January 10, 2022 8 min read

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

The mattress world has changed a lot over the years, and it seems like every year, another new mattress feature is introduced. With so many new features available, it can be hard to keep up with the innovations.

If you are thinking about replacing your mattress and want an overview of the bedding world’s latest features and benefits, Furniture Fair is here to help. We’ve been in business for 58 years, and we know a thing or two about mattresses.

This article will cover some of the most recent features and benefits of mattresses, from support types to cooling components. Read on if you want to find the perfect mattress guide for your sleep needs.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Mattress Features

Let’s begin by looking at the features available in newer mattresses. Keep in mind that different mattresses will have different features. Most mattresses fit into three main categories, and some features are specific to the type.

Here are some of the most recent mattress innovations available in the furniture industry.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Memory Foam

Memory foam was developed for NASA’s space program during the 1970s and has had many commercial applications. The original foam design was used to help cushion pilots during crashes or turbulence and has had many alterations since then.

Cooling Memory foam has become an ever-expanding part of the mattress world and is used in complete memory foam and hybrid mattresses to help give a wide array of support levels.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Open-Cell Foam

Open-cell foam mattresses are memory foam’s answer to pocket coil mattresses. Standard memory foam is perforated with patterned holes to help create additional airflow for less radiant heat.

Most modern foam mattresses use this method in one form or another. Each brand has a specific pattern, but the goal of cooler sleep remains the same. If you sleep hot and prefer the support of memory foam, then open-cell foam may be the way to go.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Gel Memory Foam

Gel memory foam is a type of foam that uses gel microbeads within layers that absorb body heat to help you sleep cooler. Gel memory foam is used in memory foam and coil spring hybrid mattresses and mattress toppers.

Gel memory foam is designed to help combat natural heat retention from your body during sleep. If you sleep hotter and prefer a cooler mattress, you may want to look into a bed that features gel memory foam.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Pocket Coil Spring Support

Pocket coils are different from traditional innerspring mattresses because each coil spring is wrapped in an individual fabric section.

Individual coils are packed tighter than regular spring coil counts, making for less shifting during your body’s movement, and more airflow than a memory foam mattress would have.

Pocket coils work best in hybrid mattresses where the coil system is combined with various memory and gel foams to create a balance of support, cooling, and moisture-wicking.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Direct Shipping

The memory foam mattress explosion in popularity has led to another recent innovation, direct shipping to your front door. Memory foam beds can be vacuum-sealed to about a third of their expanded size, making shipping easier and more cost-effective.

Mattress-in-a-box shipping is a great way to get a mattress to your home with as little hassle as possible. However, this shipping method only works with memory foam mattresses since hybrid, and innerspring mattresses must be delivered traditionally.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Mattress Benefits

The right mattress can improve the quality of your sleep tremendously. Your fatigue and exhausted feelings can be helped with the proper bed.

Here are three benefits that you will get if you sleep on the right mattress for your needs.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

#1 - Better Sleep

Are coffee, soda, or energy drinks part of your daily routine? If so, you might need a new mattress. Human beings spend about a third of their lives sleeping. While we tend not to notice how long we sleep, our bodies notice for sure.

Sleep is almost as crucial to living for us humans as breathing. Everyone can tell if they don’t get enough sleep or miss a good night’s sleep.

If you are taking longer than usual to fall asleep, your mattress could be part of the problem. Most people need an average of eight to nine hours of sleep every night to function correctly during the day.

Sleeping on a mattress that no longer supports your body can make falling asleep more difficult. The longer you spend trying to get to sleep, the less consistent rest you will get.

Sleep deprivation can put your body at risk for several diseases such as heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, and more.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

#2 - Pressure point alignment

Sleeping on a mattress that does not support your hips and spine properly can lead to all sorts of uncomfortable aches and pains.

If you find it hard to find a mattress that correctly supports your body while you sleep, consider taking the bedMATCH rest test. Pressure relief on a new mattress can help keep you rested and ready to start your day.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

#3 - Joint support

You might think it’s that old football injury acting up again, but the truth is you could be sleeping on a worn-out mattress.

When mattresses are no longer viable for proper joint support, your body won’t be a happy camper. Improper support can lead to joint pains in your shoulders and hips and can also result in lower back and neck pains.

Replacing an old mattress with one that is matched to your sleep style and your firmness level preference will help reduce and hopefully eliminate any joint pains keeping you up into the wee hours of the morning.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

The 4 Most Common Mattress Support Levels

Mattresses now feature multiple firmness levels designed to appeal to your preferred sleep position and support your body effectively while you sleep.

Your support level can depend on everything from your sleep position to your height, so be careful when choosing this part of your mattress.

