Guidence for a DIY bed for a college student
Dec 30, 2009 5:28 PM
Joined: Dec 30, 2009
Points: 2
I am looking to build a bed from scratch, as i currently don't have one. My budget is maxed at $500 but the cheaper the better! I am interested in building a foam bed preferably with a memory foam top. The bed should be big enough for 2 people to sleep comfortably (queen?) I am 5'9" weighing 140 and my gf is 5'7" weighing 115, we are both side sleepers. I have found foamorder.com, but I have also found http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/8-inch-Queen-size-Accu-Gold-Memory-Foam-RV-Component-Sleep-System/4398172/product.html How many layers should I have and how deep? The mattress will most likely lay straight on the hardwood floor. Any guidance is appreciated, as I don't know much about foam and have been scouring the internet for a long time for diy stuff w/o any success. I also searched the forums, but didn't find much info from previous posts. Thanks!
This message was modified Dec 30, 2009 by iAn0ma1y
Re: Guidence for a DIY bed for a college student
Reply #1 Dec 30, 2009 6:21 PM
Joined: Aug 30, 2007
Points: 464
iAn0ma1y wrote:
I also searched the forums, but didn't find much info from previous posts.

How is that possible?
Re: Guidence for a DIY bed for a college student
Reply #2 Jan 1, 2010 11:05 PM
Joined: Dec 30, 2009
Points: 2
sager66 wrote:
How is that possible?


Sorry, that was very unspecific and poorly written... I was referring to my situation. I have found plenty of info on DIY projects. Being 2 very light people, I was wondering what the bare minimum that would be necessary to not bottom out and still get all the comfort and support. I have read of many people having their base being from 3 upwards of 8 inches with varying ILD's. I don't know much about ILD's and their firmness, but I would think that a thin (2 in) base layer of a hard (50 ILD) foam plus some egg crate and memory topper would be enough. The other question I have is whether the 4 LB memory is softer than 5 LB or is it just quality and life expectancy? Also, would 4 inches of memory foam be excessive and unsupportive?
Re: Guidence for a DIY bed for a college student
Reply #3 Jan 3, 2010 1:58 AM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
iAn0ma1y wrote:
I am looking to build a bed from scratch, as i currently don't have one. My budget is maxed at $500 but the cheaper the better! I am interested in building a foam bed preferably with a memory foam top. The bed should be big enough for 2 people to sleep comfortably (queen?) I am 5'9" weighing 140 and my gf is 5'7" weighing 115, we are both side sleepers. I have found foamorder.com, but I have also found http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/8-inch-Queen-size-Accu-Gold-Memory-Foam-RV-Component-Sleep-System/4398172/product.html How many layers should I have and how deep? The mattress will most likely lay straight on the hardwood floor. Any guidance is appreciated, as I don't know much about foam and have been scouring the internet for a long time for diy stuff w/o any success. I also searched the forums, but didn't find much info from previous posts. Thanks!

I did not like overnightmattress,com 's memory foam mattress, but do like their M-Grade base unit. They have a 120 day sleep guarantee.

I would buy the base unit if I were you, the one they sell that is 8-9" of pure M-Grade foam. Then buy two x 1" Sensus memory foam toppers from Overstock.com.
One may be enough so you can start with one but you'll probably need 2. You could buy one 2" one but personally I always like to buy in one inch layers, to have more options of mixing and matching. For instance if the 2 x 1" Sensus is too soft, you could buy a 1" latex soft topper and mix it, 1" of mem. foam and 1" of latex.

So, mem. foam is okay, but buying it glued to the overnightmattress.com one, as on their site, is a mistake as it's not good quality mem foam and then you're (literally) stuck with it. So get the M-Grade base unit with no mem foam, then add your own latex and /or mem. foam (sensus is best imho).