What Do You Put Underneath a Latex Mattress?

February 10, 2023

If you're thinking of getting a new latex mattress, then you should consider getting a proper mattress foundation to go with it. The right mattress foundation can provide sturdy support while preventing your mattress from sagging, enhancing its lifespan.

What is a Mattress Foundation?

A mattress foundation is a support system that adequately supports your bed, providing a stable mattress base.

Why Get a Mattress Foundation?

Most beds need a compatible mattress foundation to provide a stable mattress base, and prevent them from sagging. Here are some reasons why you need to get a mattress foundation for your bed.

To Provide Sturdy Support

Even with a supportive mattress, getting a solid foundation can provide firmer support, helping you get a perfect night's sleep. It also provides the right balance of comfort and support that correctly aligns your spine with the rest of your body, helping you to rest comfortably.

In contrast, not using a proper mattress foundation can cause your body to sink in, forcing your spine out of alignment, and causing aches and pains and poor sleep quality.

To Increase the Lifespan of Your Mattress

All foam mattresses, like memory foam and latex mattresses, need solid foundations to retain their shape, and avoid sagging issues. A proper mattress foundation will adequately support the bed, increasing its lifespan.

To Keep the Mattress in Place

Sleeping on a mattress without a solid foundation can cause it to move around, disrupting your sleep. To get a good night's sleep, place the mattress over a solid mattress foundation that exactly fits the bed, keeping the bed in place.

To Maintain Mattress Hygiene

To keep your mattress clean and free from dust mites, molds, and other allergens, you must keep it elevated off the ground. Space below the bed also allows airflow that releases trapped body heat and moisture from the bed, improving your sleep hygiene.

To Elevate the Bed

While it's fine to put your new mattress directly on the floor, elevating it above ground can allow more ventilation, improving your sleep quality. Also, sleeping above the floor can keep dust mites and other insects away from your bed, keeping you allergy-free. It will also keep your mattress clean and hygienic for a long time.

A mattress foundation under your mattress can be a great way to elevate your bed above ground.

To Improve Ventilation

Most mattress foundation comes with metal or wooden slats, and a space below the bed to allow airflow, helping you sleep comfortably. The metal or wooden slats improve airflow by releasing trapped body heat and moisture.

To Keep the Mattress Warranty Valid

A mattress warranty can have guidelines regarding the type of mattress foundation that goes with the beds purchased. Not following the guidelines can invalidate the mattress warranty.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Mattress Foundation

Here are some factors you need to consider before getting a mattress foundation for your bed.

Mattress Type

You need to get a mattress foundation that best matches your mattress type. Most mattresses are available in the following types.

Latex Mattress

Latex mattresses are made from latex extract that is derived from the sap of a rubber tree. Latex mattresses are highly supportive and comfortable, and are excellent for sensitive and eco-conscious shoppers.

Natural Latex Mattress

Natural latex mattresses are built from 100% natural latex, and are known for their eco-friendly and hypoallergenic properties. They provide superior support and comfort, and are an excellent option for hot sleepers, thanks to their temperature-regulating properties.

Organic Latex Mattress

Organic latex mattresses are made from liquid latex extracted from rubber trees, grown sustainably, and free from harmful pesticides. The beds are then built using processes that are eco-friendly and free from synthetics, dyes, and other toxic chemicals.

If you want to purchase an organic latex mattress, you must consider the hybrid latex mattress from Eco Terra. The mattress is made in the USA using certified organic latex. It is free from chemicals, polyurethane, and other toxic materials, and comes with an organic cotton mattress cover to protect the mattress underneath.

Synthetic Latex Mattress

Synthetic latex mattresses can be an inexpensive way of experiencing the feel of a natural latex mattress. Although affordable, they are less eco-friendly or durable than natural latex beds.

Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses are made from polyurethane foam in the laboratory, and are known for their excellent body contouring, motion isolation, and pressure-relieving properties. Although memory foam mattresses can engulf your body, and provide a hugging quality, they often trap body heat, and are not great for hot sleepers.

Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses have a top memory foam or latex layer with a sturdy base, comprising steel coils, offering great supportive features.

Innerspring Mattress

Innerspring mattresses come with a top comfort layer, and need a box spring foundation that offers the required support. Innerspring mattresses are also the most affordable beds available on the market.

Mattress Size

Your mattress size shall affect your choice of the mattress foundation. Mattresses are available in the following sizes:

King Size Mattresses (76” X 80”)

It can help you share a bed with your partner with ample sleeping space.

California King Size Mattresses (72" X 84")

The California King beds offer more length than a standard King mattress, and are excellent for taller people.

Queen Size Mattresses (60" X 80")

The Queen size bed is most popular with couples, as they fit in most standard bedrooms, and has enough space to accommodate two people.

Full Size Mattress (54" X 75")

The Full mattress is best for growing teens who have outgrown their single Twin-sized mattress.

Twin Size Mattresses (38" X 75")

The Twin is great for kids and toddlers who need more room to grow.

Level of Support Needed

You need to invest in a good mattress foundation to get the optimum support while sleeping. The support required can vary depending on the body weight, sleeping position, and preference of the sleeper.

A heavier person would require firmer support than a lighter one. Also, sleeping positions can significantly affect your choice of the mattress foundation.

While a side sleeper would prefer a slatted bed that softens the mattress surface, allowing proper spine alignment, a back and stomach sleeper would like a firmer support from a solid platform foundation.

Mattress Height

Mattress foundations can elevate your bed, making it easier for you to get in and out of it. The optimum bed height is about 7 inches. A bed with a lower height would require you to crouch, while a higher bed would need you to climb up into the bed.

To get a platform bed frame of perfect height, measure the mattress foundation's height before setting it up in your room.

Movability

If you move around a lot, or like to change the aesthetic of your bedroom every couple of years, you need to invest in a good mattress foundation that is lightweight and easy to maneuver. Also, consider mattress foundations that are easy to assemble with little tools.

To improve the movability of your bed, consider getting a slatted bed that is lightweight, and made from eco-friendly materials.

Style or Aesthetics

A mattress foundation is a long-term investment that will serve you for a long time. Before investing in one, make sure that it goes with the overall look and aesthetics of your bedroom.

Besides having an exact fit with your mattress, your bed frame can have other features, like a headboard, footboards, and extra storage options.

Consider the material, construction, and type before choosing your perfect mattress foundation.

Floor Protection

It can be difficult to maneuver when you place your foundation and mattress directly on the floor. If you have expensive wooden flooring, or have lush carpeting on your bedroom floor, it is better to have a buffer between the mattress foundation and the floor.

You can get glides for the bed frames to protect and preserve the floor surface, while improving the aesthetics of the space.

Types of Mattress Foundations

Your bed frame or mattress foundation can significantly affect the look and feel of your mattress, affecting your perfect night's sleep. Mattress foundations are available in the following types.

Solid Platform Bed

A solid platform bed has a solid base, and is considered one of the sturdiest bed frames. Thanks to their superior support and durability, platform beds are great for supporting latex mattresses.

Other than their compact support, platform bed frames offer a stylish look that goes with most bedroom décor. They are great for those who prefer firmer support. Still, because of a rigid construction, platform beds restrict adequate airflow, trapping heat and moisture while you sleep.

Platform beds provide proper support without having to need a box spring or foundation for support. They are compatible with all mattress types.

Slatted Foundations

Slatted foundations have metal or solid wood slats across the bed, and are attached to a bed frame. The metal or wooden slats are spaced apart, allowing adequate airflow to help you sleep cool.

Because of their firmer support and better ventilation, slatted foundations are compatible with modern mattresses like memory foam, latex, and hybrid. The slatted foundation provides proper support that increases the lifespan of foam mattresses, while preventing sagging issues.

Box Springs

A box spring foundation typically has a wooden or metal framework with an upholstered cover. Although traditional box springs beds have steel coils that offer firmer support to the mattresses, the modern beds no longer have springs in them.

