Home And Gardens

Investment in your mattress is a big decision, both financially and for your health and well-being. When you do find a mattress that’s perfect for you, it’s important to keep it in the best shape possible, helping it help you enjoy it. To assist with that effort, these are a few tips that can help you extend your mattress’ comfort, longevity, and functionality:

• Mattress pads. If you’ve had a mattress for a couple of years, it’s very possible that your comfort preferences have changed since it was first purchased. If that mattress isn’t comfortable but remains supportive and structurally sound, there’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. To get the comfort you want with the support you need, adding a foam bed topper can increase cushioning without affecting support, tacking on years of life to a mattress you would have otherwise replaced.
• Be gentle. Because of a mattress’ soft, springy nature, it may be hard to remember it’s not invincible, nor a play area for the kids or pets. Even if you’ve added a thick mattress pad, it’s important to remember that the only thing a bed should provide is a great night’s sleep. Using it any differently may cause it to wear prematurely. Rough-housing or excessive abuse can cause foam to tear, springs to snap, and air or water cavities to spring leaks.
• Keep it dry. Nobody in a sound state of mind would ever purposefully pour water onto their mattress, or intentionally leave a window open during a rain storm, but that doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. When a mattress gets wet, it’s quite difficult to be sure that it fully dries. If it doesn’t, that moisture can lead to mold or mildew. Because of this, adding water resistant bed covers is often a good idea, as is instituting a no food or drink rule in the bedroom. Warranties are often voided by stains on a mattress caused by an accident, even if the stain is only on the surface, and there is a genuine flaw with the build or structure of the product.

On ships and vessels built for overnight voyages, one of the last things people think about is the ship’s mattress. All the gear, electronics, and amenities steal attention, as they’re what are actually in use while sailing. But by the end of the day, you will retire to your cabin and hopefully won’t have to face the realization you overlooked one of the most important parts of your boat. Whether looking at buying a new boat or planning a retrofit of your existing watercraft’s boat bed, getting the right mattress will make a major difference in your enjoyment of the boat.

Because of limited below-deck space and the curvature of the hull, beds on board are often shaped differently from what we’re used to. To optimize space, beds called a v-berth mattress are inset against the bow of a boat. These beds are unique in that not only are they beveled and wedge-shaped, but they are also made up of multiple pieces to make it easier to get the cushions below deck. This offers one unique benefit however, in that different sections can be made of different foam materials to match comfort preferences, excellent for couples with contrasting comfort preferences.

Something else to keep in mind when going about bed selection is its location on the boat: is it in an area prone to splashes, spray, or leaks? Getting mattresses or pillows in your berth wet is a surefire way to ruin them. To prevent this, quick-drying, antimicrobial foam is made that won’t rot and will drain water. It is incredibly porous and allows water to drain and dry quickly, and also versatile enough to use in topside cushions well. So before you raise your sails, consider your mattress situation and get great sleep.

Once you’ve decided it’s time for a new mattress, the next thing you need to decide is what size you’ll be purchasing. This can quickly become the most difficult decision throughout the whole process, as it comes down to want vs. need. We want as much size as possible, but need to save money. Generally, the rule of thumb is to get the largest mattress that fits within your budget. However, even if you can afford it, going too large in a room that’s not big enough can make a room feel uncomfortable. If you happen to have both the space and the money, there are a few good reasons to go big and select a king-sized bed.

• Space: If you’re a couch surfing veteran or have recently spent a night on a twin-sized bed, you’re aware that we need enough space to get comfy without feeling confined. A contemporary king bed is 76 inches wide and 80 inches long, offering plenty of room for even the biggest bed-hog to stretch out.
• Room to grow: If you’re recently married or planning on starting a family, you’ll quickly realize that full-sized bedroom furniture isn’t large enough for two adults to comfortably share. And once children are added to your family, you’ll inevitably wind up with little guests in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning, taking up valuable space. With a king-sized bed, there’s plenty of room to go around.
• Complete a Room: Many people may find this to be the opposite problem they’re faced with, but occasionally a person has too much space in their bedroom. If a room looks sparse and empty with a full or queen-sized bed, king-sized beds can fill a room elegantly and make it feel comfortable instead of awkward.
  

Whenever cost and space aren’t an issue, king-sized beds are a luxurious and comfy way to get your sleep.

Polystyrene foam is one of the most common materials in the world today. We encounter it on a daily basis, whether or not we’re even aware of that fact. Polystyrene, or EPS, is used everywhere, from coffee cups, to massive blocks that are used as geological landfiller in large construction projects.  But one of its most useful applications is one that is around us almost constantly; foam insulation offers versatility, practicality, and affordability.

