At a Glance:
Understanding Memory Foam Mattresses
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using a Boxspring
How to Determine If You Need a Boxspring
Tips for Maintaining Your Memory Foam Mattress
If you are looking for a good night’s sleep, a memory foam mattress could be just the thing you need. These mattresses cushion your body while still providing support for a one-of-a-kind experience coil support can’t offer. However, there is still a little confusion over the type of foundations you can use when buying a memory foam mattress. Do you need a boxspring with a memory foam mattress? What is a box spring anyway?
Use this guide to answer all of the questions you have to ensure you have enough back support while keeping your mattress in the best condition possible.
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Shop NowUnderstanding Memory Foam Mattresses
Mattress technology has evolved over the ages to increase comfort levels and accommodate different sleep needs. Historically, mattresses were made with several coils, a design style that is still used today and remains the most popular choice—but mostly because of their affordability. Despite sales, these days, sleepers want memory foam mattresses or hybrid mattresses that use a mixture of foam and coils to suit specific sleep needs.
Whereas original formulas for memory foam trapped air, which resulted in hot sleeping, many memory foam mattresses of toady incorporate cooling gel that prevents people from getting hot while they sleep.
While once the most expensive mattress option on the market, shoppers will be happy to know they don’t need to pay a lot of money for a memory foam mattress today. There are luxury models for people who want them along with basic mattresses that still incorporate gel foam. Here are two mattress examples that vary by price and features.
Serta Arctic® Memory Foam Plush Tight Top Queen Mattress
Shop This Serta Memory Foam Mattress
If you want a luxury sleep experience, look no further than this mattress from the Serta Arctic® line. It is a tight-top mattress that still gives you a plush sleep experience. The Reactex® System uses three levels of cooling technology to remove heat from your body throughout the night with a plush comfort level ideal for lighter sleepers and side sleepers. This is a highly rated mattress with more than 96% of customers saying they would recommend it to others.
Featured Serta Arctic review: “We have been sleeping on our new mattress for a few weeks now and we love it. The best part about the Arctic Premier is that the memory foam comes with a cooling effect. When you lay down you never feel hot or restless.”
Serta® Perfect Sleeper® Nestled Night™ Gel Memory Foam Medium Firm Tight Top Queen Mattress in a Box
Shop This Sera Gel Memory Foam Mattress
This is another model by Serta that provides a more affordable sleep experience with just as much comfort. This model comes with HexCloud™ gel memory foam that creates airways to remove heat from your body for superior comfort. The CradleGel™ foam provides support to accommodate the medium level of firmness.
The Role of a Boxspring
Once you have your mattress picked out, you can move on to the boxspring. A boxspring is a platform where you place your mattress. It works as a shock absorber when you are tossing and turning so your mattress doesn’t get as worn out. A boxspring can also help you stay cool by providing airflow under the bed.
Historically, boxsprings were used to provide support to mattresses and to elevate them. These items are necessary for innerspring mattresses and most hybrid models. However, when it comes to the question, “Do you need a boxspring with a memory foam mattress?” the answer is no. Memory foam mattresses usually do not need these items, though they can be useful for creating stability in your bed.
How to Determine If You Need a Boxspring
Before you decide whether you want a boxspring or not, check to see if you actually need one. First, assess your mattress type. If you have a memory foam model, you shouldn’t need a boxspring. When you buy your mattress, you should be able to see if it requires a mattress in the product description. If not, ask a sales representative about it.
Next, look at your bed frame. See if it was designed for a boxspring or if you can use a mattress without it. If you only have a set of rails for your bed frame, then you likely will need a box spring.
Finally, consider your own personal comfort preferences. A little extra support or elevation could make your sleep experience more enjoyable. These preferences could be as simple as your ideal bed height: some people like higher beds while others don’t mind lower options. These criteria can help you decide whether a boxspring is the right choice.
Alternatives to Boxsprings
If the answer to “Do you need a boxspring with a mattress” is no, you can explore alternative options for your bedroom. There are several different bed frames and foundation options to explore when designing your sleep environment. A few choices include:
- Platform beds: These beds elevate your mattress off the floor and provide a firm, flat surface for your mattress. This is often a preferred option for memory foam and are the preferred choice for minimalist bedrooms.
