Buying a mattress can always be put off until later. Or can it? You shouldn't scrimp on the single most used piece of furniture in your house. This single item has a lot to do with your health and well being also. How and why should I select a mattress that's right for me?

First, you must understand two basic mattress construction terms. The core is where the springs and structure are. This is what determines the longevity and support. Old mattresses used an inner spring design. Usually, the more inner springs used in a mattress, the better it was. Not so anymore. A current mattress design uses "zones" to locate the number and types of springs since our body weight is not evenly distributed, then why should the springs in our mattress?

The second construction term for a mattress is the upholstery. Several different types of foams, fibers, and materials make up this top layer. This gives the mattress the pillow top or soft feeling. Springs are there for support of this comfort layer.

I personally am sleeping on a Simmon's Beauty Rest Back Care mattress. It has the wrapped spring coils and several comfort layers. It even has some memory foam. It is an excellent bed and it was reasonably priced.

I looked at several models today. It seems the inner spring mattress will be going to the way side after a few years. Everyone wants a memory foam bed. They have several to choose from, but they are all made out of the same material. This foam is nice and Sealy and Serta have finally come on board with their versions. The tepurpedic has been out there the longest and seems to be the best quality at the best price.

However, foam mattresses just don't look like a regular bed. They look like a flashback to the days of the popular water beds. Its just not what we are accustomed to seeing. King Koil came out with a combination of this model. A traditional looking mattress, with contemporary foam for a core. You get the look of a regular bed with the benefit of a solid foam core. No more inner springs.

Comes to find out, the most sold mattress in the store where I was at, was the King Koil brand as I described above. Actually, the top 3 sellers were all King Koil brand, with only one of the three have an inner spring coil.

Beds weren't meant to last forever. You can chunk it and get another. If it's bad enough for you to get a new one, don't pass it on and give problems to someone else, either. And don't sell your old mattress as it is against the law in some states.