroom.

If you're still unsure which type of mattress you need, considering checking out some mattress-buying guides or the assistance of a mattress store personnel to help you choose. After all, there are more factors involved in selecting a mattress than just its type.