Mattress foundation: Everything you need to know!

What is a mattress foundation?

A mattress foundation is essentially the base of your bed. It is where you can place your mattress on instead of letting it simply lie on the floor. It is usually made of a wooden or metal frame. In addition, some versions have either springs or metal rods that provide additional support for your mattress.

In the majority of cases, the size of the mattress foundation is the same as your mattress. Some are also bigger which is usually connected to design rather than additional support. As you can imagine, a mattress foundation can’t be smaller than your mattress, though.

While the mattress itself provides support to the human body during the night, the mattress foundation does so for the mattress itself. This ensures a longer lifespan of the mattress, as well as additional comfort to you over the long run.

In addition, the mattress foundation also adds extra height to your mattress. This allows you to get in and out of bed much easier. This way, an additional shock is also absorbed when you get in and out of bed. It also reduces the wear of the mattress over a longer period of time.

If you are opting for a complete bed set, mattress foundations are placed on top of a wooden or metal bed frame. They are usually connected to the bed through the footboard or headboard.

However, it is also very common to use the mattress foundation without a bed frame. This is because many people do not see the importance of it. In fact, many associate a mattress frame more with design rather than additional support or comfort. This is why many choose to place their mattress foundations directly on the floor. Others may also opt to place them on casters than stand on the floor.

What is the point of a mattress foundation?

Mattress foundations are a common solution nowadays to support your mattress. A high-quality mattress foundation makes sure that your mattress structure stays intact. This allows the mattress to have a longer lifespan.

At best, always make sure to place a new mattress accordingly on a new mattress foundation. This is because the foundation will have adapted to your old mattress. This is especially true if you have had the same combination over many years. In fact, some manufacturers have chosen to create unique and individual mattress foundations to compliment a specific mattress. This is why we recommend purchasing both a mattress and mattress foundation at the same time. This way, rest assured that you will be able to get a good night’s sleep.

The type of foundation you need varies depending on what type of mattress you have. In the next section, we will explain the three different options you have.

What different types of mattress foundations are there?

It is very easy to be confused here. The reason usually is that a purchase of both a mattress and mattress foundation occur only a few times in one’s life.

In addition, the industry itself tends to add to the confusion. As it turns out, many (even larger) brands use these terms interchangeably. This should not be the case and will hopefully change in the near future. Now, let’s get to the different mattress foundations, shall we?

Generally speaking, you will have three different options available to you. There are more out there, like foam mattress foundations. However, we will only look at the most common ones in this article. The first option you have is a foundation. This is the most common type and is mostly also made of wood. The second is a box spring, which is basically a wooden box which contains springs or coils of steel. The third and final option is a so-called platform. A platform is also made of wood and is (as the name states) a platform for your bed which does not require a foundation or box spring.

Now, let us have a more detailed look into the differences between them, shall we?

Mattress foundation - the most common of the three

This is the most common and popular among the three options. A mattress foundation is a strong and flat structure made of wood. In addition, it also has a corrugated board placed up top which is flat. Although the majority of them are constructed solely of wood, you may also find some with metal in them.

As with any of the three options, a mattress foundation is designed to support the mattress on top. However, if you have opted for a good mattress foundation, there are added benefits. These added benefits include more comfort and support even for the human body.

A mattress foundation is great for many different variations of mattresses. This includes latex mattresses, innerspring, memory foam and airbed mattresses. The reason for this is because it is a great option to prevent the mattress from sagging over a longer period of time.

However, there is a special type of mattress which does not sag or lump - regardless of how long you have it. We will get to the best mattress at the very end of this article. For now, let’s continue with a detailed explanation of a box spring!

Box spring - the best option for innerspring mattresses

A box spring is the second option you have. It is made of wood and consists of many steel springs and coils. These springs and coils form a grid pattern within the box spring. They are usually used for innerspring mattresses. The reason for this is that the coils and springs inside the box spring provide additional “give”. They were the standard mattress foundation type until about 20 years ago. Nowadays, the majority opt for mattress foundations directly.

This is where the interchangeability of the term comes in. The issue is that many people and brands are still accustomed to this term. This is why many have the tendency to use the words mattress foundation and box spring interchangeably. There is a big difference between them, and it is important to know them if you are looking to buy one of them!

