Rest assured: In search of the perfect premium mattress

Written by Theresa Mueller on 2008-04-01

Enlightened Americans are becoming more in tune with their bodies, so their quest for the perfect premium mattress has become more than just a dream.

According to Mike Konz, owner of The Sleep Shoppe, 201 E. Mill St., Plymouth, although trends in bedding have moved toward latex memory foam mattresses and adjustable airbeds, the traditional innerspring model is still the cloud of choice for slumbering consumers.

The Sleep Shoppe carries high-end Tempur-Pedic mattresses in a variety of styles. The original Swedish Tempur-Pedic products were designed with patented "Tempur" materials to help relieve pressure and provide support.

Similarly, Tempur-Pedic's adjustable sleep systems offer comfort at the touch of a button. Likened to the well-known Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort, Tempur-Pedic's adjustable beds also boast a programmable remote that allows two sleepers to select different firmness settings.

The GrandBed, one of Tempur-Pedic's premium models, offers a 14½-inch high mattress with a silk blend cover and the newest high-density Tempur materials. The adjustable GrandBed, available in queen, king and California king, retails between $6,299 and $7,299, depending on size, according to Konz.

The Celebrity, another top-of-the-line Tempur-Pedic model, ranges from $6,199 to $7,799. Konz also recommends Tempur-Pedic's Bellasana, Rhapsody and Symphony styles for discerning customers.

"Most people who can afford to are going with Tempur-Pedic and adjustable beds," Konz said. "But people who have trouble dealing with change might not like the new styles."

Even the traditional innerspring mattresses are being enhanced by continued research and innovation. Beauty Rest, also available at The Sleep Shoppe, offers pocketed coils, which are individually wrapped and conform to the shape of any body. With or without springs, most mattresses are now surrounded by a layer of visco-elastic memory foam or latex foam, according to Konz.

Naturally derived from the rubber tree, latex has become the latest innovation for "cloudlike" sleeping comfort, and is featured prominently in high-end foam mattresses.

"It conforms to your body, and you feel comfortable right away," Konz said.

Sleeping choices are highly personal, according to Brady Zufelt, store manager at Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, 3010 S. Business Drive, Sheboygan.

"Every person has different taste in mattresses, ranging from firm to super-soft," Zufelt said. "Our job is to match customers with the right comfort level for them."

The Verlo staff custom creates mattresses in an array of styles and sizes at its Manitowoc facility, according to Joshua Haese, production manager at Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, 2217 S. 44th St., Manitowoc.

Haese, who has created intricate mattress designs for everything from Burger Boat Co. yachts to 18-wheeler semi truck cabs, said that what it comes down to is a good night's sleep.

"If they do a really good job of conforming to the body, you have a much more restful sleep and feel better when waking up for the new day," Haese said.

Verlo's handcrafted line features the Heritage Limited and the Canterbury, selling for $2,400 and $2,200 in queen size sets, respectively.

The company's five-zone, innerspring mattresses feature zoned coils, strategically placed to offer varying support throughout the body.

"In some areas, the springs are closer together for more support," according to Zupelt.

"It's a very unique design," Haese added.

Desire for the latest creature comforts continues to dictate premium bedding market trends.

"It is definitely a growing segment in the bedding industry," Zufelt said. "Right now about 30 percent of the luxury mattress market is in foam or air beds. It's on the rise & it just keeps growing."

With its own high-end adjustable airbed, the Verlo-Aire 900, Verlo can create a premium mattress with adjustable base for $5,000.

"What's really nice about the airbed is that you can have a memorized number (for firmness settings), but it can always change if your needs change," Haese said.

And change is a good thing, according to Konz. Consumers are changing mattresses every five to seven years, not the standard 10 to 15 as in years past. The shortened switch is not due to declining mattress quality, but the consumer's desire for better quality of life.

"People lead busy lives," Konz said. "They want to make the most of their sleep."

Zufelt reminds customers that a good night's sleep is still attainable & with a little planning  and a touch of memory foam.

"Customers are looking for a nice balance of proper support with deep conforming layers of softness that cradle their bodies," Zufelt said. "You're supposed to feel better in the morning, not worse."