If you’d like to learn more about the Select Comfort Sleep Number mattress for adjustable bed, check out these links to available products on Amazon. They not only have good information, but they offer up reviews from (almost entirely) satisfied shoppers.
Sleep Number c2 Queen Mattress by Select Comfort
Sleep Number c2 King Mattress by Select Comfort

Now, another option if you’re shopping for a replacement mattress for adjustable bed in your home is to consider an air mattress. Before you laugh, you should know that these have become incredibly popular in recent years for a couple of very compelling reasons. To begin with, they are very attractively priced. With quality mattresses selling for an absolute minimum of $500-$600, shoppers have begun exploring options. Aerobed, which I’m sure is a name you are familiar with at this point, really latched on to this hole in the market and began producing a great product around ten years ago. And while this adjustable air bed mattress won’t give you all of the frills and glamor of a Sleep Number mattress, it will give you the ability to regulate how soft or firm you’d like your sleeping surface.

Now, we’ve talked about two very opposite ends of the spectrum by covering the spectacular mattresses from Select Comfort, and the air mattress adjustable bed from Aerobed and other similar companies. The only other real category when it comes to the adjustable bed mattress is one that has been around for quite a while, but has never really grabbed hold of the bed market. It has been a mainstay on infomercials and the like, mostly because it is a product that has never really been accepted as one that can improve the quality of your sleep, and this writer is quick to agree with that assessment. Of course, we’re talking here about the adjustable height mattresses. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about… the kind that allow you to raise your head, or feet, or knees, etc. You may have slept in one if you’ve spent the night in a hospital at some point.

Now, I happen to think that the hospital version of this mattress is better than you’ll find in just about any store. People like to buy these so that they can read in bed, or watch TV late at night as they’re falling asleep. These beds try to perform multiple functions, and often fail at their primary one: providing a great surface to promote a good night’s sleep. With all of the moving parts that are involved in making these beds into living room-type furniture items, it is no wonder that they can’t meet their most important goal. My advice would be to recognize these mattresses for the gimmicky, problem-ridden products that they are and take a pass. Want to read a book or watch TV, go out and sit on the couch, or even consider a futon bed. You simply won’t help yourself sleep well on one of these contraptions, and at the price they get for them, you won’t do your pocketbook any favors either. For this kind of money, you’d be much better off opting for one of the Sleep Number beds that we outlined at the beginning of this article.

The next selling point, and this is a point of contention, is that they are very appealing stylistically. They may not be making headway in any of the top designer magazines or whatnot, but they offer a very simple design, and they don’t require a ton of labor for manufacturers to produce them; hence, they are a reasonably stylish option that can be had on a budget. Now, when we get into the futon bunk beds and so forth, it might be a different story, but for the most part their simplicity not only appeals to people on that fact that it is simple, but also the simplicity allows it to be dressed up with blankets, pillows, etc. for a more personal touch.

What isn’t so simple, unfortunately, is buying a futon sofa bed. There are a number of things to keep in mind. Chief among your concerns, like any other piece of furniture, should be comfort. But take your normal concern over comfort and multiply it by ten. Futons can be notoriously uncomfortable. They can be hard as a rock. They can sag to one side. Some have big lumps in the middle where the stuffing has bunched up. You name it, it can be a potential problem in a futon. And, again, just to be clear, we are not talking about a futon bunk bed that you might be considering for your kid’s room. Those will encounter all of the standard problems and then some, and you’ll need to be extra careful with a purchase like that.

Getting back to how you should go about buying a futon bed. The most important thing you can do is go sit on the thing in a store. Sit on it in various positions. Unfold the thing and sit on the edges of what was the backrest. Then lay down on it. Make sure to be thorough in your inspection. Look for any inconsistencies in the stuffing, and things that you know will bug you later. Trust me, they have tons of them. The salesperson will not be offended if you say, “you know, I like this style, but the mattress doesn’t seem quite right, do you have any more in back that I can swap out for this one?” Before you finish your sentence, he will have sent one of his co-workers to fetch a replacement. They are looking to make a sale, and they have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to stuff like this. So, be picky, and know that if you have a feeling something will bother you six months down the road, it’s much better to say something before you buy it in the first place.