- Slatted foundations: This option uses several wood slates that lay across a bed frame. Make sure they are wide enough and placed close together to provide enough support.
- Adjustable bed bases: These bases allow you to elevate your head or your feet. This is an ideal option if you enjoy reading before bed or need to rest in a specific position after recovering from a medical procedure.
Here are two foundation options to consider as you explore your sleeping options. See how these compare to the alternatives listed above.
Beautyrest® Queen Low Profile Foundation
Shop This Beautyrest Low Profile Bed Foundation
Beautyrest® is one of the top names when it comes to mattresses. It comes as no surprise that the company would create quality foundations as well. This model gives you 5.5 inches of height and comes with a non-skid synthetic fiber pad to keep the mattress in place. This is ideal if you have an innerspring or hybrid mattress but don’t want too much height added to your sleep space.
Beautyrest® Triton Queen Standard Profile Foundation
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Consider this foundation if you are looking for a queen-size mattress and boxspring. It is designed to provide optimal support while isolating partner sleep movements. If one person tosses and turns throughout the night, there is less of a chance that their movements will wake up the person next to them.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using a Boxspring
Even if you aren’t required to have a boxspring with your mattress, you might still want to invest in one. First, a boxspring can enhance your mattress's lifespan. It can prevent it from becoming lumpy or sagging in the middle because of the support that it provides. It is better to put a full-size mattress and boxspring in a guest room instead of just a mattress so any visiting relatives can enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Boxsprings also increase your comfort levels. If you are already investing in your sleep experience, take the extra step to add a boxspring to your room. For example, if you have a king-size bed frame, pick up both a king-size mattress and boxspring to go with it.
That said, there are some disadvantages to having a boxspring. There are times when they make the bed too high, especially if you already have a tall bed frame. You also might need to invest in a bed skirt or box spring cover so it isn’t visible when your bed is made.
Tips for Maintaining Your Memory Foam Mattress
Once you choose the best foundation for your memory foam mattress, you can rest easy each night. To increase the chances that you sleep well in the coming years, pick up these healthy habits to maintain your memory foam mattress.
✅ Use a mattress protector. This makes cleaning your mattress easier because you can peel and wash the protector instead.
✅ Rotate your mattress at least twice a year. Turn your mattress 180 degrees when daylight savings time starts and ends. Alternatively, turn your mattress on Christmas and on the 4th of July. Use whatever it takes to remember this chore so you don’t forget it.
✅ Vacuum your mattress. Whenever you rotate your mattress, vacuum it. This is a great way to suck out any dust mites, dirt, and sweat.
✅ Keep your kids off of it. Jumping on a bed can wear a mattress out. Make sure there is a no-jumping rule in place.
✅ Don’t get it wet. Immediately clean up any spills and prevent moisture from building up in the memory foam. If you sweat a lot at night, let your mattress air out during the day.
Why Trust Ken’s?
Ken's has been a trusted source of home furnishings in the Grand Island area since 1962. With nearly 60 years of experience in the community, customers have come to rely on us for all their home needs. We offer a wide selection of furniture, premium mattresses, and high-quality appliances. Our knowledgeable sales team will help you find the perfect items for your home. And once the sale is made, we are there for you with installation services and an experienced parts and service department.
We are routinely recognized by both the Grand Island community as well as the industry for our commitment to excellence. We are proud to be BrandSource Dealer of the Year for 2014 and Best of Grand Island for Appliances since 2022. We also received Fan Favorite in Grand Island for Mattresses in 2022. Shop local at Ken's Grand Island, NE! We look forward to servicing you and providing the quality products your home needs.
Shop Memory Foam Mattresses at Ken’s
At Ken’s, we pride ourselves on being more than just a store - we are your total home solution. Having served Grand Island for so many years, it matters to us that we only provide the best products. Shop memory foam mattresses online or visit us today at Grand Island, NE showroom. Our experts are always available to help you answer, “Do you need a boxspring with a memory foam mattress,”, whether you call us or use our online text feature. Contact us today!
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