Ask Sofa Bed Guy – Mattress and Restful Sleep

Most people think that a restful sleep is dependent just on the mattress. This cannot be further from the truth and this misunderstanding usually ends up in a costly regret when the consumer brings home the mattress and sleeps on it. One of two things can happen – bearing with the lack of satisfaction until one cannot bear it any longer thereafter, replacing it or rectifying the mistake and making the change immediately. In any case, without the right sleep system combination, a restful, comfortable and supportive sleep cannot be achieved. It is important to keep this in mind when buying beds, mattresses or even a convertible sofa bed. Adding a mattress topper can be a solution but most likely, it will only be a short-term solution as it does not achieve what is needed for the long term. 

A restful sleep is actually a function of (1) Mattress and (2) Mattress Base. The combination of both works to provide (a) comfort and (b) support which results in a restful sleep. 

 

 

1. The Mattress

Mattresses come in many variants – in various thickness, padding (quilting), cushioning system and quality. Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages. A listing of the most 

popular mattresses are listed below. 

Memory Foam / Gel Infused Memory Foam  

The hype of Memory Foam which was used in the Space Program leads people to believe that this is the best and offers the most comfort. Some people take to it, but some people just simply dislike it. Here’s why. 

PROs 

• Memory Foam molds on to the body as this is how it adapts to body heat. Some people feel that this “embedded” feel provides a comforting feeling. The feeling of being embedded and stuck is a unique characteristic of Memory Foam. 

CONs 

• Cost - Expensive 

• Heavy 

• Some feel “stuck” and have to exert effort to change position because of the “embedded” feeling. 

Polyurethane (High Density) Foam  

Polyurethane Foam (PU Foam) is a solid block of foam and depending on the density, comes in various combinations of thickness and bounce back. PU Foam is a practical and cost effective 

alternative – a high-density variant can provide comfort and support with it not being too thick and heavy. 

PROs 

• Cost effective 

• With the right density, provides a good mix of comfort and support 

• Durable 

CONs

• Without the proper density (choose High Density for a bit more in price), it may not provide adequate comfort and support 

 

 

Air Bladder + PU Foam 

Popularized by the Sleep Number ads, this is a good combination as the density (firmness or 
softness) of the mattress can be adjusted according to the sleeper’s preference. It is quite 
expensive and a replacement when the air bladder or air pump breaks can be a costly repair. 

PROs 

• Customizable sleep experience 

CONs 

• Expensive 

• Costly repairs 

Coil Springs 

This is a popular choice because of price; however, it has a tendency to feel lumpy (depending 

on the number of coil springs) and may squeak. 

PROs 

• Light weight 

• Inexpensive 

CONs 

• Depending on the number and quality of the coil springs, may feel lumpy 

• May squeak 

Air Mattress 

A practical alternative as it is easily transportable. The latest evolution to a sleeping bag. 

Depending on the quality and how it holds air pressure, in general, it is just a short-term solution. 

PROs 

• Lightweight 

• Inexpensive 

CONs 

• Lacking in Comfort 

• Lacking in Support 

 

2. Mattress Base – Solid Bed Frame and Slatted Bed Frame

The main purpose of the Mattress Base is to provide support to the mattress and also to elevate the mattress off the floor. While the base can simply be a box the shape of the mattress, it can also have slats and serve as a platform leaving an under-bed space. A variation of the platform is one with bent slats that also provide additional resiliency to the mattress. This design is common in European made models and in a truly comfortable sofa bed. It is superior as its resiliency provides effective additional support. 

Solid Mattress Base 

This is simply a box that elevates the mattress from the floor. 

PROs 

• Inexpensive 

CONs 

• Unless designed with drawers, there is no underbed space. 

Slatted Mattress Base 

Depending on the design, it serves its purpose while freeing up under-bed space. Better designed ones have slats to prop up the mattress and provide additional and effective support. 

PROs 

• Depending on model, provides effective additional sleep support 

• Frees up under-bed space 

CONs 

• Costlier than a traditional mattress base 

 

3. Convertible Sofa Beds

While the above relates to buying a traditional bed and mattress, many modern households with space constraints may look to buy a small space sofa bed. When choosing the best sofa bed, there are additional considerations regarding the mattress and mattress base.  

In the case of a convertible sofa bed, the ease with which the sofa is converted to a bed must be a priority. The factors affecting the ease include the thickness and weight of the mattress and the material of the mattress base. Too light and it will feel flimsy, too heavy means it will require more effort to convert to a bed and back to a sofa. 

 

 

General Takeaways 

Here are some things to look out for when searching for a comfortable sofa bed with a good mattress base: 

1. A mechanism with a non-woven support system held together by springs often does not provide enough support for the mattress.

2. Others use a ridged platform which does not provide enough give.

For mattresses, we recommend searching for a most acceptable density of high resilience polyurethane foam to provide a neither too soft nor too hard feel but rather a generally acceptable feel – similar to that of a better-quality hotel bed. Our offerings at sofabedstore.com (check out our featured collection) are from a process of over a decade of perfecting mattress density. 

Our sofa bed mechanism which takes the place of a mattress base can either be one which is constructed of European birch wood with a center support to prevent the transfer of motion from the left to the right or vice versa or a solid steel wire mesh. Both provide substantial resistance for up to 600 lb. After years of testing, we can honestly claim that our sofa bed is one that sits like a sofa but more importantly sleeps like a bed. 

In conclusion, whether on a traditional bed or convertible sofa bed, a restful sleep can only be achieved with the correct combination of the mattress and mattress base. Depending on one’s preference, the cushioning material of the mattress and the thickness have to be considered so a good combination can be achieved – just the right amount of comfort, weight and support. Depending on the mattress, the mattress base has to serve its purpose to provide proper support and posture.