Now, I also understand that not everyone has time to visit a futon store, or perhaps doesn’t have a store in their area that sells them. I have owned several in the past couple of years, and have friends that have owned others. I took the liberty of picking a few from Amazon to list here that I know are great. Again, just suggestions, and you’re welcome to take them or leave them, just remember to do your research. Check out these items listed below:

Baxton Studio Fabiana Tan Futon-Style Convertible Sofa with an Asian Flair

Taupe Adjustable Storage Sofa Bed

So, we’ve established that this is an important decision, and one that shouldn’t be made without some consideration. But, what kinds of things should you be thinking about as you make this purchase?


Perhaps the most important thing to consider is what size bed you’ll want for your guest room. Of course, this might be strictly a function of what size bed will fit in the room. If your guest bedroom is the size of a closet, you’re going to get a single guest bed, case closed. And this isn’t a bad thing. Single guest beds, while unaccommodating for a couple can be a great option. For one, they’re cheaper than larger sized mattresses… an obvious benefit. But think about the uses of a guest bed. Someone comes over for a night or two and then leaves. When this happens, you typically remove the sheets to wash them, and then remake the bed. If you have frequent visitors, this can be a real pain. A lot of people, even if they have relatively large guest bedrooms, will opt for two single beds for ease of operations, so to speak. Even if a couple comes to visit, they can certainly stand to sleep apart for a night or two.

Another option to think about comes into play if your guest bedroom isn’t strictly a bedroom. If it is a room that is used as an office the vast majority of the time, it’s kind of a shame to have a big bed taking up a ton of room in preparation for the few times a year when someone comes and stays the night. In this instance, and it is a great idea in my book, a folding guest bed is a great idea. These can take a number of different shapes, but the standard ones look like love seats or couches (and this includes the standard sofa and the futon variety). Folding guest beds are really an awesome solution to the problem. They provide enough comfort to make you look like a good host if someone is staying over, and at the same time allow you to salvage a room that might otherwise be more or less wasted.

Now, there are a few scenarios when I can envision a folding bed not quite being the idea solution. In the event that you are expecting children in the next few years, it probably makes some sense to look at beds that can be converted into a bed for you child when the time comes that they need their first non-crib sleeping solution. In this case, a single guest bed makes sense, and it also makes sense not to break the bank. Chances are the kid is going to be pretty rough on the bed in a number of ways, and will not require the level of comfort that you need. Your most basic single will do the trick here.

On the opposite end of that spectrum, and this is an issue that more and more families are facing as the worldwide population ages, you may need to consider the very real possibility that an older parent or relative may need to move in with you in the coming years. In this case, you should probably be shopping for a bed as if it were your own. A good middle of the road option would be a nice double size mattress. More than big enough for one person, but small enough to be manageable in most rooms.

Finding a guest bed certainly isn’t the most important decision you’ll ever make, but it should be a choice that you make intelligently. After all, the data shows that it is something you might be stuck with for a very long time. And check out Sleep City, if you’re looking for a great bed at a great price in the Bay Area.

Anyway, I was amazed at my experience. I had heard countless stories from every one of my friends recounting their awful times shopping for and purchasing a new mattress. “Used car salesman” was a term that was thrown out liberally. To say that I was anticipating the worst is a bit of an understatement. The Sleep City lights were oddly inviting. And that might sounds weird, but I was expecting blinding fluorescent lights designed to make me feel uncomfortable and anxious. The Sleep City furniture was another telltale that the store I was visiting might be a little different. There were nice chairs to sit down in and take notes, and other items that gave the place a relaxed feel.

Lastly, and this is certainly the most important aspect of the shopping experience, the salesperson was actually helpful. He didn’t constantly push me to look at higher priced models, and he allowed me some time to myself to examine each mattress and its specifications. I don’t know about you, but I would have felt very uncomfortable having a salesman watch me stretch out on numerous mattresses to test them out. This guy backed off a bit and let me explore the merchandise. Common sense when you think about it, but I’ve certainly had some bad experiences in more recent years.

