What Are the Things to Look For When Buying a Mattress?

Keep these criteria in mind when mattress shopping.

There are so many variables in mattress construction. Mattresses come in different sizes, are made of different materials, cost enormously different amounts of money to buy, and come in a range of different styles. Which one is right for you?

To help you out in your quest to buy the right mattress, we’ve spent hours trawling through the mattress industry. Now, we bring you this comprehensive guide on the things to look for when buying a mattress.

Size Matters (When It Comes to Mattresses)

There’s nothing worse than a mattress that is the wrong size. If a mattress is too small, you’ll have a hard time getting a good night’s sleep. On the other hand, if the mattress is too large, it might not fit with your sheets or fit in your room. The trick is to ensure you’re buying a mattress that is in the Goldilocks zone, i.e. just right.

Spring or Foam: Which Is Right for You?

Spring and foam are the two major competing mattress materials at the moment. While both can work well, each has strengths and weaknesses.

• Foam: Tends to be cheaper than a spring mattress. A foam mattress is usually focused on comfort and softness, rather than support. Some foam mattresses will age quickly, compared with other mattress types, and begin sagging.
• Spring: Spring mattresses can be more expensive, and some people find that they’re not as comfortable. However, they do tend to offer better support, which can be preferable if you’re otherwise having trouble with pains in your muscles and joints.

Softer Doesn’t Always Mean Better

Mattresses are usually ranked for firmness, from ultra-soft mattresses to astonishingly-hard mattresses. You might think that a soft mattress would be more comfortable, and for some people that is true, but actually, sometimes a mattress can be too soft for your body. A general rule of thumb is that the heavier a person is, the firmer their mattress should be. If a heavy person sleeps on a mattress that is too soft, their body might be out of alignment while they sleep, and this can cause aches and pains.

Does a Higher Cost Make For a Better Mattress?

Often, spending more money on something is a guarantee on quality. For example, if you spend extravagant amounts of money at a boutique bakery on bread that is fresh out of the oven, you’d hope you were getting a better product than the stale bread being discounted at your local supermarket.

However, just because you spend more money on a mattress, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better sleeping surface. While some high-end mattresses are gloriously comfortable, and some of the cheapest mattresses on the market are totally unfit for sleeping. The important thing is to do your research and make an informed decision.