DreamFoam Essential mattress: A Comprehensive Review
The DreamFoam Essential mattress, manufactured by Brooklyn Bedding, is a straightforward all-foam bed-in-a-box option that stands out for its unique features. Previously known as the Brooklyn Bedding Chill mattress, this mattress effectively avoids heat retention issues commonly associated with foam mattresses.
What truly sets this mattress apart is the extensive range of sizes it offers. The firmness of the DreamFoam mattress depends on the thickness you choose. There are five options available, ranging from six to 14 inches, which correspond to a firm to medium-soft feel. Additionally, the mattress is available in 22 different sizes, including several designed specifically for RV or boat spaces.
(Image credit: Future)
Over three weeks, my husband and I slept on the 10-inch thick queen-sized mattress. During testing, I found that the DreamFoam mattress exhibited good motion isolation, an essential factor for couples. Despite having different sleep preferences – I am a side sleeper who prefers a softer mattress, while my husband is a stomach sleeper who prefers a firmer mattress – we both found it to be comfortable. The 10-inch mattress falls in the middle of the firmness range and is referred to as ‘medium-firm’ by the company. It is better suited for stomach and back sleepers due to its lack of contouring compared to softer mattresses. If firm edges are important to you for sitting comfortably on the edge of your bed, you may want to explore other options.
While it may not be the most luxurious or exciting mattress available, the DreamFoam Essential is highly functional and comes at an affordable price point. Although it didn’t make the cut for TechRadar’s overall best mattress guide, it is featured among the best cheap mattress picks. It is particularly useful if you are searching for a mattress to fit an unconventional space. Read on for a comprehensive review of the Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress.
DreamFoam mattress review: Materials & Design
An all-foam mattress with two to three layers, depending on thickness
Simple yet effective design
Wide range of sizes and thickness options
The DreamFoam Essential mattress stands out with its offering of 22 different sizes, each available in five different thickness options. The depth ranges from six to 14 inches, with increased thickness resulting in a softer sleep feel. While many Brooklyn Bedding mattresses come in various sizes, the DreamFoam Essential mattress offers the most extensive range.
(Image credit: Brooklyn Bedding)
The design of the mattress is simple yet effective. While the cover is not removable for cleaning, it is designed to be stain-resistant. Each mattress consists of at least two foam layers: a high-density foam layer at the bottom for firm support and a Gel Swirl Memory Foam top layer that responds to your movement. The top layer is infused with cooling gel and described as ‘open-cell’ to promote airflow and heat dissipation. While most mattress foams are open-cell, I was impressed with the temperature regulation capabilities of this mattress, as I will explain in more detail in the Performance section of this review. The 6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch models all feature these two layers, with the thickness of the layers increasing as the mattress gets thicker.
The two thickest models, the 12-inch and 14-inch mattresses, include a third transitional foam layer between the two mentioned above. This middle layer is a high-density foam designed to provide better body contouring.
(Image credit: Future)
According to Brooklyn Bedding’s recommendation, the mattress should be rotated every six to eight months, although it is not flippable. The lack of handles makes maneuvering the mattress slightly challenging. While the design may not be the most luxurious or complex, it offers decent quality at an affordable price (though our review model did exhibit some loose stitching).
Design score: 3.5 out of 5
DreamFoam Essential review: Price & Value for Money
Considered a budget or lower mid-range mattress, depending on the thickness
Offers good value for the quality; reputable brand name
Always available at a discount – expect approximately 25% off or occasionally more
Similar to many mattresses, the DreamFoam Essential is never sold at full price. Typically, you can expect a 20% discount off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). With this discount, the 6-inch and 8-inch models fall into the budget category, while the 10-inch version and thicker options are considered lower mid-range.
Here are the official prices for the main sizes, alongside the expected discounted prices for the 10-inch model:
Twin: MSRP $449 (usually sold at $336.80)
Full: MSRP $574 (usually sold at $430.50)
Queen: MSRP $699 (usually sold at $524.30)
King: MSRP $899 (usually sold at $674.30)
Cal king: MSRP $899 (usually sold at $674.30)
If you are not in a hurry to make a purchase, you may be able to find even greater discounts during national holidays. The Black Friday mattress deals in late November typically offer the lowest prices of the year. Parent company Brooklyn Bedding also tends to increase its discounts to 30% off during events like Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day mattress sales.
In terms of value for money, the DreamFoam Essential mattress offers good quality for its affordable price. However, there are cheaper options available in TechRadar’s best memory foam mattress guide. Nevertheless, you can trust the reassurance and expertise of a reputable sleep brand like Brooklyn Bedding (DreamFoam is a subsidiary of Brooklyn Bedding). If you are considering the 12-inch version or thicker, there are similarly-priced alternatives that may offer more features and benefits. For example, the DreamCloud mattress (unrelated to DreamFoam) boasts a more sophisticated and luxurious design, along with a longer trial and warranty period.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
DreamFoam Essential review: Comfort & Support
Firmness varies depending on thickness; 10″ model rated approximately 7/10
10-inch version suitable for all sleep positions
Limited body contouring
The DreamFoam Essential mattress is available in five different thicknesses, with each option offering a different firmness level. In this review, I tested the 10-inch model, which falls in the middle of the firmness range. The company rates it as ‘medium-firm’, giving it a firmness rating of 6 out of 10. Personally, I found it to be slightly firmer, closer to a 7 out of 10. It is important to note that the following section of this review focuses solely on the 10-inch version, and the thinner and thicker versions may have different characteristics.
I found that the DreamFoam Essential mattress provides more of a lying-on-top feeling rather than a sinking-in sensation. The mattress doesn’t contour to the body significantly. The sleep surface is responsive and quickly springs back when pressure is relieved. Despite being composed of two foam layers with varying densities, I didn’t feel the distinction while sleeping on it.
(Image credit: Future)
To obtain a more objective measure of firmness, I placed a 15-pound weight in the middle of the mattress and measured the depth of sinking. The weight sank to a depth of around two inches, which aligns with Brooklyn Bedding’s medium-firm rating for the 10-inch model. I agree with the company’s assessment of medium-firmness, as it felt that way subjectively as well.
Preferences for mattress firmness vary from person to person. As a general rule, side sleepers tend to prefer slightly softer mattresses with more pronounced contouring to alleviate pressure around the hips and shoulders. On the other hand, back and stomach sleepers often find the support they need in firmer mattresses. Additionally, individuals with larger bodies generally require the additional support of firmer mattresses, while those with lighter body weights might find softer mattresses more comfortable.
Both my husband and I have lighter body weights, but he primarily sleeps on his stomach while I mainly sleep on my side. We both occasionally sleep on our backs as well. I found the DreamFoam Essential mattress to be comfortable even when lying on my side, with just the right amount of contouring to ensure a restful night’s sleep. My husband, who prefers sleeping on his stomach, found it even more comfortable. Since it is designed to support up to 950 lbs, it should be suitable for individuals with larger body sizes as well.
Brooklyn DreamFoam mattress review: Performance
Effective temperature regulation
Good support for sleeping; limited support when sitting
Minimal transfer of motion
One common issue with foam mattresses is their tendency to trap heat, leading to an uncomfortably warm sleeping experience. However, the DreamFoam Essential mattress effectively addresses this concern.
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