I didn’t end up buying a mattress that day, as I felt like I had to do some more thinking on the matter. Whenever I’m not certain I should make a purchase, I take a night to sleep on it. But, as I was sleeping on my floor at the time, it’s possible that a hastier decision would have been acceptable in this case. In any event, I ended up going back the next day to make the purchase. I can’t even remember what kind of mattress I bought all those years ago, but frankly it was good enough. I had a 22-year old back, and probably could have slept on anything. What I do still remember is the Sleep City sleep experience I got that first night, fully satisfied with having had a great customer experience. Often times, I have found since, it is often these interactions you have pre-purchase that end up mattering far more than the product itself. I may be in the minority here, but I hold this in very high esteem.

And that’s not to discount the quality of the mattress in any way. I slept on that bed for a good ten years after buying it, and felt like I had gotten more than my money’s worth when I took it on it’s farewell voyage to the dump. Those first few nights were divine though, and that may have a lot to do with the the preceding few weeks I had spent sleeping on the floor. Frankly though, I was just happy that I was able to sleep soundly right along with the sleeping city. In short, I would still strongly recommend Sleep City as a store you should consider in the bay area before you buy your next mattress. Best of luck, and check back often for more helpful advice.

Before continuing, however, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the beloved Coleman inflatable mattress. A friend of mine slept on this as his regular mattress for three years after college, and was insistent that he liked as much as any bed he had ever slept on. And for $50, he argued that it made a lot more sense than the $400 mattress that I was sleeping on at the time. And when it came time to move, it was especially hard to disagree. He simply pressed the air out of his bed and put it in a box. When he was done, I asked him to help me carry my mattress down the stairs and outside to the truck. The irony was lost on neither of us, and he was eager to point this out on every occasion. I suppose that was his right in retrospect… I’m sure I’d have done the same.

Inflatable air mattresses, getting back to our main topic, can be an incredibly useful thing. Whether for house guests, invited or uninvited, or kids home from school, invited or uninvited, their benefits far outweigh the costs of owning them. In fact, in another post, we have talked about storage beds, and why more houses should have them. The inflatable mattress sort of extends our point on this matter. It seems as if many houses today are built under the premise the more space and more rooms increase the level of comfort and make for happier families, but I would argue the opposite. Just as the storage bed forces people to do more with less, and come together a bit more, an inflatable air mattress has the same effect. And even if you’re having a couple over, companies like Aerobed have a product for them as well. These days, you can find a double air mattress just as easily as you can find a single. So why not tell your friend and his wife that they’re welcome to stay at your place for the weekend, but that things are going to be “a little cozy.” You won’t be able to outfit one with your extra set of super king size bedding, but that’s probably not the worst thing in the world.

If you’re looking for an inflatable mattress, there are a number of outlets that I would recommend. Of course, you’ll first need to consider what you want out of the product. In case it isn’t very clear, I am a big believer in both  the Coleman and the Aerobed lines of products. However, they are two very different animals, so to speak. The Coleman is great if you’re looking for something that is a little more portable, that doesn’t necessarily need electricity. Get this if you can sleep on anything, and have that younger back that so many of us miss when we get into older age. They make a wonderful product, and don’t assume that it is in any way inferior to more expensive products based on price alone.

That being said, the Aerobed is certainly still the Cadillac of this category. With a highly efficient air pump that inflates your mattress quickly and effortlessly, this mattress has to be seen to be believed. When it is fully inflated, many people have trouble noticing that it is not a standard mattress with internal coil springs. Somehow they have created a product that inflates so completely as to convince people that they are sleeping in a normal bed… pretty amazing. Now, as you might expect, you’re going to have to pay quite a bit more for an Aerobed, with these mattresses typically going for around $100. Really though, you can’t go wrong with either of these options. Unless you’re my old college roommate, this isn’t going to be the primary mattress for anyone, simply a stopgap for visitors when they spend the night. So, do a little shopping, and analyze your budget, and go from there. Best of luck, and check back with sleepybedtime.com for more helpful advice.