Memory Foam Mattress Buying Guide

Memory foam mattress buying guide for your home

Welcome to the memory foam mattress buying guide.

In recent years, memory foam has proved popular with consumers looking for a more advanced alternative to traditional spring mattresses. With new materials and technologies in development constantly, and more superb memory foam mattresses to choose from than ever before, deciding which one is right for you can be a difficult task. So to help, we’ve prepared this handy memory foam mattress buying guide to make your search a little easier.

Mattress factors to consider

Unlike spring mattresses, memory foam is designed to respond to the precise shape of your body, supporting all of the pressure points which your existing mattress cannot. How effectively it does this will depend on a number of different factors, including:

Foam density:

Memory foam mattresses are available in a variety of density or firmness ratings. A soft mattress will have a rating of around 40kg, while firm mattresses will be rated at up to 100kg. Which rating is right for you will depend on personal preference, as well as the weight of whoever sleeps on the mattress. The Tempur range stocked at our stores is typically rated at 85kg, which gives an ideal balance between firmness and comfort.

Temperature sensitivity:

Like any foam, memory foam will retain heat. This can be great for retaining warmth, but is less of an advantage if your prefer a cooler bed. Also, part of the way in which it functions is to respond to warmth by becoming more flexible and pliant. Low temperatures have the opposite effect, so on cold days the mattress can become less responsive if your bedroom is not kept warm.

Foam Depth:

Memory foam mattresses at the cheaper end of the market will be constructed using a sprung base layer topped with a relatively shallow foam ‘topper’. This can equate to as little as 2cm of actual memory foam. High-end mattresses such as the Tempur range will consist of various layers of foam which designers will have chosen for their distinct properties, totalling as much a 27cm of memory foam.

Finally, you may have heard that memory foam mattresses are not suited to all bed bases. While this may be technically accurate as slatted beds do not provide a strong enough base to effectively support this type of mattress, there is an easy solution which will enable you to enjoy the luxury of memory foam even with a bed of this kind.

Simply place a sheet of plywood or pegboard (the latter having the benefit of providing enhanced ventilation) on top of the bed slats to provide the additional support required.

Memory Foam vs. Spring Mattresses – Pros and Cons

While memory foam provides optimum back support and a distinctive form of comfort, for financial reason or perhaps due to simple familiarity, many of us still prefer tradition coil spring mattresses. Here are some of the pros and cons of the options available:

Memory Foam

Pros:

• Cushions and supports the your body’s vital pressure points
• Distributes weight evenly
• Superb comfort enhances sleep quality
• No need to rotate however will benefit from occasional turning
• Firmness options to suit all weights and preferences.

Cons:

• Expect to pay more
• Slatted base beds will require reinforcement.

Pocket Sprung

Pros:

• Highly rated for comfort
• Evenly distributes the weight of two people
• Enduring design which is familiar to all.

Cons:

• Pricing comparable to memory foam
• Require regular turning and rotating.

Open Coil/Continuous Coil

Pros:

• Low initial financial outlay.

Cons:

• Insufficient support can lead to discomfort
• Relatively short lifespan.

Why buy from us?

Based near Guildford, Vale Furnishers are one of Surrey and Hampshire’s leading furniture shop specialists. Our family has been in the furniture business for well over fifty years, during which time we’ve seen many fads and manufacturers come and go. What doesn’t change is the importance of real quality, something which is at the heart of everything we do. Our mattress department is one of the cornerstones of our business, so you can be sure that the memory foam mattresses we offer don’t just represent the latest technology available, but also live up to our impeccable standards of quality.