Choosing the right mattress type Mattresses are designed to provide the support and comfort you need to relax and rest. If you have had your mattress for a while, you may be wondering if it is time to buy a new one. Research shows that people sleep better, suffer less back pain and experience fewer symptoms of stress when sleeping on newer beds. In general, your sleep quality improves if your sleep surface relieves pressure on joints and other areas of the body. Matching your specific comfort needs with the right product is a very subjective process. Mattresses are made with a variety of materials and technologies to deliver support systems that meet the broad array of consumers’ needs, tastes, and budgets. Mattresses should be evaluated every seven years for quality and support. If you haven’t shopped for a new mattress recently, there are many options to choose from. The following provides basic information on the different types of mattresses available today so that you are better equipped to choose a mattress that meets your needs.
Choosing a bedTypes of bedBy Ben SlaterArticle 1 of 2 Types of bed What bed is best for your bedroom? We give the pros and cons of divan beds, storage beds and bedsteads, so you can make the perfect choice. The average person spends a third of their lives sleeping - that's around 200,000 hours in bed. If you want to sleep well and feel ready and raring to go when you wake up, you'll want to get the best possible bed for you. A good bed starts with a good bed frame - we've outlined the main types of bed below. Once you've chosen a bed, you'll need a great mattress to go with it. Our mattress reviews can help you find a mattress that will support your back well and last for years and years - and Best Buy mattresses start at less than £200. A divan bed is the most popular and simple style of bed available - and there are countless varieties on sale. Essentially, a divan is a base. You then add a bed mattress and headboard, sometimes as part of a bed package. There are two types of divan base available.
Pocket sprung divans have springs in the base, offering a softer top and extra comfort. Cheaper platform top divans have a hard top and will give a firmer feel, although the overall firmness of the bed will depend on the mattress you choose. The most widely available type of bed They tend to be cheaper than other types of bed There are lots of sizes, shapes and storage options to choose from They tend to be less ornate and stylish than other varieties of bed Only some divan beds offer extra storage Bedsteads are slatted frames (as opposed to solid bases), usually made of metal or wood and comprised of a base, legs and headboard. They're usually a more decorative option, with different colours, finishes and styles to choose from - from a traditional pine bedstead to a luxurious four-poster bedstead. Upholstered bedsteads, clad with leather or faux-leather, are an increasingly popular option. They often look great, with lots of styles available There's no need to buy a separate headboard
Different slat types are available to offer a harder or more flexible feel Storing items underneath the bed can look messy They usually need to be self-assembled They tend to be more expensive than divan beds As the name suggests, storage beds offer just that - lots of tidy storage options underneath the bed. They're a great option if you're short on bedroom space but want something a bit more stylish than a standard divan bed. Choose between storage drawers or an ottoman-style bed that fully lifts up, letting you store your belongings inside. They have lots of storage space They're particularly suitable for small bedrooms Ottoman beds can be heavy and awkward to move or lift Sofa beds, folding beds, bunk beds and cot beds There are lots more types of bed on the market - often designed to meet a specific requirement or appeal to particular age groups. Sofa beds and folding beds Flexible, compact beds that work well in a guest bedroom, or where a bed won't be used every day.
Bunk beds Two beds in one for siblings in a shared bedroom - and lots of play fun for kids, too. Cot beds For smaller children, cot beds are convertible cots that can help your little one make the transition from cot to bed. Our video guide to buying the best cot bed includes advice on buying a safe cot bed that's right for your child. Once you've decided which type of bed frame to go for, check out our top tips on how to buy the best mattress. More on best mattress brands You may also be interested in nextTop 10 bed shopping tipsMore on best mattress brands You may also be interested inFinding the right type of mattress to suit your body and budget can be tricky, so we show you how to choose the best mattress.Memory foam, pocket sprung, latex, open coil, continuous coil... not sure which type of mattress is best for you? We look at the pros and cons of the main types of mattresses to help you find the best.There are four main mattress types to choose from. Most mattress manufacturers make more than one type - different varieties go through a different manufacturing process and cost different amounts.
Price isn't everything, though, as what is most important is what you as an individual find comfortable.Use our interactive tool, below, and read our expert tips to help you decide which type of mattress to buy. Once you've made up your mind, you can use the filters on our independent mattress reviews to find your perfect mattress. Keep reading for more information on the main type of mattress. Or, if you already know which type you want, find out how to buy the best mattress.Pocket sprung mattressIn pocket sprung mattresses, the springs are sewn into individual fabric pockets. Pocket sprung mattresses are the most popular type of mattress among Which? members - more than half of the members we surveyed about their mattress had bought a pocket sprung one.Pocket sprung mattresses don't mould to your shape in the same way that memory foam mattresses do, but that doesn't necessarily mean they offer less support. They also tend not to be as warm as memory foam mattresses, which could be an important consideration if you tend to find yourself too warm at night.
We've tested some great pocket sprung mattresses at a range of different prices, so you're sure to find one that suits you. Go to our Best Buy mattresses page to see the very best.Memory foam mattress/memory mattressMemory foam mattresses, also known as memory mattresses, are topped with a layer of temperature-sensitive viscoelastic material (memory foam). They can be expensive, but we've found some fantastic memory foam mattresses for less than £400.This makes the shape of the mattress change to fit the shape of your body, and it also tends to make the mattress feel warmer.Everything you need to know about this increasingly popular type of mattress can be found in our memory foam mattress guide. If you already know that you want to buy a memory foam mattress, you can find the right model for your budget and body type by reading our mattress reviews.Continuous coil mattress and open coil mattress These mattresses are cheaper than other types of bed mattress. Continuous coil mattresses are made from a single looped wire
Open coil mattresses are made of single springs fixed together by one wire. Because the springs move as one unit, you're more likely to be disturbed by your partner moving around during the night. The coils in these mattresses wear out more quickly than pocket springs, so you’re likely to end up rolling together eventually.When we surveyed Which? members to find out more about mattresses, those who own an open-coil mattress are less likely to say that it helps them to get a good night's sleep than those who own other types of mattress.You can find out more about our survey results, including which brands to look out for, in our full mattress brand reviews.Latex mattressLatex is a less common type of mattress which features a core made up of layers of springy latex. These mattresses tend to be more expensive, but manufacturers claim that they are more resilient and able to better keep their shape. Manufacturer Dunlopillo specialises in latex mattresses, although the one we've reviewed doesn't come cheap.