Archive for September, 2007

Change Your Mattress For Back Pain Relief

Back pain can be a serious problem that can bring relief by choosing the proper kind of mattress. Normally, back pain comes from things like bad posture, improper lifting, injury, the wrong kind of mattress and especially gravity. A mattress that offers pain relief will always provide good firm back support, as well as offering a peaceful sleep. Gravity is the main reason people look for relief of back pain. Due to the weight of the individual, their posture, the way they lift, the mattress they sleep on or a combination of any or all of these, people tend to complain of back pain, and search desperately for relief, which perhaps can be achieved by choosing a properly balanced mattress designed to meet the needs of each individual sleeper.

No conclusive studies have actually been shown to prove what kind of mattress is best for pain relief, as it would be a study that involves too many variables. For example, a husband with twice the body mass as his petite wife is obviously going to use a different kind of mattress than her. In such a case, where the husband is the one who suffers from chronic back pains, maybe by choosing a mattress more suited to his needs, rather than hers, the problem could be resolved. However, in theory, if they were to choose a firmer mattress that is properly fitted to the husbands needs, the wife would then in turn begin to suffer from a bad nights sleep. This theory alone however not the case with foam mattresses, would be a whole thesis for time and money consuming research.

However inconclusive studies may be at present, both scientific researchers and the common layman will agree on the logic of gravity. Gravity surrounds us, binds us, is in everything, a tree, a rock, a cloud, even a bird are all subject to gravitys will. The human spine is no exception. Humans walk upright, but the human head weighs itself upon the spine, and back muscles. As do the internal organs, the body cavity and arms. Hence slouching over, and the tendency to pick things up slouched over. Slouching into injury and back pain that could potentially be relieved with a properly chosen mattress that fits the users needs.

Balance is the secret to choosing the proper mattress for relieving back pain. Balance between how firm and at the same time, comfortable, a mattress is. Foam mattresses are perfect for helping with back pain problems because due to the nature of their design. If a proper layer of foam is placed on top of a firm surface, such as wood, the mattress can be as firm or soft as desired. But what makes a foam mattress firm or soft depends on the load. By calculating the load (weight of the sleeper), the needed firmness, and comfort levels to be achieved, a foam mattress can be custom designed to balance perfectly between both the firmness to relieve back pain as well as a natural conformity, to curves and body joints (such as shoulders, elbows, knees, hips etc.), that offers relaxation to muscles.

Choosing a mattress that brings relief to back pain is a personal one that must be made by the sleeper. It is the sleepers opinion that is most important in the choice of a mattress that will bring relief to back pain, both due to preference and the personal subjective experience that comes with gravity causing back pain. Balance is not just the key to the ideal amount of both relaxation bringing comfort and back pain relieving firmness when choosing a mattress, balance, is the key to perfection.

About the Author

About the author: Thomas Jay Wacker is the General Manager and V.P. of http://www.simplepedic.com. Wacker has over 20 years experience in the home furnishing industry and leads the Wacker Management Team in Denver Colorado.

Written By: Thomas Jay Wacker

No Comments »

How To Buy A Loft Bed (Bunk Beds)

Individuals of all ages choose to invest in a loft bed or bunk bed for their home. This classic childhood sleeper is quickly becoming a fun, inventive way for ‘tweens, teens, college students, and young adult hipsters to maximize their space without having to roll out a sleeping bag every night. When it comes time to shop for furniture, look to stores that specialize in bunk beds or loft beds.

First things first, there is a major difference between bunk beds and loft beds. Bunk beds are the most common form of alternative bedding, with an upper bunk stacked above a lower bunk. Some bunk beds stack two same-sized mattresses horizontally, while others stack a twin bed above a full size bed or even a futon that can serve as a larger sleeping or living area. Finally, other bunk beds create a playhouse type environment, with a top bunk running horizontally overtop of a vertically running bottom bunk. Some of these alternative bunk beds include stair steps and even slides, allowing the beds perfect for younger individuals.

Loft beds feature elevated platforms for sleeping, leaving much needed floor space below to place a desk, couch, or entertainment center to provide extra space for living. Generally associated with cramped dorm rooms, loft beds are becoming increasingly popular with teenagers who feel cramped in smaller rooms and want to expand their livable space. Also, young adults are also elect to choose loft beds in first apartments that may have less than desirable sleeping quarters. Think of loft beds like the new, hipper version of the classic Murphy bed.

When shopping for a bunk bed or loft bed, first consider the person that will be sleeping in the bed. For children, consider safety above all other aspects of the bed. Teenagers or young adults may want to focus on the size or the style of the bed more so than safety worries. When dealing with children, be sure that the child is ready to upgrade to a “grown up” bed before making the move. Children should be at least 35 inches long or two years of age before he or she should be moved to a bunk bed. Also, ground rules should be made regarding the proper conduct involving the bunk bed, since most injuries occur due to roughhousing or horseplay.

