Mattress Foundation Guide
Once you find the perfect mattress, it’s important to make sure that you are using a bed frame or base that will properly support it. There are several options when it comes to mattress foundations, but not all of them are created equal. Which one will work best for your particular bed? That’s the question we’ll be digging into today.
You will spend nearly half your life lying in your bed, either to sleep or to relax or even to get some work done. So the last thing you want to do when you spend good money on a mattress is to plop it down directly on your floor. Your mattress supports you, and it needs support, too. That’s why a good mattress foundation is so important. Mattress bases, like bed frames and box springs, help you get the most out of your mattress.
But how do you know which mattress base is best for you? Certain mattresses work best with certain foundations, and it is actually specified in a lot of mattress warranties that they must be placed on a compatible bed frame. This guide will help you navigate these challenges and pick the mattress foundation that is best for you.
What Is A Mattress Foundation?
The defining feature of a mattress foundation — and the way that you can tell it apart from a box spring, a bed frame, or another structure for supporting and elevating your mattress — is the flat and sturdy wooden board or slat system on the top of the foundation.
Foundations can be made of many materials. Most commonly, they will be comprised of wood or a wood and metal combination. The support system is also often covered in a fabric layer that keeps all the elements together, looks sleek, and prevents splinters and scratches on the underside of your mattress. They can vary in height, with some short foundations on the market only adding 5” to your bed’s height while others can add nearly double or three-times that.
The main reason that mattress foundations have grown in popularity over the past several years is the ability to comply with nearly every type of mattress. Hybrid mattresses, all-foam mattresses, and even air mattresses will all be compatible with a flat and supportive base like the one provided by a mattress foundation.
Moreover, foundations are usually pretty versatile when it comes to the set up of your bed. If you already have a bed frame, either one with steel slats or one that requires a foundation or box spring, you can place a foundation right inside the bed frame before placing your mattress down. The foundation will provide the right amount of height and support for your bed set up.
Some mattress foundations can serve as the main base for your bed. There are several mattress foundations that come with detachable legs so that you can use the foundation on its own or in conjunction with a more intricate bed frame.
The option of using a mattress foundation with legs as the sole support base for your mattress is a great space-saving solution for folks living in small spaces or studio apartments. Even if you don’t have room for a full bed frame with a headboard and footboard, a foundation with legs can be an affordable and conservatively sized option to provide your mattress with a sturdy base.
Why Is It Important To Support Your Mattress?
Ensuring that your mattress is properly supported is good for both you and your mattress. Mattress support can help you sleep better and help keep your mattress in good shape for longer. When you place your mattress on a flat and supportive base, it is provided with enough stability to absorb shock and prevent shifting and sliding while you sleep. It also makes the mattress more comfortable and allows you to fully reap the benefits of a well-made bed because the base helps the mattress evenly distribute weight. When your mattress and the base that it rests on offer the proper support, you are far less likely to wake up with an achy back or sore hips.
Keeping your bed on a good foundation also prolongs the lifespan of your mattress. The support that a base provides to your mattress minimizes premature sagging and wear, which keeps your bed looking newer longer.
Keeping your bed lifted off of the ground with a base adds height to the mattress. This helps to keep the bed cleaner and free from allergens like dust and bacteria that can easily accumulate when it is too close to the floor. Plus, it adds space for additional storage under the bed.
Elevating your bed off the ground with a mattress foundation can also be a useful solution for folks who sleep too warm or who suffer from hot flashes. The added height off the ground allows for more airflow under and around your bed, which keeps the bed cooler at night. Research has proven that sleeping in a cooler temperature environment as opposed to a warmer one has a myriad of benefits on your sleep quality.
How To Choose A Mattress Foundation
Mattress foundations are extremely useful, but picking the perfect one can be tricky. Every bed will require different things from a mattress foundation, so a good place to start your search is with the same company that makes your mattress. A lot of mattress manufacturers have started selling bed frames and bases that are compatible with their mattresses. This is a sure-fire way to know that your foundation will work with your mattress and to ensure that your warranty will stay intact. Some companies will even offer bundle packages if you buy a mattress and frame or foundation at the same time.
While this is a convenient way to find a compatible mattress foundation, it is unnecessary to buy a foundation from your mattress manufacturer. Whether you’ve invested a lot of money into a new mattress and aren’t willing to cough up more dough than necessary for your foundation or simply found something that you like better than what the manufacturer has to offer, you’re welcome to buy a mattress foundation from a source that you prefer.
In general, mattress foundations are going to be a fair bit less expensive than a mattress, but they can still cost a few hundred dollars. If you are looking for an affordable bed frame that is still stylish and sturdy, we have reviewed a few from Zinus that won’t break the bank. There are also lots of great foundations available on Amazon or at Walmart.
