Choosing a new mattress can be a daunting task. Having to visit multiple mattress stores, coping the sales spiel from a commission hungry salesperson, trying to decide on the mattress you’re going to spend the next 10 years on after trying it for only 10 minutes. Then to top it all off, having to pay extra to get your mattress home, or even worse, having to cart it home yourself.
Fortunately, we have put together 5 helpful tips to help you pick a new mattress.
Step 1: DECIDE IF YOU WANT A SOFT OR FIRM MATTRESS
Before you even start it is important to know if you prefer a firm mattress or a plush mattress.
If you’re not sure how to pick the right mattress for you, as a rule of thumb side sleepers are often better suited to softer mattresses while back and stomach sleepers are better off with a medium to firm mattress. Some mattresses actually allow you to adjust the firmness, like the Macoda which can swap between 3 different configurations to adapt to your sleeping style, even if it changes.
Even if firm is your desired firmness level, it is important to ensure that your mattress provides firm support rather than just a firm feel. Without adequate levels of support this could leave you with unwanted aches and pains, and ultimately a pretty ordinary sleep.
Step 2: KNOW YOUR BUDGET
No one wants to break the bank on a new mattress, although it is important to realise how much you use your mattress. We spend close to a third of our lives sleeping, and the quality of our sleep has a direct impact on every part of our life. We believe it’s important to invest in your sleep and not go with the cheapest option around.
There are mattresses to suit all budgets, with some super cheap options available (great for the in-laws, I hear) up to super duper, 6 figure mattresses that almost certainly aren’t worth the coin. Picking the best mattress, doesn’t always mean the most expensive. Nowadays, many online mattress stores can provide high quality mattresses at a far cheaper price than your traditional mattress store. This is thanks to minimal overheads and no middleman, so the savings are put into the product and passed onto you. If you’re looking at upgrading your whole sleeping setup, it’s worth looking for bundle deals where you can get packaged deals with accessories like pillows and bedding.
Step 3: PICK THE BEST MATTRESS FOR YOU
There are three main types of mattresses. Innerspring, foam, and hybrid.
Innerspring mattresses:
The most traditional form of mattresses, however, as technology has progressed innerspring seems to have been left in the dust. Modern spring technology, such as pocket springs, generally offer better options for support and comfort. The positive with spring mattresses is the cost; many spring mattresses are cheaper than their foam and hybrid counterparts. They are also quite durable and allow for great airflow.
Innerspring mattresses are ideal for those who want durability, added cooling and high levels of support.
Foam mattresses:
These can be split into two parties - Latex and Memory foam.
Latex is known for its durability and responsiveness. It may also be better suited to those after a low-tox sleeping setup, but a full latex mattress will come with a hefty price tag.
Memory foam on the other hand provides superior comfort, moulding to your body and leaving you feeling like you are sleeping on cloud. Memory foam mattresses can have huge variance in quality though, so how do you find a good mattress? No surprise, but cheaper options have poor durability and often sag. There are also issues with heat build up, and mattresses with a thin layer don’t really get the same benefits out of it. Once again, as sleep technology is progressing these issues are less and less in higher quality foams.
Hybrid mattresses:
Finally we have all mighty hybrid, a blend of springs & foam known for providing the best of both worlds. Quality hybrid mattresses feature pocket springs, which are fantastic for providing support to the areas of your body that need it. The springs are then topped with one or more layers of foam. When choosing a hybrid mattress, we strongly recommend checking that there’s at least 7-8cm of foam to ensure maximum comfort. A base of pocket springs also allows for good airflow, while the addition of foam means you get the benefits of comfort, responsiveness and so on – depending on the design. Hybrid mattresses are generally more expensive than pure foam or spring mattresses.
So if you’re wondering “what mattress should I get?” it’s hard to go past the support & comfort of a hybrid mattress.
Step 4: CONSIDER YOUR SIZE AND WEIGHT
This may sound like a silly point to include, however, it does play a role in the levels of support, heat retention and feel.
Heavier individuals are often better suited to firmer mattresses, as more pressure on the bed can sometimes lead to excess sink and as a result jeopardize your spinal alignment. If you are a heavier individual, ensure your mattress ill provide the necessary support.
On the other hand, smaller framed sleepers are often suited with a softer mattress as they will be applying less pressure to the mattress. If the mattress is too firm, it wont contour to your body and leave you waking up sore.
Step 5: SHOP ONLINE OR IN-STORE
When it comes to buying your mattress, you need to decide if you are going to go down the traditional route, being brick and mortar stores, or the increasingly popular option of online mattress.
Should you decide the traditional option is for you, be aware of sales tactics. Many mattress stores will try to oversell “special features” that will only impact your wallet. It is also important to make sure you really give the mattress a good try in all sleep positions as more than often sales from a brick-and-mortar store are final. Side note, beware delivery often not included in the mattress price.
On the other hand, should you take your shopping online you can rest assured with a at home trial, most companies offer you 100 nights to try the mattress in the comfort of your own home. When choosing a mattress online, is also important to investigate independent reviews as this will help you gain an unbiased opinion to help you find the best mattress for you. The other beautiful thing with online companies, is often, delivery is completely free saving you the hassle and extra money.