By Stephanie Graham Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Sep 06, 2016 at 12:00 PM

Editor's Note: Sponsored content is paid third-party advertising content. OnMilwaukee's newsroom does not write or edit this content.

Steinhafels is excited to team up with OnMilwaukee on monthly stories. It’s a great way to share our love of furniture with a new audience. However, this week, we’re talking about something you don’t need to be a home design buff to appreciate: the PERFECT mattress!!

Did you know Steinhafels is the number one mattress retailer in the state? Buying a mattress can be an overwhelming experience. That’s why we have experts on hand to help you out!  There are many different styles, sizes, and features; it all depends what you are looking for and the price range you are looking to stay within. Sleep is so vital to overall health, yet we often overlook the importance of finding the perfect mattress for our specific needs.  

Amy Vander Molen is a Mattress Expert at Steinhafels. She admits that picking the perfect mattress can be frustrating. That’s why a person should come in the store armed with as much information as possible. Here are Amy’s five things to look for when buying a mattress.  

Type of support

  • Independent Coil: An independent coil will shape to the body the best as far as coil beds are concerned. It also provides better longevity as the coils are not tied to each other dependent on each other.
  • Interlocking Coil: The interlocking (aka bonnell coils) are typically the coil you will find in cheaper mattress sets. This type of coil should only be purchased for a guest bed or for a child's mattress.
  • High Density Support Foam (all foam beds): All foam mattresses have a very high density foam that replaces the coils as the main source of support. The benefit of this type of support is a drastic reduction in an individual experiencing pressure points on the mattress.

Quality of materials

  • Generic vs. Name Brand: There is truth in a name brand. Quality and longevity do come with a company that has been tested, tried and true.

Flippable mattress myth

Flippable mattresses are an obsolete technology. Flipping a mattress does absolutely nothing to prolong the life of the foam or springs of the bed.

Firm does not equal support

Firm means hard. A soft or medium type of feel can be just as supportive as a hard mattress. People need to purchase a mattress based on their sleep position, preference for comfort, as well as any ailments they are experiencing.

Mattress accessories are important

  • Pillows make up 30 percent of our spinal alignment. One pillow does not fit all. Based on sleep position as well as body shape, the need for a properly fit pillow is very important. The ideal time to buy a pillow is when you are buying your mattress. It is the only time you can lay and try out different pillows to make sure they fit you and your sleep position.
  • Mattress protectors are super important in protecting the overall life of a mattress. In fact, a visible stain on a mattress voids the manufacturer's warranty so it is vastly important to keep the mattress protected by a breathable waterproof protector.

Mattress foundation

  • Power foundations allow for the bending and articulating of a mattress.
  • High or low profile foundation (aka box springs): Mattresses have gotten thicker over the years because of the use of more support material. As a result, there are two foundation heights to accommodate this. There is typically no price difference and absolutely no support difference between the HP and LP foundation. It just provides compensation for height and convenience.

Check out Amy’s segment that aired on Fox 6 News!