Box springs work well with traditional innerspring mattresses, but are unsuitable for modern mattresses made from latex, memory foam, or hybrid beds.

Can You Use a Box Spring with Natural Latex Mattresses?

Box springs typically sit under the bed, acting as shock absorbers to traditional mattresses. They have a lighter construction, and do not provide adequate support to the foam latex mattresses.

Metal Bed Frame

Metal bed frames are usually made from stainless steel or brass, and are used to keep the bed foundation in place. With metal bed frames, you would need a box spring or foundation to support a heavier mattress. Metal frames can add height to your bed, and can also be adjusted to fit varying bed sizes.

Wooden Bed Frames

Like metal bed frames, a wooden bed frame offers a softer eco-friendly option to keep your box spring or foundation in place. Wooden frames typically provide a more versatile look, and are compatible with all mattress types.

Metal Platform Beds

Metal platform beds offer firm support to heavier mattresses, and are great for heavier weighted sleepers. They also add height to the bed, and free up space below the bed for extra storage options.

Like wooden frames, metal platform beds are affordable, and can last long, helping you get a good night's sleep. They are compatible with memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses, providing firmer support, and preventing the sagging of the new mattress.

Adjustable Bed Frame

Most adjustable beds use modern bed frames that you can customize with a click of a button. You can alter the height and angle of the adjustable base via the remote control. It can be an excellent option for people:

• Suffering from back and neck pain
• Who have trouble sleeping because of sleep apnea, or acid reflux symptoms
• Suffering from snoring issues
• Wanting better blood circulation while sleeping

A memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattress can be suitable when used over an adjustable bed base. They are not compatible with innerspring mattresses.

Bunkie Board

Bunkie boards are great for children's beds and bunk beds. They offer minimal support without adding to the bed's height, and are popular with beds in smaller spaces.

Bunkie boards made from wooden boards covered in fabric offer a thin layer of support under the mattress. It typically sits about 2 inches in height, and you can use a box spring or a platform bed under it.

Bunkie boards are compatible with most mattress types.

The Best Bed Foundation for a Latex Mattress

You must invest in a suitable bed foundation if you have purchased a new latex mattress. Natural latex mattresses are susceptible to the type of mattress foundation used under them. Even the slat's thickness, material shape, and spacing can alter the comfort level provided by the mattresses.

To experience the maximum comfort and support from a latex foam mattress, you need to ensure the bed is placed on a premium quality bed foundation made from natural wood or metal to provide the required support.

It helps if you have a compatible bed frame that offers sturdy support to the foundation and the new mattress, providing you with an unmatched sleep experience.

To match the quality of a premium natural latex mattress, you can consider getting the Natural Wood Mattress Foundation from Eco Terra.

The solid wood mattress foundation is made in the USA from FSC-certified spruce wood and certified organic cotton, guaranteeing superior comfort and support.

The wooden foundation is eco-friendly, and has a natural look. It is highly durable, and easy to care for. It comes with slats with a 2" -2.5" gap that adequately supports a natural latex mattress.

The premium bed foundation is easy to assemble, and comes with a limited 10-year warranty.

The Best Bed Frame for a Latex Mattress

If you have purchased a natural latex mattress, and want a bed frame that can support the weight of the new mattress and a mattress foundation, you can consider the Quiet Balance Bed Frame from Eco Terra.

The bed frame comes with non-toxic fiberglass infused resin that offers superior noise absorption, helping you enjoy a noiseless sleeping experience.

The bed frame is made from a 100% recycled steel core, and has an 8" height, allowing adequate space for under bed storage. The increased height also allows proper air circulation for a cool night's sleep.

Takeaway

To get all the benefits of a premium latex mattress, you need to invest in a high quality mattress foundation underneath. A mattress foundation compatible with a latex mattress must provide a supportive mattress base to the natural latex bed, without compromising its comfort features.

Getting a compatible mattress foundation under your latex mattress will help you enjoy the good night's sleep you deserve.

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Also in Eco Terra's Healthy Sleep Blog