Buying an IKEA bed in the USBuying an IKEA bed in the US might be something you are unfamiliar with. It will have a few parts and assembly will be necessary and I think a lot of people do not get all the parts on the first try. So this article offers a little guidance on all the parts and advice on choosing which parts to buy. To Boxspring/Foundation or Not to Boxspring/Foundation?Well, first of all, let me explain what a boxspring/foundation is. They are actually two different items, although they look the same from the side and serve the same purpose of raising your mattress. There is one major difference, however: The foundation has wood boards to hold up the mattress, while the boxspring, like its name suggests, has springs where it meets the mattress. So what does this mean, you ask? Well, a boxspring will give you a plusher, bouncier feeling, while a foundation will feel firmer and more solid. Do I need a boxspring or a foundation? No, you can place your mattress right on the slats if you want.
A boxspring has springs = softer A foundation is all wood inside = firmerBut you might not need either with an IKEA bed Slats: What Are They Good For?Slats are the wooden boards that the mattress, boxspring, or foundation rests on. The advantage of an IKEA bed is that you can use slats and a mattress alone, eliminating the need for a boxspring or foundation. This is very useful if you are trying to move a bedframe into a tight location, like up a narrow staircase or through a small doorway. What you should consider when buying a frame is if it has adjustable What you should consider when buying a frame is if it has adjustable bedsides. It will say it on the tag and it means you can set your slats lower if you want to use a boxspring or a foundation to make the bed higher. Which Slats Should I Choose?There are three types of basic slats to choose from: Lade are pine boards that provide the firmest feel. These are the ones you would use with a mattress and boxspring/foundation or with just a mattress if you like a firm feel.
Luroy slats are curved a little and made of birch wood. You would use these with a mattress alone, and they provide a softer feel. Laxeby slats are the plushest-feeling, and you would also use these with the mattress alone. Note: These come with their own wood frame, are adjustable, and need to be assembled. They are a lot of work, but if you like the softer feel, they are worth it. Each slat or slat and boxspring/foundation combo can work with any mattress, be it spring, foam, or latex. The thicker the mattress (standard mattress thickness is about 8 inches), the less you feel the slats; the thinner the mattress, the more you have to pay attention to the slat choice. Alright sound good, am I missing anything else? The Skorva Mid BeamThe Mid beam is included in the price of the bedframe, but is a separate part from the bed and comes from a different location in the warehouse. It is a universal part for all larger IKEA beds (full, queen, and king) that is adjustable to the size of the bed.
This is what lies underneath the slats and what supports them. It is a very important piece to the puzzle and the bed can't be assembled without it. There is only one type of mid beam to choose from, but just don't forget it at the store. If you are ordering online, the mid beam, if needed with your model bed, is included from the IKEA website.Most IKEA beds need the following:*Skorva Mid beam*Slats! Now You Are ReadyNow that you are ready with all your necessary parts, you will be able to build your bed. I hope you found this breakdown of the key pieces of the bed helpful. Remember that IKEA beds in the US are all standard US sizes, so you can purchase a mattress elsewhere to go with your IKEA bedfram, or purchase an IKEA mattress for a frame you already own. Good luck building and enjoy your new bed!! Did You Forget Something?Did you forget any parts when you bought your IKEA bed? Yes, the slats Yes, the midbeam Yes, another part of the bed frame No, I was able to assemble the bed on the first try!!
Our editorial staff evaluates products and services independently, but Top Ten Reviews may earn money when you click on links. While Ikea may be best known for its inexpensive home furnishings, the retail giant also offers a large selection of mattresses, including the Sultan Havberg. The Havberg is a basic spring mattress that largely appeals to budget-conscious shoppers.You can't put a price on a good night's sleep... or can you? If you're shopping for a new mattress, chances are you've noticed that there's a huge price difference between your basic innerspring mattress (starting at around $70) and a high-end memory foam mattress (the top-of-the-line Tempur-Pedic GrandBed costs up to $8,599). While the cost can certainly be steep, memory foam mattresses have high owner satisfaction ratings: 81% of memory foam owners are satisfied with their mattress, while only 64% of traditional innerspring mattress owners say the same. But just because those owners are satisfied doesn't mean you will be, because what makes for a good night's sleep is very subjective.
Let's look at general memory foam and Tempur-Pedic reviews, materials, and prices, to see what these mattresses offer. Then you can decide whether memory foam's cost makes sense for your budget. While innerspring mattresses are made up of metal coils covered with layers of fabric and padding, memory foam mattresses are made of polyurethane foam. The foam reacts to pressure and heat, conforming to your body when you lie down. Memory foam makers say this provides support while keeping your spine in proper alignment. For anyone suffering from back or other joint pain, memory foam can ease pressure points and may improve sleep. Tempur-Pedic is generally recognized as the first company to make memory foam mattresses, and while there are lots of other choices for memory foam, its offerings are still considered the best on the market. But they're priced accordingly. Tempur-Pedic beds start at $1,199 for a twin-size Tempur-Cloud Prima and go up to $8,599 for a king-size GrandBed. On average, a queen-size Tempur-Pedic mattress will set you back $3,400, which is no small investment.