Regardless of your age, you should ensure the bunk bed or loft bed you choose has two sets of guardrails and a sturdy ladder that can support your weight. The guard rails are critical, even though your bed may reside next to a wall. More so with children, but occasional with teens or adults, bunk beds or loft beds without a guardrail next to the wall can cause the sleeper to slip between the bed and the wall during their sleep. Also, a guardrail on the other side of the bed is critical, since anyone can fall out of a bed while asleep.

For children, the guard rail should be no more than three and a half inches above the mattress. If the guard rail is too far away from the mattress, the occupant can slip between the mattress and the rail, resulting in a fall. Also, the guard rail should run at least five inches above the mattress to prevent the occupant from rolling over top of the rail.

Keep in mind there are a variety of bunk beds and loft beds on the market. Younger kids may enjoy the activity themed bunk beds, while teens may desire a bed that incorporates a loft instead of a bottom bunk. Also, the size of the room is directly associated with size of the bunk bed or loft bed. Although having a double or queen size bed may be luxurious in comparison to a tiny twin, but carefully think of the available space before choosing.

About the author:

Doug Mahopac specializes in Clocks http://www.i-cuckoo-clocks.com

Written By: Doug Mahopac

No Comments »

Mattresses and Marriage a Match Made in Heaven

Mattresses and marriage go hand in hand. Sleep is important to all of us, even the honeymooners. A good night sleep is critical for our performance the next day and for our health and well being in general. If the couple is not used to sleeping together, there will be just the issues of getting used to sleeping with someone. You don’t need the extra strain and complications of a mattress that is uncomfortable for one or both parties. My comfort in bed may not be yours. I like a soft mattress even though I have a bad back. My husband likes something that is more firm. There are mattresses on the market that boast the capability of adjusting the firmness to each persons preference. That sounds great, but these mattresses arent inexpensive. In fact, most mattresses and box spring sets will set you back a few bills. In order for your chances of a better night sleep to be greater, I strongly advise for the new couple to pick out the mattress together instead of one person bringing a mattress into the marriage. That also feels better doesnt it? I dont like the idea of a used mattress coming into a marriage. This should be new just as the marriage is new. If the couple shops together for the new mattress set, there is a better chance they will find one that fits both their needs. Do the rest test in the store as most retailers wont let you take one home and then return it; they frown on that from a hygienic aspect.

The Better Sleep Council recommends six things you should consider before buying the mattress:
Support is critical as you should have a mattress that keeps your spine in a good standing posture.
Make sure the comfort level is such where you feel you can be close to each other without bothering one another.

You expect your mattress to last a long time as it is not an inexpensive purchase. Keep turning it, and vacuum it off occasionally. If you are concerned about dust mites, you may even want to encase it in plastic. Ask yourself in a few years if it is still supportive and comfortable to you. If not, you might want to opt for a new set.

Buy the right size. If you need space as we all do, opt for at least a queen size bed. King-size mattresses are unwieldy and will take up more space in a master bedroom, but you might require more room, especially if you and your mate are tall or heavy set.

Do buy a matching sleep set. These are made for each other and you wont get the wear from the mattress you desire if you dont match it up to the box spring.

Buy the best that you can afford. Now is not the time to skimp on a purchase because a cheap mattress will not be comfortable at all. It wont take you long in the rest test to tell the comfortable mattresses from the ones that feel like cardboard. Check out http://www.bedding-4u/Mattresses.htm for more tips.

Mattresses and marriage are made to stay together. We spend so much of our life in bed that we need to have the most comfortable, supportive mattress on the market that we can afford. Isnt this like the partner you have chosen? They are supportive and comfortable to be with so mattresses and marriage can truly be a match made in heaven.

About the author:

Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying bedding, duvet covers, bedspreads, mattresses, and more. Her many articles can be found at http://www.bedding-4u.comShe gives information and tips to help you save money, make informed buying decisions and common sense ideas for changing your life

Written By: Beverly Marshall

No Comments »

Choosing Your Futon Mattresses

There are some factors that have to be considered when buying futon mattresses. For example, the weight of the mattress will determine the ease of reconfiguring the futon sofa into a bed. Secondly, the rigidity of the futon mattress will also govern how the mattress folds over the frame when it’s used as a couch or chair. Check out the rigidity rating before buying one. Thick futon mattresses of about 8 or 9 inches in thickness are ideal for regular use.

Futon mattresses need a lot of care than conventional ones. They should be turned every time the sheets are changed, and be aired out frequently to prevent quick wearing. Mattress pads should also be considered which protects the futon from moisture and dust. Vacuuming, scrubbing and washing with laundry detergent and water can really help keep your futon mattress in a good shape.

Here are some of the best Futon mattresses available on the market that you might want to consider when shopping:

Elite CR Comfy Premier 3000 Jr. Twin Ottoman Futon Mattress: The Comfy Premier 3000 has four layers of specially blended cotton, with a triple Foam core for extra resilience. It is also precision-tufted to keep the futon mattress contents from shifting, and has a fiber content of PolyCotton Blend, Polyester, Foam, and Cotton. The Comfy Premier 3000 costs around $40. There is also the Comfy Foam 1000 which features two layers of specially blended cotton with resilient Foam core. It’s also precision-tufted, and with the same fiber content.