Expanded polystyrene is made in massive bulk forms that can be formulated to various density levels. For the purpose of insulation, these blocks are sawn into sheets of varying thickness and given a rating called R-Value, a measure of thermal resistance. These sheets help keep conditioned air in the home from escaping, while also working to resist outside temperatures. The thicker the sheet of EPS, the more it can insulate, and the greater the R-Value, the better it performs as well. Extruded polystyrene, a member of the polystyrene family, uses gasses in its formulation that EPS does not. Only using normal air in EPS means the foam doesn’t lose insulation ability over time, which the loss of gas causes in XPS.

Besides its uses as insulation, EPS performs well in many other jobs. It is often sculpted into detailed forms with computer-controlled machinery, making it a cost-effective home décor material for foam columns, balustrades and molding. EPS is extremely buoyant and resists water well, lending itself to use as self-built boat interiors to boost buoyancy. Its firmness also helps it to be put into use as pet stairs for animals who need help getting in and out of vehicles or up onto the couch.

A body wedge offers benefits individuals often aren’t aware of until they have the experience of using one themselves. Most of us think we’re getting along fine without one, but once a versatile body or seat wedge is added to our day-to-day routine, we realize how much comfort we’ve been missing.

Foam body wedges are available in all sizes large or small, and can be used for practically any purpose. One of their most popular applications is serving as a booster on your furniture and bed. Under your back, foam wedges offer a comfortable body angle for viewing TV or reading, without packing pillows or lumpy blankets underneath you. Wedges can also be moved under the legs for a lower-body boost in comfort or improved circulation. They can even be used to modify the angle at which you perform certain exercises during a workout.

Smaller wedges can be used as seating cushions to provide comfort, relieve pressure, and help align the spine better.  When used in the office or car, they can help you sit straighter and more naturally, reducing tension and discomfort in your back, neck, and shoulders.

A foam wedge can be made from any number of foam types, from the softest cushioning foam to the firmest support foam. Coverings are also customizable, whether you’d like a plush fabric for sleep assistance, or a durable vinyl for exercise products.

Traditional mattresses are typically built from materials that can trigger the allergies of people, even when brand-new. For people not affected by the construction materials, dust mites can make their way into a mattress, turning it into a bed slab that leaves them stuffy, congested, and unrested. If you suffer from allergies or would simply prefer a more natural alternative to traditional bedding, latex mattresses may be just what you need.

A natural Dunlop or Talalay latex mattress is hypoallergenic and won’t contain any synthetic ingredients or chemicals. These two latex foam varieties are slightly different based upon their formation, but share the same general character traits. By virtue of their open-cell structure and grid-like pin-core design which is a result of the manufacturing process, latex mattresses are aerating and one of the coolest sleeping surfaces on the market, making them great for people who “sleep hot.” Latex bedding conforms to the body in a supportive fashion, but without so much firmness that the material doesn’t relieve pressure. Its springy responsiveness adapts to every movement you make, meaning support is constant and immediate throughout the night, no matter the position you’re in. There are different density and firmness levels of latex as well, so people can enjoy the benefits of latex whatever their comfort preferences are. Latex is also made into pillows, which is terrific for people who desire an all-latex setup or mattress toppers for people looking for comfort exclusively.

If you’re looking for better sleep, better health, or better comfort, you can find all three in a natural latex mattress.

After a long, hard day of work everybody deserves to walk through their door, collapse on the couch, and put up their feet. We don’t get to do that without a cushion footstool though; one of the most underrated pieces of furniture in a home.

Used as foot rests, extra seating, end tables, or even as decoration, ottomans are one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can add to a home and can be found in varieties to fit any preference. The most classically recognized version of the ottoman is the four-legged, stool-style custom cushion. These are typically acquired as part of a living room set, generally meant to accompany couches or seats. They feature soft seat padding that’s comfortable enough to accommodate an extra guest or just relax with your feet up.

Many ottomans also provide storage space, with a top cushion pad that either lifts off or flips up. These are great for storing old magazines, remote controls, and other odds and ends that have a purpose but not a proper place in your living room.

For younger people, buying a complete living room set that comes with an ottoman doesn’t always make sense, as they’re often moving around, working their way up in their careers. That doesn’t make comfort any less important for these people however, and stand-alone ottomans exist that fit the bill in terms of practicality and affordability. Foam or pellet-stuffed beanbag-style ottomans are terrific for a foot rest in a space that’s maturing one piece at a time or is in need of some eclectic styling. Extremely comfortable, bean bag ottomans come in innumerable fabrics and colors, offer comfy extra seating, and are easily moved or stored.

