Why Should I Consider a Wood Mattress Foundation?

January 25, 2023

While getting a new mattress from a premium brand can provide comfort, you need a sturdy foundation to protect your mattress, and provide adequate support to take your sleep to the next level.

What is a Mattress Foundation?

A mattress foundation, also known as a bed frame, is a bed base that supports your mattress while adding height to your bed. The base can be a box spring or a solid or slated mattress foundation that ensures that your mattress does not sag, sink, or slide under your weight over time.

Mattress Foundation vs. Bed Frame

While terms like mattress foundation and bed frames can be used interchangeably, they differ slightly.

A bed frame is a decorative portion of the bed, and includes a headboard, footboard, and side panels. It consists of a foundation that provides mattress support.

A bed frame can be optional, if you have adequate support from a foundation. However, you will need a bed frame where the mattress is supported by a slatted mattress foundation that is attached to the bed frame.

Benefits of a Mattress Foundation

Getting a mattress foundation can offer you the following benefits:

Preserves Your Mattress's Life

Even though a new mattress will eventually sag with time, investing in a mattress foundation can support your bed to preserve its life.

Adds Height to the Bed

If your bed is too close to the ground, making getting in and out of bed difficult, a mattress foundation can elevate your bed up to 16 inches.

The added height can increase the space between the bed and the floor, allowing increased airflow, and helping you sleep cooler. The increased space can also be used as a storage option.

Improves Airflow

Improved airflow can release trapped body heat, allowing you to sleep comfortably. Bed foundations often have slats with spaces in between that allow better air circulation that regulates body temperature, allowing you to sleep cool.

Keeps Your Mattress Clean

A bed foundation keeps your bed elevated above the floor, protecting it from dust and insects. Some bed foundations come with a cotton cover that keeps the mattress surface free from dust and grime, and maintains your mattress in the long run.

Provides Adequate Support

A supportive bed base can adequately support the weight of your mattress, increasing its durability, and improving your sleep.

Prevents Mattress Slippage

A proper bed foundation would keep your mattress from sliding, especially if you toss and turn during the night.

Mattress Foundation Sizes

To enjoy the maximum benefits, you must buy a mattress foundation that fits your bed. An ill-fitting foundation can make your mattress stick out, or not provide the desired support.

Most foundations available on the market come in the following sizes.

King Size (76” X 80”)

A King size foundation can support king beds that are perfect for couples looking for more space. Before investing in a king bed for your bedroom, you must consider your room size.

California King Size (72" X 84")

A California King foundation offers more length than a standard King size foundation. It is an excellent option for people over 6 feet tall.

Queen Size (60" X 80")

Queen size bed foundations are the most popular options, as they suit most couples, and fit any standard bedroom. It will also leave enough floor space around the bed to help you move around.

Full Size (54” X 75”)

A Full size bed, also known as a Double bed, is great for teens who have grown out of their Twin beds. They offer more space to a single sleeper, but can be restricting for couples.

Twin Size (38" X 75")

A Twin size bed is excellent for kids and toddlers who have grown out of their cribs. They offer plenty of floor space around the bed.

What are the Types of Mattress Foundations?

Mattress foundations are available in the following types:

Solid Foundation

Solid foundations offer great support, and are best suited for both foam and hybrid mattresses. They come in a wooden box with wooden slats placed across it. Solid foundations typically come with wooden boards without gaps, providing superior support to all foam mattresses.

Adjustable Foundation

Adjustable bed frames come with flexible features that help customize your bed to your desired sleeping position. The modern bed frames have an adjustable base that can be lowered or elevated to relieve back, shoulder, hip, or neck pain.

It is an excellent option for flexible mattresses like latex, memory foam, and some hybrids. It makes getting in and out of bed easier.

Adjustable foundations can also relieve sleepers suffering from health problems like sleep apnea, snoring, acid reflux, and fibromyalgia.

Platform Bed Frame

Platform beds offer low-profile support, and are compact with a simplistic look. Usually, platform beds come with a decorative headboard, mattress foundation, and bed frame.