Bed Frame And Foundation Options
Ultimately, the mattress foundation that you choose should support your mattress and your body well and also be compatible with your bed frame (if you use one). Heavier folks, for example, should opt for a thick and sturdy foundation, while children’s beds are usually able to be placed on a thin and light-weight board base. There are a variety of options available, but in general, mattress foundations will fall into a few different categories.
- Platform: Platform bed frames and platform-style foundations, sometimes called a solid base, are both options. If you have a platform bed frame, you typically won’t need a foundation, as the frame should offer all the support that you need. You can add a foundation if you’d like to give your mattress a little extra height. Platforms are usually wooden rectangles with a base support of either wooden slats that are spaced a few inches apart or a solid board. Platform foundations, with slats or a solid board, can be placed directly into a bed frame in place of the detachable slats or used on their own if they have detachable legs. Platforms are great for people who need some space-saving solutions as they typically keep your bed elevated off the ground and allow for ample under-bed storage.
- Bunkie Board: Bunkie boards are typically the cheapest option for a foundation. They are low-profile and usually made of a solid piece of affordable wood, plywood, or MDF wrapped in fabric to provide a solid and sleek sleeping surface. Bunkie boards will typically only add an inch or two of height to your bed but are a good option for dense foam mattresses and other mattresses that just need a bit of solid stability. Memory foam, in particular, will benefit from a bunkie board because the pliable foam has a tendency to sink into the gaps between slats or the tops of springs on traditional platforms and box-spring bed bases.
- Adjustable Foundation: The adjustable foundation tends to be the most pricey mattress base. Adjustable mattress foundations can move to elevate your head and feet and are great for people who like to read or watch TV in bed as well as for those who suffer from a host of health issues. Elevated support relieves pressure points and allows for proper blood circulation and has also been linked to reduced joint pain, alleviated snoring and sleep apnea symptoms, diminished digestive, respiratory, and inflammation issues, and many other benefits. These foundations work with most beds, except for those that contain steel border wires for support, as the metal makes it difficult for the mattress to move with the base and can lead to the mattress and the foundation being damaged.
Foundations Vs Box Springs
Chances are high that you’ve experienced a traditional box-spring. Your parents might still have one hanging around in their guest bedroom, for example. Box-springs were once among the most popular bed bases but in recent years have been dethroned by more light-weight and versatile mattress foundations.
It might be a little bit confusing to think of these two as competitors because box-springs technically fall into the definition of foundations. Think of box springs as the mattress foundation 1.0. They paved the way for the foundations that we have now, but they definitely had a few bugs that needed to be worked out.
The main reason that box-springs have lost popularity has to do with the increasing popularity of memory foam and other foam mattresses. Box-springs, as the name suggests, are comprised of a grid-like collection of metal springs encased in a wooden box and covered in a flexible fabric. Foam beds tend to have a lot more give than hybrid beds, so a box spring is less necessary. Additionally, foam beds and box springs don’t always play nice together. The metal coils of the box spring can sometimes pierce and damage the bottom of the foam bed, leading to a ruined bed and, often, a voided warranty.
Box-springs still work perfectly fine with innerspring and hybrid beds, but they are often not as comfortable as sturdy foundations. The springs provide a good amount of support but also give the bed a lot of bounce. Some people might love a bouncy bed, but that much bounce can be disturbing to your sleep as the slightest movement tends to carry throughout the entire bed. That can be especially problematic if you sleep with someone else in your bed.
Box-springs also tend to have a shorter lifespan than foundations and often tend to squeak, especially if a few springs have broken. And, if you needed one more reason to see why box-springs have fallen out of popularity, wooden foundations are generally cheaper and more light-weight, making them an attainable option for seniors and college students alike, as well as everyone in between.
FAQs
Is a foundation necessary for a mattress?
Technically, a mattress foundation is not necessary, but you almost certainly are going to want one. They provide the support that enables better sleep and won’t leave your back feeling sore in the morning. Mattress foundations provide additional support that ensures weight is evenly distributed across the mattress.
Is a box spring the same as a foundation?
A box spring is not the same thing as a mattress foundation. Mattress foundations are a flat and sturdy wooden board or slat system. Box springs are a grid-like collection of metal springs in a wooden box that is covered in a flexible fabric.
What is a mattress foundation set?
A mattress foundation set is typically for larger mattresses. It splits the foundation into two equal pieces that make it easy to transport. Mattress foundation sets are common for king and California king size mattresses.
What is the best foundation for a mattress?
The best kind of mattress foundation will depend on the kind of mattress you have. Most foam mattresses are best with a foundation, whereas hybrid mattresses are compatible with box springs. In general, foundations are more versatile and work with nearly any mattress type.