An investment in a mattress is a big decision, both financially as well as what it means for your health and well-being. When you do find a mattress that’s perfect for you, it’s important to do everything you can to keep it in the best shape possible and extend its life.  To help with that, these are a few tips that can help you extend your mattress’ comfort and functionality:

• Mattress pad. If you’ve had a mattress for a year or two, it’s entirely possible that your comfort preferences have changed since its purchase. If that mattress still remains supportive and structurally sound, there’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. To get the comfort you want with the support you need, implementing a foam bed topper can add cushioning without affecting support, adding years of life to a mattress you would otherwise replace.
• Be gentle. Because of its soft, springy nature, it may be hard for some of us to remember that a bed is not a play area for the kids or pets. Even if you’ve added a thick mattress pad, it’s important to keep in mind that a bed’s only purpose is to provide a great night’s sleep. Using it differently may cause it to wear down prematurely. Rough-housing or abuse can cause foam to tear, springs to snap, and air or water cavities to puncture.
• Keep it dry. Nobody in their right mind would ever purposefully pour water onto their mattress or a neglect to shut a window before a rain storm, but that doesn’t mean an accident can’t happen. When a mattress gets significantly wet, it’s quite difficult to ensure that it fully dries. If it doesn’t, it can lead to mold or mildew. For this reason, adding water resistant bed covers is a good idea, as well as instituting a no food or drink rule for the bedroom. Warranties are often voided by stains caused by an accident, even if the stain is only on the surface and the flaw or defect is very real.

Putting in time in the garage or the garden is a labor of love, considering all the time spent on hands and knees, in awkward, uncomfortable positions. But the reward of blooming gardens or flawless piston timing always ends up being worth the effort. And while it may take a significant amount of time and effort (and money) to get things the way you want, the path to completion needn’t be uncomfortable, and adding something as minor as foam knee pads to your routine can make things more enjoyable.

In the garden, there are countless sticks, twigs, and pieces of mulch waiting to poke and scrape you as you tend to plants, flowers, and vegetables. Gardens are notorious for quickly ruining slacks from all the dirt, and kneeling all the time can pack down soil, making the area hard to grow in. With kneeling pads, or even an old, trimmed down camp mat, you can keep clothes clean and your weight better distributed, leaving an area much more conducive to growth.

In the garage meanwhile, the cold cement floor can cut short a tune-up, courtesy of achy knees or a sore back. Foam kneeling pads are thick enough to cushion against the cement without raising you so high that it becomes hard to maneuver or reach under the vehicle. Foam is an affordable material, so one method of getting the comfort you want is by buying large sheets and making cut to size foam shapes to match your needs, whether you want a long pad to lie on or a smaller pad for kneeling. Padding a garage creeper is another great way of using foam to improve comfort. No matter which hobby you are passionate about, foam pads can make it more enjoyable, whether it’s spent with Corvettes or carnations.

If you are a pet owner, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ve seen them fall asleep in the strangest positions and places imaginable. But while our furry friends seem to have an innate ability to catch up on their sleep anywhere and anyhow, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be appreciative of a supremely comfortable place to curl up in. For the animal in your life, foam pet beds are perfect for giving them the comfort they want and deserve.

Because they are made for beings that can’t comment or complain on their build, many pet beds are filled with low-quality filling. They’re soft and full when the bed is new, but flatten and bunch over time, leaving a lumpy, uneven service; one that is often under-filled as well. A custom made pet bed of foam will offer comfort and support to your pet while still keeping intact the clean appearance of your home. Beds can be purchased in a variety of sizes and thicknesses to fit your pet too, just like foam mattresses for humans. Solid foam pillow fill evenly distributes pressure and never bunches or leaves unsupportive areas like loose fiber filling tends to do.

Memory foam can even be used to make special pet bed cushions, conforming to their bodies and offering premium comfort and better circulation; a trait of particular benefit to older pets or ones with health problems. A solid foam pet bed is also resilient, returning to shape nap after nap. And due to its compressible nature, a foam pet bed can be easily moved, stored or brought along on trips. A pressure relieving cushion like this can be compressed down to a fraction of its regular size and still return to the original shape when unpacked. Getting your pet a solid foam bed is a win-win situation; your pets will feel better and because of that, so will you.