Throughout our days we encounter a wide variety of choices. Do we drink coffee or tea? Do we buy a PC or a laptop? Do we invest in stocks or bonds? While some decisions have minor consequences, others can significantly influence our lives. In fact, even the type of mattress that you choose can significantly influence the outcome of your day.

Historically, modern beds have included a “box spring,” with a mattress atop it. The concept is that certain springs compress when you shift your weight onto them while getting some shut-eye, and then decompress after you shift your weight again. While this can certainly improve the quality of your sleep, one simple fact may shock you.

The majority of “box springs” actually lack the springs! Thus, they’re essentially a wood-framed box with a fabric exterior. This has resulted in manufacturers focusing on the mattress itself. The innovations you can find in modern mattresses include:

  • air
  • foam
  • innerspring
  • memory foam
  • water

So is a box spring necessary? Not particularly, as long as you place the mattress or mattresses atop a hard surface. Besides a box spring, you could simply use a bed frame or even the ground itself. So the next question is: if a box spring isn’t absolutely necessary, does it provide any benefits?

In fact, a box spring indeed can provide sleepers with a few benefits. They increase the bed’s overall height and they make the overall firmness of the bed softer. However, this isn’t particularly the most effective method for creating a taller or softer bed.

A better option is to create a sleep system that includes a memory foam mattress as the “topper.” How does this function? The top layer includes the Memory Foam Layer. This is what provides the sleeper with a unique sleeping experience. The middle Base Foam Layer supports the top layer and helps to distribute your weight uniformly across the bed’s surface. Finally, the bottom Platform Layer supports the top Memory Foam Layer and prevents the top two layers from sagging.

However, the essence of this sleep system is in the memory foam mattress itself. The mattress’ “memory” is found in numerous tiny bubbles that comprise the foam. The bubbles of this “open-cell” foam contain even tinier holes in them. So here’s what happens. When you shift your weight while lying on the mattress, the bubbles release air like a sponge releases water when you squeeze it.

The result is that the foam “remembers” where you’re sleeping. Perhaps a better verb would be that it “learns” how your body is situated, and then conforms itself in order to support it. Ultimately, this results in your body becoming more relaxed and your getting a better night’s sleep. When you need to prepare for the next day, that’s a good thing!

So do you need a box spring for your bed? It’s an option, but not a particularly viable one due to the limited number of benefits that it provides. Consider a memory foam mattress if you want to truly spring into sleep.

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