Buying a new mattress shouldn’t be stressful. After all, your mattress is designed to be a place that lets you kick back and relax. You just need something that will be comfortable for you and give you the support and rest that you really need.
There can be many details that play into the decision. Rather than checking out the price tag or just lying down and choosing one that seems comfortable, you need to consider a few more details before you make your purchase.
What are You Looking For when Buying a Mattress?
Take a look at these tips to help you choose your next mattress wisely. The first thing we need to determine is the specific qualities that you want.
Not every person has the same taste or wants from a mattress, so it’s important to figure out what is going to be a good solution for you. Maybe start by asking yourself these questions:
- What size of bed are you looking for?
- Do you prefer soft or firm, or do you know?
- Are you a hot sleeper?
- Would you like foam or coils in the mattress?
- Does your current mattress have body impressions?
- Do you have issues with lower back pain or other ailments?
- Are you considering a mattress to alleviate symptoms or concerns?
You might not know the exact answers to these questions right away, but they should at least get you thinking about the details that are important to you in a mattress. These are the minor things that we often don’t really consider in the big picture.
Whichever mattress you choose should be the one that fits your needs.
Why the Rush?
When you lie down on your mattress at home, do you just spend 2-3 minutes lying down? We didn’t think so! Why is it that when we shop for mattresses, we lay down for a minute or two and expect that to tell us everything about that mattress? It simply doesn’t cut it.
Start by narrowing down some options based on the criteria you determined above. Choose a few options that seem to fit the bill and sample them. Now, you don’t have to take a nap on each mattress. However, you can spend more than 2 minutes getting a real feel for each option. And any reliable mattress store should be willing to let you do so.
Dr. Michael Breus, author of The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan, recommends spending 8 minutes on each test of a mattress. Treat this like your own bed for that 8 minutes. Crawl into bed like you would at home and lie down naturally how you normally go to sleep. After a couple of minutes, switch positions. Then switch again to test out several positions on the mattress.
At the end of the 8 minutes, consider how you feel about the mattress. Is this the one?
What are the Return Policies?
While the above recommendation should be helpful, the only way to truly know is to sleep on the mattress. If you think you’ve found the best option and you plan to purchase it, always check out what the return or guarantee policies are.
Will they let you return the mattress if you decide you hate it? How long do you have to decide? These are things that you really need to have a good handle on before you walk away with a mattress. Know the specific details of returning the mattress.
Look at How the Bed is Made
Now, take a good hard look at all of the details. Think about things like the internal components and whether or not the mattress is made with high-quality materials.
For example, we typically don’t recommend polyurethane foam as a quality material. It has a low density rate, which leads to it wearing out much too quickly. Things like latex foam and memory foam are more dense. Be careful with memory foam, as it might cause you to sleep hot. Some beds have cooling layers to help with this.
Of course, some mattresses also have coil springs within them to add additional support and stability. The makeup of the mattress determines the overall quality of said mattress.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It can be really easy to walk into a mattress store and get overwhelmed. Sometimes you might get a salesman who could be a tad bit pushy or talk you into something that isn’t really the right fit. The truth of the matter is that the salesperson likely gets paid from a commission. But that doesn’t mean they should be fitting you with the wrong mattress.
If you feel like your salesperson is too pushy, you should walk away or ask for a new sales associate. You need someone who will truly listen to your mattress needs and then try to fit you accordingly. Don’t fall for a sales trap.
The other common mistake is choosing an extremely plush mattress just because it looks incredibly cozy. They look great and feel wonderful initially, but chances are they aren’t that great of a mattress. If you do choose a plush mattress, make sure it’s made of high-quality components and that it’s not too plush for your needs.
The Mattress Should Be about You
When it comes down to it, your mattress shopping should be solely based on your needs. It is important that you don’t choose a bed based on what other people prefer. We all have different preferences and comfort levels.
Always look at the details and do a little bit of research before making a final decision. Take a few moments to test out the bed well and get to know the return policies before you buy.
Here’s to a great night’s sleep on your new mattress!