What to Look For in a Bed
A piece of furniture that is designed to support and allow for sleep. Beds are available in many different shapes and sizes and can be made of metal, wood or even foam. They are usually attached to a frame, which can be either permanent or portable. Beds can also be topped with various materials to increase comfort or appearance.
The most important feature of a good bed is its ability to provide support for the sleeper. This is vital for avoiding injury, back pain and other health problems. It is also important to consider the type of mattress and the amount of firmness that you require. The most comfortable mattresses are those that offer medium firmness and accommodate both light and heavy sleepers.
Beds can also include features to improve the user’s experience and comfort, such as a cooling layer, zoned support or memory foam. In addition, some beds have a transition layer that bridges the comfort system and the core of the mattress to prevent the sleep surface from sagging excessively.
In the Middle Ages, people slept on carpeted floors or benches with mattresses stuffed with straw, wool or feathers. They covered them with a canopy of draped cloths or used a padded pillow or cushion as a headrest. Then they sat up in the bed to work, read, eat or recline socially.
Today’s modern mattresses are generally built of innerspring coils and fill components like cotton batting, polyester fiberfill or latex or flexible polyurethane foams. They are also constructed with a layer of insulator pads to help prevent the mattress’s upholstery layers from cupping down into the innerspring core.
Another common feature of a modern mattress is an odor-reducing cover, called a fire sock, that helps the mattress meet federal safety standards. This is necessary because certain mattresses, especially those that contain memory foam or other highly-flexible polyurethane foams, off-gas chemicals.
When shopping for a new mattress, it’s important to know how much you want to spend. There are many great options available at all price points, so finding a mattress that fits your budget should be easy. It’s also helpful to test the mattress out before making a purchase. This will allow you to see how it feels in person and decide if it’s the right fit for you.
If you’re looking for a more comfortable mattress, try one with a medium feel (5.7-7 out of 10 on the firmness scale). This is the most common type of mattress and is likely to please most sleepers. Additionally, you should test the edge support and motion isolation of the mattress to make sure that it will stay stable while sitting on the side. Finally, if you have a partner, test the mattress out together to ensure that you won’t disturb each other when shifting positions during the night.