If you get the medically recommended eight hours of sleep
each night, then you’ll spend one third of your life sound asleep. To put it in
perspective, if you live to be 75 years old, a total of 25 years of your life
will be spent asleep. That’s a lot of time! Since we need sleep, and we spend
so much time sleeping, you’ll want to make sure that it’s the best quality.
But how do you make sure it’s the best? Well a good place to
start is by making sure that the place you sleep is best suited for you and
your needs. That’s right, your bed has everything to do with the quality of
sleep you’re getting. Choosing the right bed for you can be a really daunting
task. There are so many types of mattresses made with so many types of
material. Plus, the prices can really put people off, but quality should never
be a compromise.
And that’s just mattresses! You probably haven’t even
considered what you’re going to put your mattress on. Most people don’t realize
just how much impact the base of your bed has on your body and your quality of
sleep. So let me be the one to tell you, it definitely matters.
That’s why I’m going to tell you everything you need to know
about a box spring mattress.
I’ll give you the complete guide of what they are, what they do, and how they
stack up to the other bases on the market like bed frames and platforms. So
let’s get started with the basics.
What is a Box Spring?
A box spring isn’t a mattress, like most people tend to
think. It’s actually a bed base that a mattress goes on top of, like a bed
frame. Typically, a box spring consists of a wooden frame filled with springs
and covered in fabric.
The main purpose of a box spring is to add height to a bed. A standard box spring is
nine inches high, but lower five-inch box springs are available if you only
want a little bit of extra height. The five-inch model provides just as much
support and has the same level of durability as the nine inch, so if the nine
is too high for you, don’t worry about having to compromise on support.
It is important to know that height is purely for
aesthetics, it really doesn’t have any impact on the quality of your night’s
sleep. That said, if you happen to be a bit taller, you might want to go for a
standard nine-inch box spring set on top of a bed frame. Those on the smaller
side might choose a five inch instead, or skip a frame and just place a
standard box spring on the floor.
Box Spring Vs Platform
A platform bed is a raised wooden frame that has
wood slats going across the frame which you slide a mattress on. A platform
actually offers less height than just a box spring alone does, but it does give
a little bit of open space underneath. Platform beds are compatible and
suitable for any mattress be it foam, latex, or innerspring.
Do I Need a Bed Frame?
You don’t need to have a bed frame if you’re using a box
spring, but it can add even more height if used together. If you do decide to
use them together, then the box spring needs to fit the frame tightly to ensure
proper grip, support, and comfort.
And an added benefit of using the bed frame and box spring
combo is the additional space it creates in a room. The area underneath the
frame offers a space for extra storage, or to just give the illusion of open
airiness in a bedroom. All this additional space comes without sacrificing
extra support and comfort in your sleep!
How to Size
Box springs are sized like mattresses and this is because
they have to be the same size as the mattress they’re supporting in order to
work properly and be comfortable to sleep on. For those that don’t know,
mattresses are generally split into six sizes.
The smallest is a twin, which is 39 inches by 75 inches,
suitable for kids. Some places make a longer version of a twin, called a twin
XL which is more suited to taller teenagers. The next size up is a double,
sometimes called a full mattress. This one is 54 inches by 75 inches, suitable
for couples sharing a smaller room. A queen mattress is the next size 60 inches
by 80 inches and is also great for couples who want a bit more space and have
larger bedrooms.
The pinnacle of luxury mattresses however goes to the king
mattress. At a whopping 76 inches by 80 inches, the king mattress will
comfortable sleep a couple without being anywhere near touching each other.
Obviously the size is massive so you’ll want to be sure that you have the space
in your bedroom for this monster mattress. But it gets bigger. If you or your
partner is on the taller side, the California king is the mattress march for
you. At 72 inches by 84 inches, this mattress takes four inches of width and
puts it into the length, allowing sleepers to really stretch the legs.
Wood vs Metal Springs
Most box springs are typically made with wooden springs that
are reinforced with steel. This make is better quality, but tends to be the
pricier option. If you’re looking to put a little less strain on your wallet,
then you can spring (pun definitely
intended) for metal springs.
Metal springs are the cheaper option, but that does mean you
get what you pay for. Metal springs offer a lot less support and are less
durable than their wooden competition. These type of springs are also really
bad for foam mattresses. The compression of the foam into the springs when the
bed is being laid on causes the foam to become misshapen. Continued use and
compression overtime is really bad for the mattress and will cause to be less
comfortable, less supportive, and just ruined in general.
Should I Go Split or Standard?
There are two types of box springs on the market. The first
is a standard box spring which comes in one piece, just like a mattress.
Standard box springs slide straight across a bed frame and does not require any
additional supports. However, box springs are much more stiff and sturdy than a
mattress, meaning it won’t squish down to fit through narrow halls or doorways.
Since they aren’t pliable, standard box springs can be really difficult to move
and install.
