When people want to choose an impeccable bed for sleeping, they do not always think about the fact that creating the most comfortable conditions for a great rest is assigned not only to the mattress but also to the mattress base. A mattress and a base in tandem ensure the correct distribution of body pressure and the position of the person’s spine. Let’s discover mattress bases for modern beds and get to know how to select the perfect base that meets your needs and fits the chosen mattress.

The base is the surface where the mattress is placed. Here are the main functions a properly selected bed base should perform: eliminate slipping and sagging of the mattress, improve its orthopedic properties, ensure proper air exchange and microclimate to prevent moisture stagnation in its insides, and create maximum comfort for the sleeper both during rest and in the process of laying in bed and getting up. Errors in choosing the base can affect both the quality of sleep and the life of the mattress negatively. There are three basic types of bed bases: Solid (Platform) bed base, Fixed slatted bed base, and Sprung slatted bed base. Each of them has its individual characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

It is a one-piece shield made of plywood, fiberboard or chipboard sheets, and sometimes natural wood. Due to the simplicity of the design, a bed with this base usually has a more affordable price and is compatible with any mattress. But it is worth considering that orthopedic models paired with a rigid base become meaningless because they lose most of their anatomical features. Usually, a bed with this type of base is chosen by people who are recommended to sleep on a hard base for medical reasons (for the treatment or prevention of spinal disease). When choosing this base type, consider that a solid shield does not allow absorbed moisture to evaporate freely, so it can lead to the development of various unsafe bacteria on the inside of the mattress. Modern manufacturers leave special ventilation holes In high-quality products, so you should pay attention to this fact if you decide to opt for a bed model with a solid base.

This is the most demanded type of bed base recommended for modern orthopedic mattresses. To work properly, the base must work in tandem to bend pointwise under the sleeping body, ensuring the correct position of the spine during sleep, without creating excessive pressure on the tissues. This base is made of slats, lamellas laid transversely on a wooden or metal bed frame at a certain distance (the gap should not exceed the width of the plank) and fixed with special lat holders. Lamellas can be made of various materials, but most often they are made of wood: birch, oak, beech, and walnut. They have a slightly curved shape, which allows them to moderately spring under the weight of the sleeper. This also ensures a more even distribution of the load and contributes to less mattress’ wear and tear of the mattress. The more rails – the more rigid the construction is, and the better orthopedic properties it has. Please be informed that if the gaps between the slats are too large, the mattress springs may fall into them, which will lead to its rapid failure and its original properties loss. Due to gaps between the slats, the total weight of the structure is reduced, the mattress can “breathe”, its anatomical properties are improved, and its service life is also significantly extended. 

The fixed slatted bed base is made out of straight slats that are positioned across the bed and fixed to the frame. This option offers good airflow. In such a lamellar base, you can adjust the rigidity of the structure, choosing the most optimal for users with the width of the rails. Recently, even special bases with adjustable stiffness for different zones have appeared. They are available with special moving pads to create areas with different rigidity for specific parts of the sleeper’s body. The double beds have two separate slatted bases, which allows you to set the desired rigidity of the structure for each partner individually. You can also choose beds with transformable bases driven by a remote control which allows you to raise or lower individual parts of the bed base, adjusting them to your needs. For example, it’s possible to raise the headboard for a comfortable breakfast in bed, watching a movie, etc. 

There are also bed bases with integrated storage having lifting constructions either solid or lamella. The mattress base can be raised with a special lifting mechanism, opening a niche for compact storage of bed linen, pillows, blankets, clothes, etc. This model helps to save space, and it is especially convenient for small rooms where it is impossible to install a spacious closet or allocate space for a separate dressing room.

The main question asked by many future happy owners of an impeccable sleeping bed is what to choose first: a bed or a mattress? We recommend starting by choosing the mattress and then selecting the right size for a bed with a suitable base following the mattress’ dimensions and design features.