How to Choose the Perfect Mattress

Research on sleep indicates that the quality of your mattress is crucial for achieving sound sleep. Using an outdated and poor-quality mattress can not only degrade your sleep but also lead to backaches and discomfort. … Read more

Written by:

Derek

Last Updated: Fri, November 22, 2024

Research on sleep indicates that the quality of your mattress is crucial for achieving sound sleep. Using an outdated and poor-quality mattress can not only degrade your sleep but also lead to backaches and discomfort. Given that purchasing a mattress is a significant investment, it’s vital to consider your specific sleep requirements and the most effective way to fulfill them. Keep in mind that mattresses come in various types and sizes, and they can be as unique as you are. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean it will be challenging to find the ideal one for you. A bit of research and adhering to the right advice can guide you in selecting a mattress that enhances your sleep quality. Discover how to pick a mattress that satisfies your needs.

Determine a Budget

Since purchasing a mattress can be quite expensive, before you start looking for your perfect match, you must set your budget and strictly stick to it. Have in mind that this is also in investment in your health, so don’t just go for the cheapest option. Carefully consider your personal needs. The best way to properly set a budget that will also cover your personal needs is to do some research on your own and narrow down the mattress size and type before you go to a store.

Selecting a Mattress Store

You cannot just go to some store and blindly look for mattresses. Do some online research and make a selection of furniture stores and sleep specialty shops that sell quality mattresses at an affordable price. If you are not sure what stores are the best in your area, ask your family and friends for suggestions or find and read some online reviews. Reading online reviews may also come useful when it comes to deciding what mattress type is best for you. Consider online reviews only from the websites you trust.

Rely on Professional Advice

If you are not sure what mattress will meet your personal needs, ask a sleeping expert or a knowledgeable salesperson for help. Experienced salespeople can familiarize your with different types of mattresses, as well as with their potential advantages or disadvantages. Feel free to ask questions and look for detailed explanations. If you feel like the person you are talking with is not is knowledgeable enough or helpful, simply go to another store.

Test Before You Buy

The best way to try a mattress and ensure it’s the right choice, take an S.L.E.E.P. test. Start by selecting a mattress and lying down in your typical sleep position. Now, try evaluating the level of comfort and support the mattress provide you. Make sure you educate yourself about your selection, and lastly, if you are buying a couple’s bed, make sure you have tested it together.

To properly test the mattress, spend at least 10 or 15 minutes lying in the position you typically sleep in. If the mattress seems very firm at first, give it some time to relax and feel its true support. Comfort should be your goal, so look for mattresses that suit your body and meet your personal preferences. A good mattress should distribute pressure evenly across the body and conform to the natural curve of your spine. If you can’t determine if your spine is in neutral position as you lie on the mattress, bring a friend or your partner with you to help. If it seems as your spine is unnaturally curved or sagging, you should look for another type. Note that if you are suffering from back pain, sleeping on a saggy mattress will only make matters worse.

Thicker Doesn’t Mean Better

If someone told you that thicker mattresses provide better support, don’t listen to them. Also, thicker mattresses aren’t necessarily more comfortable. Every person has different needs, and when it comes to choosing the perfect mattress, you should only be listening to your body.

Ignore Brand Names

As we mentioned before, every person has unique sleeping needs and preferences. So, if someone told you that some brands are better than others, that don’t necessarily apply to your case. The truth is that some brands will suit some people and some not. One brand cannot suit everyone’s needs. As you shouldn’t determine the quality of a mattress based on its price, you also shouldn’t judge quality based on a brand name.

Give Some Time to Settle

Don’t think you have made a mistake if you bought a mattress that was comfortable when you tried it out in the shop, but not when you actually slept on it for the first time. Your body needs some time to adjust to a new sleeping surface, so you need to have a bit of patience with your new mattress.

Look for Trial Offers or Return Policy

Since mattress are rather expensive to purchase and aren’t changed that often, you should try getting one from stores that provide trial offers or return policies. That way, if you find your new bed uncomfortable, you can simply replace it.

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