In order to properly care for your new mattress, you’ll want to make sure it has plenty of proper support. Without proper support, your mattress may age faster, exacerbating body impressions or sagging in the middle.
But with the wide variety of beds, box springs, foundations, and frames available on the market, how can you know if the combination you plan to use will provide proper support? Here’s what you should look for.
Choose a box spring over a rigid foundation
A real working box spring flexes and acts as a shock absorber for your mattress. It can help improve the mattress’ long-term comfort and durability. But a “semi-flex” or rigid foundation provides no direct benefits to your mattress. It’s not unusual for these foundations to be low-quality and often do not even provide proper support at all. Learn more about box springs vs. foundations here.
Watch out for retailers that will give you a box spring or foundation for free with your purchase — it’s a big red flag that it’s a low-quality product. (Besides, freebies are always built into the price of the mattress which means you’re paying more even if you don’t need the free item.)
We also recommend that you replace your box spring when you buy a new mattress. The box spring ages over time, and pairing an old box spring with your brand new mattress may negatively impact its performance. It’s a bit like putting old tires onto a brand new sports car — you’re just not going to get the best possible performance.
Not every bed can accommodate a box spring (like a platform bed), and that’s OK. However, your mattress will likely feel a bit firmer without one. Be sure to follow the other steps to make sure your mattress is getting plenty of support.
Opt for a heavy-duty bed frame
A heavy-duty bed frame will have a center support with a foot that touches the floor in the center for full, queen, king, and California king mattresses. This center support and foot are vital for providing adequate support to the center of your mattress. To see some examples of what that might look like, check out our heavy-duty bed frames.
Like box springs, a high-quality frame will not be tacked onto your mattress purchase for free.
When you have a high-quality, heavy-duty bed frame, it can last you a very long time as long as it is cared for properly. With a high-quality frame, you likely will not need to replace it each time you buy a new mattress.
Select a sturdy bed
Some beds are made up of a headboard and footboard that attach to your bed frame and may or may not include side rails. As long as you have a heavy-duty bed frame, you have nothing to be concerned about when it comes to support.
Other beds, like platform beds, feature slats that support your mattress and may or may not accommodate a box spring. Slats should be sturdy and not spaced close together. You may want to consider a bunk board for two-sided mattresses to prevent the upholstery layers from wearing between the slats. You should also make sure that any bed of this style that is a full size or larger features a center support with a leg that touches the floor in the center of the mattress.
A new mattress is an investment, so you want to properly care for it to ensure that it provides you with a good night’s sleep for years to come. Check out more of our mattress care advice here.
Ready to start your mattress buying journey? Come to The Original Mattress Factory first. No one knows more than our team about what makes a great mattress great. Whether you buy from us or not, you’ll be better prepared to make a smart mattress buying decision. Find a store near you.
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