Platform beds support all mattresses, and typically have rows of wooden slats to support and maintain better airflow. They can also come with ample under bed storage options.

Box Spring Foundation

Traditional box spring foundations are suitable for older beds, like innerspring mattresses. Typically, a box spring foundation consists of a spring coil base encased in wood frames.

The steel coils in the box spring foundation provide sturdy support, while acting as a shock absorber. The gaps in the steel coils promote airflow, helping you sleep better.

You must not use latex mattresses, memory foam beds, or hybrid mattresses with a box spring mattress foundation, as the inner steel spring can damage the mattress over time.

Modern box spring mattresses come in the form of a metal or wooden box that is open on all sides, and covered with a cloth. They do not provide much support, but can add to the bed height.

Mattress Foundation vs. Box Springs

While mattress foundation and box spring add height to your bed, and adequately support your mattress, a mattress foundation is typically used with modern beds made from latex or memory foam. A box spring is traditionally used to support your innerspring beds.

Unlike mattress foundations, a box spring is typically inexpensive, and lighter in weight. The spring coils in a box spring can easily break, making it a less durable option.

Metal Frame Foundation

Metal bed frames are fitted with elevated legs, and can provide better height than all other bed foundations. Metal frames are solid and sturdy, while giving superior support to your mattresses.

Metal bed frames can be adjusted to fit a few bed sizes, if you need to change your bed from Queen to Full size, and can provide support with extra storage space. Metal frames are inexpensive, but need a box spring or other support, as the perimeter of the foundation does not allow support on its own.

Bunkie Boards

Bunkie boards are supportive mattress foundations made from a single piece of wood or metal. They can have wooden or metal slats covered by the fabric.

Although bunkie boards were initially made from plywood or particle boards, the higher-end versions use wooden chips or strips for increased durability and support.

Bunkie beds provide support, without adding on the height of the bed, and are excellent for bunk beds and children's beds.

Slatted Foundation

A slatted mattress foundation has wooden planks or metal beams placed across the bed frame, and attached to the sides of the bed. The bed slats can come individually, or be connected in a series of planks to support the bed frame.

Bed slats help support the mattress, and prevent it from slipping or sagging over time. It is inexpensive, easy to install, and can be replaced if broken. However, bed slats do not add height to the bed, and need to be correctly attached to the bed frame, or they can fall, leaving parts of the mattress unsupported.

Wood Slats vs. Metal Slats

While wooden slats are lightweight, easy to install, and less expensive than metal slats, they can bend over time, or even break under a person's weight, primarily if used for a long time. In such cases, your mattress can develop indentations, and sag in places.

In contrast, metal slats are durable, and do not bend easily like wood slats. Some metal slats can be adjusted to exactly fit your bed frame.

Why do You Need Bed Slats?

Metal or wood slats can support your bed frame, and increase the lifespan of your mattress by preventing sagging issues. They also keep the mattress in place, while the gaps between the slatted bed allow airflow, releasing body heat, and helping you sleep comfortably.

How Far Apart Must Wood Slats Be?

To provide adequate support, Bed slats must not be kept too far apart. This is especially true for latex or memory foam mattresses, which tend to sag with time. Typically bed slats must be kept no more than 2.75 inches apart to provide adequate support, while maintaining proper airflow.

What Mattress is Best for a Slatted Foundation?

Most mattresses work fine with a slatted foundation. Both metal and wood slats provide superior support, while allowing ventilation, helping you sleep cool.

How to Choose a Mattress Foundation?

You can choose a mattress foundation after considering the following factors.

Based on Mattress Types

Mattress types play a crucial role in selecting the perfect bed foundation.

Latex Mattresses

Latex foam mattresses are made from rubber sap, extracted from rubber trees. The latex foam used in building latex mattresses makes it an eco-friendly option that is excellent for sensitive sleepers.

Like all foam mattresses, latex foam beds need a supportive mattress base to prevent sagging. You can get a solid mattress foundation, platform bed, or slatted foundation for supporting your latex mattress. For a slatted base, ensure the wood or metal slats are no more than 3 inches apart.

