In today’s hyper-competitive mattress industry, companies are quick to sell you on their mattresses benefits and how all their bells and whistles add up to “the one” mattress that you just can’t resist. There is so much focus on the mattress itself, which makes some sense, but almost no one is talking about another really important component of your bed – your foundation. Much like the foundation of your home, if the foundation of your bed is inadequate, it doesn’t really matter how great your mattress is.
Let’s first talk about going foundation-free. Some beds today are designed to be used with the mattress right on top of a set of slats that sit horizontally across the bed. If these slats are adequately spaced and you are of average weight or below, this scenario might work just fine for you. If you’re planning to use a latex mattress directly on slats, understand that if the spacing is more than 2”-3” apart, your mattress will begin to break down prematurely because of the opportunity to sag into the spaces.
You might like the look of going sleek and foundation-free but prefer the extra peace of mind and support that a foundation offers. In this case, we suggest a low-profile foundation, like the one offered here in a 5.5” depth. These solid wood foundations can support up to 1500lbsand are approved for memory foam and latex mattress use, designed with slats to be placed no more than 3” apart. If you need the height, an 8” foundation is available as well.
For those that need to sleep in an elevated position – for health or comfort reasons – an adjustable base is the way to go. Using an adjustable base doesn’t mean you have to break the bank or compromise on your bed’s fashion. Your basic adjustable foundations can be used with a standard headboard/foot board configuration start at well under $1000 (like this one). If you’re looking at the other end of the spectrum, you can get all the bells and whistles in an adjustable like the Prodigy 2.0 by leggett & platt. This one will set you back over $1500, but offers full body massage, under-bed lighting, USB ports and can be controlled by your smartphone.
If you’re unsure which type of foundation would be best for you, our customer service team is happy to help you figure out your best option. We know from experience that if you are sleeping on the wrong foundation, you might blame your mattress for being uncomfortable and that isn’t always the case.
