What It Is, Why It Works, And The 5 Key Things To Look For When Buying A Memory Foam Bed Or Topper. While memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970's, it didn't hit the consumer market until the early 1990's - first as memory foam mattress topper pads, and later used in memory foam mattresses. Since then, memory foam mattresses have become the fastest growing segment in the mattress industry. With every year, you see more and more companies selling memory foam mattresses and topper pads, and it is very difficult, even for those of us in the industry, to keep up with all the new memory foam products being introduced. What is a consumer to do? 1. Brief History Of Memory Foam And Why Not All Memory Foam Created Equal - Some Just More Comfortable And Sleeps Cooler Than Others 2. How To Choose Between Different Memory Foams 3. What To Look For In A Memory Foam Mattress Or Topper, And When You Might Need To Get A New Mattress In this guide, I'm going to do my best to give you the straight story on what memory foam is, how it works, and what to look for in memory foam (density and quality, memory foam toppers versus memory foam mattresses, etc.).
Armed with the information, I hope you are able to find just the right memory foam mattress, topper pad, or other product that fits your needs. Where the mattress industry so often sells on hype about latest greatest technology, I wanted to concentrate on actual, verifiable information when putting together this guide. So before we go into the details about memory foam, I thought it was important to first look at the bottom line -- how does memory foam compare to standard innerspring mattresses for comfort. And what is great about the internet is that these days you can cut through the hype to see the actual data on this -- real reviews, by real folks, trying out the mattresses in their own homes. And while it was hard to get this kind of objective information back in '94 when I was first starting out selling memory foam after it helped me with my back pain, in 2014 all this information is now at your fingertips, literally. While comfort is subjective, what is no longer subjective is that certain types of mattress are just more comfortable than others.
And you don't have to take my word for it, or any other mattress retailer. The numbers don't lie. Based on over 22,000 real people's mattress experiences, the meta site Sleep Like the Dead found that in analyzing this information that memory foam mattresses received the highest level of customer satisfaction of any mattress type at 81%. In contrast, only 64% of innerspring owners said they were satisfied. That is a huge difference, and shows the simple reason why memory foam has gained such popularity -- it delivers comfort in a way that far surpasses the standard innerspring mattress. Where did memory foam come from and what gives memory foam its unique comfort properties? It is an interesting story and starts with the space program. But these days there are lots of different foamers making memory foam, and while they are all referred to as "memory foam", they have different formulations and in terms of comfort and sleeping cool memory foams are definitely not created equal -- which I will cover in our next section.
Next > Brief History of Memory Foam, And Why Not All Memory Foam Created Equal - Some Memory Foam Is Just More Comfortable And Sleeps Cooler Than OthersMattress, beds and bedding stores aren't in short supply in Toronto, but let's be honest, not everyone can be as lucky as Goldilocks when it comes to finding just the right bed. Tastes vary when it comes to finding the perfect place to rest your head at night. Luckily, the city has some great options whether you're on the market for a mattress, a bed frame or some new bedding. Here are my picks for the top mattress, beds and bedding stores in Toronto.FoamiteFoamite are self proclaimed "comfort and sleep experts" that carry 45 different grades of foam mattresses. Their exclusive selection of foam is used to make their custom made mattresses. As a bonus, they offer factory direct service which means customers will pay half of regular retail prices for their products. EssentiaEssentia is the only store in Toronto to sell memory foam mattresses made from natural ingredients.
Their products are manufactured within Canada and customers can sleep easy knowing that their purchases will not be contributing to the landfill problem. All of their mattresses are biodegradable.Mattress MallMattress Mall is a family owned and run business with 3 GTA locations (Scarborough, Richmond Hill and Yonge and Lawrence).They sell top brand names - Sealy, Serta and Tempur-Pedic for significantly less then their competitors.Sleep CountrySleep Country is Canada's largest mattress retailer, with over 185 locations including 11 in Toronto. The chain carries a number of brands, styles and sizes that all come in one of three options: soft, medium or firm. They also offer a recycling program where they donate customer's old mattresses to women's shelters. IKEAIKEA is a cheap and cheerful choice for buyers on a budget. The shelf life of their products may not last as long as their competitors, but for the low price you can probably afford to buy a new mattress every few years. The store also offers a a 60 day trial for those who want to test out their purchase before committing to a full buy.
Elte MarketElte Market products are meant for first-time home buyers who are in the market for quality products at an affordable price. They carry 25 different bed styles on their show room floor at any given time. If you walk into Elte Market and happen to find your dream bed and they don't have it in stock, you have the option to purchase the floor model at a discounted price.CasalifeCasalife carries a selection of contemporary bed frames that would fit perfectly in any modern home. Though the store does not carry stock of all beds, many of their suppliers are local and can be delivered in 1-2 weeks. They also have many US and Canadian manufacturers who complete custom orders between 6-8 weeks. Included with all full service deliveries is the set up of your bed. West ElmWest Elm carries an array of bed sets (headboard and bed frame sold together) in a wide range of styles. Many of their pieces have decorative accents like nailhead upholstery and mid-century design. Pricing depends on the size, but the range is between $839 - $2000.
West Elm also has plenty of small-space solutions, making it appealing to Toronto's condo dwellers. PavilionPavilion has been in the design game for the last 20 years and offers a wide range of Canadian products. Their sleek wooden and upholstered beds add an androgynous chicness to any bedroom.EQ3EQ3 is a contemporary home furnishing store that specializes in clean and functional designs. All products are customizable and are proudly manufactured within Canada (as much as possible). There are two Toronto locations: one on King Street East and the other on Hanna Ave. in Liberty Village.Au Lit Fine LinensAu Lit moved from Montreal into Mid-town Toronto 15 years ago in hopes of "changing the way you sleep." They import their fabrics from Portugal and hand sew their 100% cotton bedding within Canada. As a plus, all of their bedding can be customized in color and size (if your mattress is not a traditional measurement). Beddington'sBeddington's is open 7 days a week and sells an overwhelmingly large selection of quality bedding at affordable prices.
The store offers traditional sized bedding in solid colours, or if you fancy, bold patterns. Ethan AllenEthan Allen is an American company with over 300 design centres worldwide, including 8 in Canada. Most of their bedding is available in all sizes from twin to California king. They also offer a custom bedding program. It is not the most budget-friendly option, most duvets will set you back over $200. CB2CB2's exclusive products, self describe themselves as "affordable modern". Their bedding is made mostly in India and is relatively inexpensive. For example, linens start from $24.95 and go up to $269.00.AnthropologieAnthropologie House and Home offer high-end, beautifully designed bedding that reflects the store's signature look. Each product tells a story and delivers an exotic essence inspired by Mediterranean, bohemian, flare. These hippie-chic options are trendy, but will also cost you a pretty penny. What did I miss? Add your suggestions for mattress, beds and bedding stores in the comments.