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory foam mattresses are made from softer polyurethane foam that needs a more supportive mattress foundation to retain its shape for a long time. You can get a platform bed, solid foundation, or slatted foundation to keep your memory foam bed in place.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are commonly supported by box spring foundations. They have a supportive base layer of steel coils with a top layer made from memory foam for comfort.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid mattresses like the Hybrid Latex Mattress from Eco Terra have a supportive fabric-encased coil core with a top layer of certified organic latex foam, all enveloped in a soft, breathable organic cotton cover.

A hybrid bed will need a platform bed, slatted foundation, or a solid foundation to be adequately supported.

Budget

Traditional mattress foundations can cost anywhere between $200 to $500, with the affordable ones being metal foundations and bunkie boards.

Fancier foundations like adjustable bed frames can cost more than your mattress, but it's worth the investment.

Durability

Durability is a crucial factor when shopping for a mattress foundation. While box springs are not durable, and can tear and rupture in the long run, modern platform beds with solid or slatted foundations can last for a long time.

Assembly Requirements

Some mattress foundations can come pre-assembled, while others may need a lot of time and effort to set up. If you move a lot, you should invest in a foundation that is easy to move and assemble.

Style Preference

Mattress foundations are a long-term investment that will adorn your bedroom for a long time. Before investing in one, consider the kind of look that will make you feel peaceful, and improve your sleep quality.

Warranty

Some mattress warranties can get voided if you do not use a mattress foundation under the bed. In other cases, using a mattress foundation incompatible with your mattress type can negate your mattress warranty.

Read your mattress warranty to check whether the mattress manufacturer recommends the foundation you purchase.

Sleep Alone or With a Partner

Before getting a mattress foundation, consider if you are sleeping alone, or sharing your bed with a partner. In the latter case, if you and your partner have different sleep preferences, you can get an adjustable bed frame with a split foundation to use mattresses of varying thicknesses.

Aches, Pains, and Sleep Disorders

People suffering from aches and pains can go for firmer mattresses that adequately support their body weight. A sturdy platform foundation can be a suitable option to support a firmer mattress.

Also, getting an adjustable bed frame can help you adjust the head and foot of the bed, allowing you to sleep comfortably, and preventing sleep apnea and pain issues

Room Size

Bed frames with headboards and footboards can take up a lot of floor space, while a solid foundation can provide a more compact look. Consider your room size before investing in a mattress foundation.

Weight Limits

Some bed frames have weight limits. A box spring, a mattress, and your body weight can exceed the bed frame's weight limit, causing damage. Make sure to consider the weight restriction before taking home a mattress foundation.

Preferred Height

As you get in and out of bed regularly, getting a foundation with a comfortable height makes it easier for you to do so.

While a higher foundation may require you to climb into bed, a lower foundation can make you squat while getting in the bed.

Commonly, a mattress foundation with a height of 8.5 inches is comfortable for most people.

Why Consider a Wood Mattress Foundation From Eco Terra?

If you are looking for a mattress foundation that is made from certified eco-friendly materials, and is easy to assemble, you must consider the wooden mattress foundation from Eco Terra.

The Natural Wood Mattress Foundation from Eco Terra is made in the USA from FCS-certified natural spruce solid wood, and slats known for their durability, easy care, and natural look. The wood slats are 2-2.5 inches apart, providing adequate support, while preventing the mattress from sagging over time. The foundation is eco-friendly, and comes with a stretch-knit, GOTS-certified organic cotton cover to provide comfort with support.

If you want a sustainable and natural latex hybrid mattress compatible with your high-quality mattress foundation, you can choose the Hybrid Latex Mattress from Eco Terra.

Takeaway

A mattress foundation can be a great way to complement the support and comfort of your dream mattress. Invest in a mattress foundation of your choice to experience an unparalleled sleeping experience.

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Also in Eco Terra's Healthy Sleep Blog