To address this issue, the other type of box spring is a
split box spring. Just like the name suggests, this box spring is split down
the middle into two pieces. The two pieces are much easier to move, but since
they aren’t connected they have less support in the center. Because of the lack
of support, you’ll need a bed frame that will provide the additional support
down the middle. This will ensure that your sleep is better and properly
supported and thus will be more comfortable.
What Mattress is Best for a Box Spring
As you may or may not have guessed by now, the type of
mattress that you put on your box spring base is very important. The box spring
was designed to support an innerspring mattress. Unlike foam and latex
mattresses, this type of mattress uses a steel coil support system. The coil
system is then wrapped in padding or other materials to make
it comfortable to lie on. Innerspring mattresses are the most common and
popular type of mattress sold, and they’re also a cheaper option compared to
memory foam or latex mattresses.
Innerspring mattresses provide less contour and pressure
point relief than foam or latex, but that varies on the types of materials used
in the different layers of the mattress. Since they offer less contour, this
means that innerspring mattresses are fimer, which is good for stiff sleepers.
And good news for hot sleepers, innerspring mattresses retain less heat than
other kinds of mattresses and don’t restrict airflow as much as foam mattresses
do, meaning you’re in for a cool night.
Coil Type
The type of coils used in these mattresses vary,
and can have an impact on support, comfort, and price. Bonnell coils are the
oldest type of coils used in innerspring mattresses. This type of coil offers
really high levels of compression, meaning it feels a little bit softer than
other coils. They’re also the cheapest coil option on the innerspring mattress
market.
Offset coils are a more expensive option, but offer more
durability than Bonnell coils. There are a couple types of offset coils. Double
offset coils are all linked together and offer a greater amount of support.
Free arm offset coils are the opposite, as they are not joined to any other
coils, meaning they’re less supportive.
Continuous wire coils are the most resilient type of coils
and they offer the lowest amount of contour. This means they have less give and
are firmer, which can be great for sleepers with bad backs.
Last but certainly not least are pocket coils. Sometimes
referred to as Marshall coils or encased coils, pocket coils are individually
wrapped in a pocket of cloth meaning the coils compress independently of each
other. These coils provide the best contour and are great for pressure point
relief. However, due to the nature of the thin steel used to make the coil,
these coils have a relatively short life span when compared to the other types
of coils, and they’re also the priciest option.
When talking about coils, there are a few key phrases that
mattress shoppers need to know. Gauge refers to the thickness of the coils and
wire in the mattress. Gauge is measured typically on a scale of twelve to
eighteen; the lower the number, the thicker the coil. So twelve would be
thickest and eighteen would be thinnest. The lower the gauge, the firmer and
more durable the coil, and overall mattress, is.
Pitch refers to the angle of the coils and wire in relation
to the surface of the mattress. Coil count is pretty obvious; it’s the number
of coils in the mattress. Most coil counts range from 300 to 2,000. Up to 1,000
coil count, sleepers will feel better contour, longer lifespan, and higher
price. But after 1,000 these things become less noticeable to the average
sleeper.
Other Parts
Other than the coils, there’s a little bit more to the
innerspring mattress. Outside of the coil support, these mattresses have extra
comfort layers. The comfort layer can be made from materials like polyfoam,
memory foam, or other fabrics that add an extra layer of cushion. The comfort layer
can even have microcoils to give a little bit of additional bounce. For even
more added comfort, the cover of the mattress can be made with a pillow-top
layer for extra softness.
The filling of the mattress also impacts the comfort, as
well as any effects on sleepers with allergies. I recommend the best fillers
for mattresses are natural fillers like horse or cattle hair,
cotton, lambswool, mohair, hemp, flax, bamboo, and silk.
Cost and Longevity
Innerspring mattresses are the lower end of the mattress
price point. These mattresses will set you back anywhere between $200 and
$1000. The price depends on a couple variables. First of all, the bigger the
mattress, the higher the price. Other factors are the materials used to make
the mattress, like the type of coil, the material in the comfort layer, and
other additional materials.
The average lifespan of an innerspring mattress is about
five and a half years, but this also depends on the coils. Coil gauge impacts
longevity with thinner coils wearing out more quickly than thicker coils. Most
mattress manufacturers offer warranties on their mattresses, with some
warranties extended as far as 20 years.
Conclusion
Mattresses are a big decision, and definitely a long term
investment. Sleep is the one thing in life that no one should ever compromise
on, so where we sleep is just as important in terms of comfort and quality.
This means that every part of the bed, mattress, base, and bedding, need to be
best suited for your sleep needs.
Choosing the bed base is just as important as choosing a
mattress. A box spring mattress
can be a great option for a bed base and can be used in conjunction with other
bases like bed frames. It’s also important to know the best mattress to pair
with your box spring, like the innerspring mattress which the box spring was
designed for.
At the end of the day, the best way to choose your bed, is
to go out and test some! Have a day of lying down on different kinds of
mattress and base combinations to find what feels best for your body. But be
sure to do a bit of reading up first so you can make and informed decision.
Good luck shopping and happy napping!