About Mattresses

One third of most people's lives are spent sleeping. While you are sleeping, your brain stores what you have learned for the day, solves problems and comes up with new ideas. Your body grows and repairs injuries as well. Without a good night's sleep, people are more prone to obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Having the right mattress can help you to sleep more soundly so your body can fully carry out these functions.

Benefits

If you have ever slept on the floor, you know it is not something you want to do on a nightly basis. Mattresses not only provide comfort for our bodies, by providing a soft and comfortable surface to sleep on, but they also raise us off the floor so that we are exposed to less drafts as we sleep. Raising the bed also protects us from dirt and pests.

Size

Mattresses come in a range of sizes. A twin size, also called a single bed, is most commonly used for children and in rooms where more than one bed is needed. Twin beds are 39 inches wide and 75 inches long. Twin beds also come in extra long, which are 5 inches longer than the standard twin bed.
Full size mattresses, also called double size, are over a foot wider than a twin bed. They are 54 inches wide and 75 inches long.
Queen size mattresses are wider than a double bed. At 50 inches wide and 75 inches long, two people still have less space than they are accustomed to with a twin bed.
King size mattresses are the widest bed and they are almost as wide as two twin beds. King size mattresses are also longer than standard mattresses. This size bed may be hard to move into tight spaces, which is why the box spring is typically split in half. The standard size for a king size mattress is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long.
The largest mattress size of all is the California king. It adds another 4 inches to the length of the standard or Eastern king and also comes with a split box spring. At 72 inches wide and 84 inches long, it is the largest mattress you can get outside of having a custom bed made for a great deal of money.

History of

People didn't always have mattresses to sleep on. During the Neolithic Period, people slept on the ground or on flat stones covered with animal skins. The first mattresses were made around 3000 BC. Mattresses got more and more comfortable over time and velvet and silk fabric where used in construction during the Renaissance along with lattice-worked rope beds. Modern mattresses with springs and layers of cushioning became popular after World War II when factories found easier ways to make them. Memory foam was discovered in the 1960s and by the 1980s, most mattresses were made from a combination of cotton, foam and inner springs. Before this time, they were stuffed with hay, cotton or wool.
The box spring, which is used with the mattress with a few exceptions, became widely used around the same time that mattresses were first mass produced. The box spring lengthens the life of the mattress and helps to make the bed less lumpy. Most mattresses are designed to work with a box spring.

Type

There are a few basic types of mattresses besides the standard spring and foam-based mattress. Air mattress are made of plastic or rubber and filled with air. These mattresses are usually temporary and used for overnight guests or while camping and then deflated and stored away. Air beds are also available for long-term use, such as the AeroBed, The Air Cloud and Wenzel.
A futon is a type of mattress that is able to be converted into a sofa.
The Sleep Number or Select Comfort bed is a combination of a traditional bed and an air bed. The bed comes with remote controls that allows you to add or remove air to match the level or hardness of softness you need.
Water bed mattresses are exactly what they sound like. They are mattresses filled with water. Water beds often come with heat controls for additional comfort. Some people find water beds very comfortable, while others don't like the motion (even with the sturdier styles) or don't feel they have the support they need.

Expert Insight

Choosing a mattress is something that only you can do for yourself. Each person requires a different level of firmness and softness. When buying a mattress, it is best to take your time and shop around. Lie on different beds for 10 to 20 minutes and do not let the salesperson pressure you into purchasing a bed before you are sure you have found the perfect fit.