Simmons Futon Mattress: Simmons is one of the largest futon manufacturers, which offers futon mattresses and frames in chair, full, Loveseat, and queen sizes. Their futon mattress products are characterized by the traditional Pocketed Coil system, layered cotton and foam construction.

Simmons Best Rest Genteel Futon Mattress is a No flip construction never requires turning, designed to bear the constant folding and unfolding, with individual pockets that contain the steel coils allow the unit to bend and fold, making a more resilient sleep surface. It also features the Simmons pocketed coil inner-spring topped with convoluted foam and cotton, and costs around $300.

Simmons Deep Sleep Elegance Futon Mattress is the popular mattress in the Simmons series. It features two layers of plush convoluted foam, four layers of half-inch foam, and two layers of our custom cotton-poly blend. The manufacturer suggests using it mostly for seating. It costs around $150.

Wolf futon Latex Plush: This futon mattress is constructed with 3 batts of Dura-Ease cotton, 2 batts of Polyester, 2 layers of 1″ synthetic latex foam, 2 layers of 2 1/2″ plush, convoluted finger foam for plush and 23 machine laced tufts. It is considered to be the softest and most plush mattress of all the Wolf Mattresses, which costs around $280.

Gemini Futon frame cushioning system: features Pressurized Construction, a twill fabric to hold the tuft in the mattress, convoluted 4 pound density foam, Tape Edge Closure to present a clean tailored look, and Compression Lace Tufting to compress, strengthen and control the overstuffed cushioning materials. The futon mattress is available for about $500.

Fu-Chest Futon Mattress: is designed to fit the Fu-Chest bed, featuring a seven-layer filling with a fire-retardant natural cotton/polyester duck cover. The medium-firm mattress is tufted to keep the futon mattress contents from shifting even after repeated folding. It is available in twin and full sizes, and costs around $140.

About the author:

Futons are stylish, functional, and versatile; they can be integrated into nearly any setting.

Written By: Carl Walker

No Comments »

Mommy, Mommy, Theres a Caterpillar On My Bed

Chenille has been used for bedspreads since Catherine Evans revived the craft in the 1890s. She applied raised tufts of yarn to cotton sheeting and these spreads were often referred to as chenille products. Chenille is the French word for caterpillar – the yarn looks like those fuzzy little creatures. Thick pile of yarn ends stuck out all around at right angles. Stamps were created into a pattern and the yarn was stuck on to fill in the pattern. Bedspreads from this craft were all the rage in the 20s. The demand was so high that new warehousing systems were developed to put out these products. This truly developed from a cottage industry in that haulers would deliver stamped sheets to the women of north Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. They would then pick up the spread, pay the women and take the spreads back to the warehouse. A final finishing of washing in hot water locked in the yarns. They were also dyed in all kinds of colors.

By the 30s, chenille bedspreads would be seen in most homes all along the east coast and beyond. Since they were so popular, manufacturers started mass producing the spreads in factories. Sewing machines were invented to do the process that was once done only by hand. The remarkable success of the chenille products lead to robes, toilet seat covers, rugs and more. Of course, bigger is better so a special machine was designed to create a piece of fabric that was at least nine by twelve for a whole room. By the 50s chenille was in every home all over the country. My mom had several spreads in different colors and yours probably did too. I still search out vintage bedspreads at flea markets, and if you find them in good shape they fetch a good price as well. My mother in law had a pink chenille spread she started using for a drop cloth. YIKES. I snatched it up quickly, but now it is cut into pieces ready to become the next bear or sheep. For more information on how to find these chenille pieces, look at http://www.bedding-4u.com/Bedspreads.htm.

Many crafters take pieces of this caterpillar material and create toys and stuffed animals. It has become quite chic to have chenille in your childs room. New material is everywhere, or you can still find some vintage pieces. Furniture is also popular in a girls room that has been covered with pastel chenille. You can combine new chenille with vintage and thats perfectly acceptable. The soft texture adds to the warmth and charm you look for in a nursery or little girls room. If you know how to knit, the colors of chenille yarn on the market is huge. You can find kitschy robes with every imaginable motif. Some cute young styles are cell phones, lipstick and nail polish, coffee mugs, shoes, and every conceivable animal. Im glad chenille has made such a comeback in the market. Its fuzzy texture takes us back to a simpler time. The caterpillar was beloved in my home and still is today. Try it in your decorating plans and see how this nostalgic fabric complements everything else you have in the house. Thank you Catherine Evans for working so hard with your friends to make this a long lasting fabric we cherish today.

About the author:

Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying bedding, duvet covers, bedspreads, mattresses, and more. Her many articles can be found at http://www.bedding-4u.comShe gives information and tips to help you save money, make informed buying decisions and common sense ideas for changing your life

Written By: Beverly Marshall

No Comments »

WP Login