But if you think memory foam is a good choice, you don't have to spend that much. Big mattress brands like Serta and Sealy offer their own memory foam mattresses that average around $1,850 for a queen. On the discount side, both Costco and IKEA offer lines of low-cost memory foam mattresses. Costco's mattresses are priced in line with Sealy and Serta, while IKEA has the bargain option, starting as low as $399 for a queen. But how do these stack up to a $3,400 Tempur-Pedic? Looking at the price ranges for these mattresses, you might be tempted to head to IKEA and pick up a low-cost mattress. However, not all memory foam is made alike. Its density can be a key factor in the quality of the mattress; with higher-density memory foam, the mattress typically has a longer life span. The density of the foam may be measured by weight (how much a cubic foot of memory foam weighs). Low density is typically 3 pounds and under; medium, from 4 to 5 pounds; and high, higher than 5 pounds.
Indentation load deflection (ILD or IFD) is another measurement you may come across, and refers to firmness. The higher the number, the firmer the foam. The trouble with comparing mattresses by their density is that different manufacturers will denote this differently or not at all. For example, Tempur-Pedic does not list any density ratings for its mattresses, though they typically run from 14 to 15 ILD, with densities estimated at 3 to 7 pounds. Alternately, IKEA specifically lists foam density on its website, even specifying the density of different layers of foam (typically from 1.7 to 3.1 pounds). Furthermore, not all of them are made entirely of foam. Many mattresses, especially those at lower price points, only have a small layer of foam on top of a more traditional innerspring mattress. These may be advertised as foam mattresses, but a thin layer of foam, as little as an inch, won't give you the same benefits as an all-foam mattress. When shopping, pay attention to just how much foam a mattress contains.
In addition to offering a comfortable night's sleep for those suffering from back or other joint pain, memory foam mattresses have other pluses. Traditional innerspring mattresses can be noisy, and any movement may be felt across the entire bed. If your bedmate is a restless sleeper, both of these things can be a problem. Memory foam is quiet and isolates motion, which can help you rest no matter what. But memory foam mattresses aren't perfect, either. Because they respond to body heat, they may warm up overnight; for some, they may be uncomfortably warm to sleep on. Many manufacturers offer layers of gel on their foam mattresses to cool them, while Tempur-Pedic has its own cooling technology called SmartClimate and Tempur-Breeze. If heat is a concern, look for these features when shopping. Another complaint is that memory foam can be hard to move around on. Because you sink into the foam, shifting can be difficult. While that's an inconvenience for adults, it can be a serious problem for infants and small children.
Manufacturers warn against leaving young children unattended on memory foam mattresses, since they may find it difficult to turn over, which can leave them in danger of suffocating. Electric blankets are another no-no where memory foam is concerned. Some say they are a fire hazard; others say that they can affect the temperature of the foam. Regardless, foam mattress manufacturers discourage using electric blankets. Because comfort is very much a matter of personal opinion, mattresses are a good product to check out in a showroom. While this won't provide a perfect representation of what the mattress will be like once you take it home, it will give you an idea of how it feels. If you're testing memory foam mattresses, remember that they seem firmer when you initially lie down, so spend some time to see what they really feel like. Beyond that, look for mattresses with trial periods and good warranties. Tempur-Pedic offers one of the best you're likely to find, letting you try the mattress out at home for 90 days (if bought directly from the company), alongside a 10-year warranty.
While you're still responsible for shipping costs if you decide Tempur-Pedic isn't for you, that's a lot better than being stuck with a $3,000 mattress that you don't like sleeping on. The 81% owner satisfaction rating we mentioned earlier covers owners of all brands of memory foam mattresses, not just the high-end Tempur-Pedic. While Tempur-Pedic does make quality memory foam mattresses with solid, high-density foam, even people who have more modestly priced memory foam mattresses are happy with them — and you might be, too. If you think memory foam is the right mattress choice for you, find a local mattress store where you can try out a Tempur-Pedic mattress in person, as well as competing memory foam models from Sealy and Serta. Not everyone likes Tempur-Pedic's dense foam, so you may find you prefer softer foams or thinner layers of foam on lower-cost mattresses. And if the budget's tight but you really want that memory foam mattress, try IKEA, which offers mattresses made entirely of foam — rather than just thin layers of it — at more affordable prices.