Mattress Buying Guide

Clipping coupons is one thing, but scrimping on sleep is another. Recent studies reveal that most Americans don’t get the eight hours of sleep they need at night to perform during the day- and most are lucky to get six, says the National Sleep Foundation.

Research shows that constant tossing and turning is one of the leading inhibitors of a sound sleep and the problem often stems from the uncomfortable pressure points created by a mattress, which automatically trigger the restless movements that disrupt sleep.

Consumers are becoming increasingly willing to invest in specialty products that promise peaceful dreams, and many manufacturers are designing mattresses with technology to answer this growing need. The newest mattress from Sealy, for example, features a new Smart Latex technology that is inspired by nature’s rubber tree to conform perfectly to the body, hugging every arch and curve, offering a unique and individualized level of support.

Beyond the changing shape of today’s mattresses, many include added attention in the fibers to promote air flow and breathability, two factors that cool the body and promote a more soothing night’s sleep. In addition to bed linens and pillows, mattresses have also joined the ranks of hypoallergenic products. With this convergence of comfort and technology, mattresses are no longer a simple equation of box springs and foam, but instead, a critical means to health and well-being. Consumers are beginning to think of beds like other major home investments-from cars to computers to home entertainment systems.

According to the Specialty Sleep Association, specialty bedding-such as mattresses made with superior latex technology- will make up 40 percent of the retail industry by 2011. Sleep systems that include patented pressure relief systems are designed to target the areas most prone to pressure, including the shoulders, hips and knees.

The newest mattresses feature technology that adapts to the body for a cool and comfortable sleep.

What’s the most time-consuming thing you do, day in and day out, every day of your life? Eating? I hope not. Sitting in traffic? Ditto. Watching TV? Nope. It’s sleeping.

You spend between six and 10 hours a night in bed. That’s one-third of your life. And when it comes to back pain, those are some of the most important hours in your day.

Sleep helps your body heal. It’s really the only time your muscles can completely rest and recover. There are a ton of studies linking sleep with healing. They show that, among other things, human growth hormone and melatonin, both of which play a big role in tissue recovery and immunity, are produced during sleep.

So if you’re not getting good sleep-whether it’s due to pain, anxiety, fear or whatever-you’re not giving your muscles, especially your back muscles, time to rejuvenate themselves for the next day’s activities.

Believe me, I know. In my struggles with all kinds of pain over the years, I’ve come to understand first-hand the importance of restful sleep. In this article, I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned.

What’s the Best Mattress

Is firm better than soft? From a physiological standpoint, a more supportive mattress is better regardless of what sleep position you prefer.

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The Dormia line by Classic Sleep Products, a leading innovator in the design and marketing of specialty mattresses and bedding, announced that it is set to merge its line of budget-friendly visco mattresses with their compressible mattresses and hinged foundations in a three-mattress collection ($699-$1,599) debuting at Las Vegas market.

“Consumers and retailers alike are looking for the best value in sleep during these challenging economic times,” said Michael Zippelli, president and CEO of Classic Sleep Products. “Our velocity-priced visco mattresses along with the ability to offer a mass shipping option, allows us to address current market needs.”

The new promotionally priced line is comprised of The Classic , Ultra and The Celebration. Each is made of visco elastic memory foam and offers orthopedic support with a high-performance base. The Classic is an 8-inch profile visco and the Ultra is 10-inch. The top of the line Celebration is a 14-inch profile pillow top with three layers of memory foam.

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John and Valarie Feaster like contemporary decor and used a lot of it in their previous home in Fresno.

But when they recently bought and restored a 100-year-old Colonial Revival-style house, “we kind of switched” because of the house’s age, says John Feaster, a retired dentist.

They bought many of the home’s original furniture pieces and fixtures, and brought out some antique items they had in storage.

But at least one contemporary item found its way into their home.

While not the same platform bed they had at their former house, the Feasters went with another platform bed in their new home.

They opted for an Asiantheme bedroom with a custom-made platform bed as the centerpiece.

“At the turn of the century, that was what was popular,” says Feaster, noting the Asian appeal of the room.

If you slept on a bunk bed, especially in the top bunk, you’ve experienced platform beds, which typically don’t have box springs. Some people have been introduced to the platform concept via futons.

Platform beds often are sleek, low and make a design statement. And with many styles of platform beds to pick from, finding one that catches your eye probably won’t be difficult. If you have a taste for modern decor, a platform bed is an essential piece when putting together a bedroom.

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Mealey’s Furniture & Mattress, the family-run group of stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, known for “Same Day, Every Day” delivery service, announced that it has opened its newest and largest store, in Warminster, PA.

Mealey’s is donating a portion of profits from every sale at all of its stores during July and August in support of the American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter’s new Service to Military Families program. The Emerson family, of Churchville, PA, sought the Red Cross’ help because their son, 19-year-old Stephen Emerson, would soon be deployed to Iraq. With both his father Bob and sister Julie facing multiple surgeries for two different kids of cancers, Harriette Emerson needed her son’s support and assistance. The Service to Military Families program enabled Stephen to return home for a week to be with his family while they recovered, providing care and comfort for the entire family. Stephen returned to his base and returned home again last month to be with his dad as he faced yet another surgery. Although Bob and Julie are doing well, they continue to aggressively fight their cancers heroically.

Additionally, Mealey’s is providing furnishings for the new Service to Military Families Center, which will open in a few weeks in Levittown, and Mealey’s customers coming to all four stores will have the opportunity later this summer to donate supplies for soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to wounded warriors recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.

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