Platform bed - the cost-effective solution

A platform bed is the simplest of all three options. It is essentially a piece of furniture which looks like a board. They are designed for those that feel no need for a mattress foundation nor a box spring. Instead, you place your mattress directly on the platform itself. Many may know the platform beds made from wooden container palettes. This is very modern nowadays and is also a very cheap option.

Platform beds are usually made of wood. They offer a great and sturdy surface for the mattress to lie on. There are many wooden slats that run across them, which adds to the support. This is why palettes are a perfect low-cost option if you are looking for a DIY platform bed.

In fact, you can also simply use a flat piece of strong wood. This would add even more support in comparison to having the mattress lie on slats.

However, if you do have slats, please make sure that they are not more than a few inches apart. Otherwise, it is advisable to add a so-called micro-foundation under them. This will add additional support to the platform bed. In turn, you will also decrease the chances of your mattress sagging or lumping over time.

Also, always make sure that the center of the platform bed has enough support if you are building one yourself. If you are sleeping alone on a two-person mattress, one side may also require more support than the other.

Which type of mattress foundation is best for my type of mattress?

As mentioned above, that truly depends on what kind of mattress you have.

Foam mattress foundations are usually designed to support foam mattresses. They are great in distributing weight evenly across the mattress. Generally speaking, one should not use box springs in combination with foam mattresses. This also applies to memory foam mattresses. Platform beds with slats are a decent option if you have a memory foam mattress, but the slats should definitely not be too wide apart. At most, the slats should not exceed being 8 inches apart from one another.

Mattresses which have steel coils or springs in them require a firmer mattress foundation. Box springs are also not ideal here as this combination may result in premature sagging. However, there are special types of box spring mattresses specifically designed for coil and spring mattresses. These will then make sure to provide better “give” for the spring and coil mattresses. This will result in higher comfort levels for the human body.

You will also find some options with an adjustable base. The adjustable base will allow you to adjust the elevation of your head and feet. These are great if you are looking for a foundation that is able to adjust to your specific wishes. These will work best with foam, spring, coil and air mattresses.

A box spring will provide a cushioning feeling. This is especially true if you have a firm mattress. This is because the springs within a box spring absorb the stiffness. As mentioned above, the best option here is to use coil and spring mattresses. However, please make sure that they are specifically designed for this type of mattress. A normal (and mostly cheaper) box spring may disappoint you otherwise. At best, you should also find some in-store consultation from the experts. Here is a store finder which may help you with this!

Last but not least, we have the platform beds. This type of foundation can be used for any type of mattress. It is also the most cost-effective ones for those who are looking to build one themselves. They provide stability and strong support. Regardless if you buy or build one yourself, they often come with an added benefit. They are often equipped with built-in storage room. The disadvantage of platform beds is that it does not provide near to any “give”. This, however, is all based on subjective comfort!

Which of them is the all-time winner? A mattress foundation, box spring or a platform bed?

This is very difficult to determine as it depends on two factors. The first is the type of mattress you are sleeping on. The second is comfort, which is subjective to a certain degree. We highly advise you to visit a store and try them out for yourself.

Although comfort may be subjective, it is only so up to a certain degree. Imagine this: the majority of people around the world will agree that sleeping on a stone is uncomfortable. If you flip the coin around, Vita Talalay latex has an extremely high customer satisfaction rate.

Vita Talalay latex

If you are looking for a new mattress in combination with a new mattress foundation, Vita Talalay latex is worth looking into. It is the healthy choice among all the different comfort materials.

Vita Talalay latex is produced solely with natural materials. The main ingredient is natural latex which comes from responsible and fair sources.

The final product itself also comes with numerous health benefits. It begins with the fact that it is soft and supportive - which is usually a paradox in the industry. It is also hypoallergenic, highly breathable and lets you sleep cool in summer and warm in winter.

If you would like to know more about Vita Talalay latex mattresses, simply click here! We also offer latex mattress toppers and latex pillows.

At Vita Talalay, we do not say “sleep well”. We say, “sleep healthy”!