Do I order a softer mattress if I'm putting it onto slats?
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The person in the Vispring showroom said that the mattress will feel firmer on the floor and on a bed with slats compared to how it will feel a proper box spring divan. We have a bed with slats. Does this mean we should get a soft spring mattress instead of medium spring to affect the same support and comfort? Both of us are average height and weight.
My husband is 13 stone and a side sleeper; I'm 10 stone and sleep on my back. Thank you.
Hi Gina,
Thanks for your question about slatted bases, mattresses and how a Vispring will feel on different bed bases. You can see which of our models compare to Vispring here as a reference point.
The quick answer is no you don't need to change the spring tension of the mattress for slats. Although a slatted base will firm up the overall feel of a mattress the difference is subtle. It's only if you've always had a sprung edged divan - a base that contains springs that you would notice a difference.
Choosing the correct mattress spring tension is vital and often picked by mistake. To be clear - the spring tension of a mattress soft/medium/firm 1.2/1.4/1.6 should be selected based only on the bodyweights of the sleepers. See the table below.
| Spring Tension | Wire diameter (Gauge) | Weight Range |
|---|---|---|
| Soft | 1.2mm | Bespoke Tension (Please Call) |
| Medium | 1.4mm | Upto 16 stone |
| Firm | 1.6mm | 16 stone plus |
| Extra Firm / Orthopaedic | 1.9mm | 20 stone plus |
It's the upholstery or comfort layers of a mattress that provides the overall comfort and true 'feel' of a mattress. Ie if you want a softer mattress you should pick natural fibres that are softer compared to more supportive fibres. There's a table below to help you choose.
| Upholstery Layer | Fibre Type | How it will feel? | Price Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyester | Synthetic | Soft | Cheap |
| White Fibre | Synthetic | Soft/Medium | Cheap |
| Recycled Fibre / Eco Fibre | Synthetic | Medium | Cheap |
| Memory Foam | Synthetic | Medium/Firm | Mid Price |
| Igel / Hybrid Foam | Synthetic | Medium/Firm | Mid Price |
| Polycotton | Synthetic/Natural Blend | Soft/Medium | Mid Price |
| Linen | Synthetic/Natural Blend | Medium | Mid Price |
| Wool (Pure) | Natural | Soft/Medium | High-End |
| Cotton (Pure) | Natural | Soft | High-End |
| Silk | Natural | Soft | Expensive |
| Horsehair | Natural | Medium | High-End |
| Mohair | Natural | Medium/Firm | High-End |
| Hemp | Natural | Medium | High-End |
| Latex (100% Natural) | Natural | Medium/Firm | High-End |
| Coir | Natural | Firm | High-End |
| Flax | Natural | Firm | High-End |
| Coarse Cashmere | Natural | Firm | High-End |
| Bamboo | Natural | Super Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Horsetail | Natural | Firm | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Alpaca | Natural | Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Cashmere (Pure) | Natural | Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
| Vicuna | Natural | Super Soft | Expensive / Exclusive |
We hope that helps and gives you further mattress buying guidance. If you have any more mattress related questions please get back in touch on info@localhost or 0161 437 4419.
Sleep well
John & Ryan
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