Do you need a box spring for your memory foam mattress?
Humans spend about a third of their lives sleeping, so it’s no wonder people spend a lot of money on beds and mattresses.
If you’ve recently purchased a memory foam mattress, you may be having trouble deciding what to use to support that mattress. Traditional mattresses are often paired with box springs for support, but what about memory foam? Do you need a box spring? What about a bunkie board? Or a platform bed? With so many choices on the market, it is hard to know which option is the best to pair with a memory foam mattress.
What is a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam was first invented by NASA in the 1960s. It is made of polyurethane combined with a few chemicals that allow it to contour to your body. A memory foam mattress is a mattress that has a layer of memory foam on top.
Are there different kinds of memory foam?
There are three different types of memory foam that can be used in memory foam mattresses: traditional memory foam is the viscoelastic foam created by NASA in the 1960s; open cell memory foam is traditional memory foam that has better air flow in the foam layer to better regulate body temperature; gel memory foam or gel-infused memory foam is memory foam that has been pumped full of gel, and is also used to help regulate body temperature and keep you cooler as you rest.
What are the advantages of memory foam mattresses?
If you’re still debating whether to buy a memory foam mattress, you may be wondering why they’re so popular. Besides being incredibly comfortable, they have numerous advantages that contribute to a better night’s sleep overall:
It helps regulate your body temperature while you sleep better than a non-memory-foam mattress would.
It is hypoallergenic; because it is such a dense mattress, there isn’t any space for dust mites and allergens to build up in.
What are the disadvantages of memory foam mattresses?
Memory foam mattresses, although comfortable to sleep in, do not come without disadvantages:
They are very heavy.
They are usually more expensive than other types of mattresses.
They are not waterproof — if you sweat a lot in your sleep or frequently find yourself eating or drinking in bed, be sure to protect your memory foam mattress with a mattress topper.
They can collect odors more easily than other mattresses.
Do you need box springs with a memory foam mattress?
Because memory foam mattresses are so dense, which in turn makes them very heavy, you don’t want to pair your memory foam mattress with box springs. Box springs are not meant to support the sheer weight of memory foam mattresses and the mattress could, in turn, start to sag in places where there isn’t adequate support.
What is the best support for a memory foam mattress?
There are several alternatives to support your memory foam mattress.
Platform bed
A platform bed comes with a solid base — either solid board or a slatted platform — that is meant to support the weight of a mattress. It comes at a height that is natural and doesn’t need an extra layer of elevation for the mattress that a box spring would normally provide.
Bunkie board
A bunkie board is simply a piece of wood or particle board that can support the weight of a mattress. If you have an older bed frame that requires a box spring to elevate the mattress to an appropriate height, you can simply slide a bunkie board between the box spring and the mattress to provide the proper support.
The floor
Yes, you can place a memory foam mattress on the floor if you so choose. However, a mattress needs proper air flow to prevent mold and bacteria from growing. If you do decide to place your mattress on the floor, try to move it around weekly and prop it against the wall frequently to air it out.
Stephanie Jarrett is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