If you aren’t sure which type of mattress is best for your needs, consider trying the bedMATCH rest test. Designed to help determine your best mattress comfort level scientifically, the bedMATCH rest test can choose the best mattress for you within minutes.

#1 - Euro Top & Pillow Top

Euro top and Pillow-top mattresses have a layer of plush foam on the top for a balance of support and comfort.

While both of these mattress styles are technically pillow-top mattresses, euro top mattresses have the padding sewn into the bed. In contrast, standard pillowtop mattresses have extra padding sewn over the top.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

#2 - Soft

Soft mattresses are best for lighter people who like to sleep on their side. Soft mattresses have the most give out of the bed levels and tend to make your body sink in and feel more enveloped by the mattress.

This type of mattress is not recommended for back sleepers or taller, heavier people and may not support heavier weights long-term.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

#3 - Medium

Medium mattresses are better for people who sleep both on their side and back, as they offer that enveloping feel while still providing a level of support for your back and pressure points.

If you are more likely to change positions when you sleep, then medium might be for you.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

#4 - Firm

Firm mattresses are made to be as supportive as possible, making you feel like you are sleeping on top of the bed rather than sinking into the mattress. Firm mattresses are best for the stomach sleeper or someone with a taller frame and heavier weight.

Firm mattresses are built to support you and hold up under more pressure. If your old mattress has worn out quicker than you expected, a firm mattress may be the mattress for your needs.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Mattress Add-on Features

Sometimes the key to better sleep lies outside of the mattress. Working in tandem with the perfect bed for your rest needs, the right accessories will add comfort and convenience.

Here are a few products recommended to take your sleep experience from great to incredible.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Adjustable Bed Bases

An adjustable base is a mattress base that can move to multiple sleep positions through power controls. Initially used in the healthcare industry, the same comfort and support used to help patients stay healthier are now available in your home.

Much more than just hospital beds, Adjustable bases take the place of a box spring underneath your mattress and offer support to your bed and your body.

Unlike the basic support that a box spring provides, an adjustable base has multiple ways to support your body depending on your needs.

An adjustable base uses power functions to raise and lower your mattress’s different portions as you need them. The power motion operates through a remote that connects to the power base. Thanks to the power motion, you can now sleep or relax in whatever position is best for your body’s needs.

The most recent innovation in adjustable bases is integrated smart home compatible bases with automatic snore detection to help adjust your body.

smart bases can even be operated through voice command, while automatically adjusting when you sleep to keep you from snoring.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Mattress Toppers

If you already own a mattress or are not quite ready to pull the trigger on a new bed, a mattress topper might be the remedy to your sleep issues. Mattress toppers are a layer of cushioning that fits over the top of your mattress for an added level of cushioning.

While buying furniture on a budget may be easier than you think, if you need a remedy for a mattress that is too firm or one that is starting to lose support, a mattress topper could be the solution to your problems.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Mattress Protectors

Mattress protectors are designed to do what their name indicates; protect your mattress. A mattress protector can be removed and washed, which means you can keep your mattress cleaner for longer, both protecting your bed and keeping your warranty intact.

Mattress protectors also help keep allergens, dust mites, dirt, liquids, and other various grimy substances off of your mattress and your body when you sleep. Mattress protectors will keep both you and your bed in top shape for years.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Cooling Pillows

Why use all the newest technology innovations on your mattress? Pillows are an essential bedding item that many people may overlook for comfort, but as anyone who had to switch from an old, tried-and-true pillow to a new pillow can tell you, all pillows are not alike.

Companies like Bedgear and Tempur-Pedic feature a full line of pillows with various support and comfort levels geared toward helping you find the most comfortable pillow for your needs. Modern pillows also sometimes have the same mattress cooling technology built right into the pillow.

The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews
The New Mattress Features & Benefits Guide | 2021 Reviews

Find The Features You Need For Your Best Night’s Sleep

Now that you know the features and benefits of a new mattress, you can continue looking for a new mattress! Remember that mattresses have many new memory foam innovations and direct shipping on many mattresses for your convenience.

Keep in mind that mattresses help with better sleep, pressure point relief, and joint support. Don’t forget to try the bedMATCH rest test to determine which one of the four most common mattress types is best for you.

If you are in the market for a new mattress in the Cincinnati, Louisville, or Dayton areas, consider shopping at Furniture Fair. We carry many of the top mattress brands, like Beautyrest, Tempur-Pedic, Kingsdown, Serta, Sealy, and Nectar.

We offer mattresses at every price point and many delivery options, including Curbside Shipping. If you need a mattress, we have options for you.


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