How to Choose A Mattress

This may be one of the most important investments you can make, not for your home, but you. Sleep is absolutely critical to our overall sense of health and well-being, especially in this new world we find ourselves in, so if you find yourself restless, waking up in pain, or not sleeping through the night, it may be time to consider replacing your mattress. A new mattress can be a sizeable investment so here are the questions you need to vet first so you can choose a mattress that works best for you:

How old is your mattress?

The age of your mattress plays a massive role in regards to choosing a new one. If it’s over 8-years-old, it’s probably time to consider getting a new one.

What type of mattress?

This depends on each person’s needs and personal preferences, but here’s a breakdown on the most classic types:

  • Memory Foam: These mattresses only consist of memory foam and they’re ideal for people who are looking for great support, pressure relief and body contouring. While it has a bit of a reputation for “sleeping hot,” many newer brands have been designed with cooling properties.
  • Latex: Built from latex foam, these mattresses are well known for their cooling properties as well as comfort. They offer great bounce, cooling, and responsiveness and they work for people who are looking for a bit of contour, but not nearly as pronounced as a memory foam.
  • Coils: This is a very popular mattress type. Build with one or more layers of spring coils, they provide a sturdier sense of comfort and support. This is best for sleepers who prefer a more traditional coil-to-spring feel.
  • Pillow top: Coil, latex, memory, or hybrid mattresses can all fall into the pillow top category. Pillow top mattresses have a layer of soft material (stuffed or sewn into the cover) that adds extra cushion and comfort for the sleeper. If you enjoy a cloud-like sensation when you sleep, this is the type of support you need.
Hand on mattress

What’s your budget?

This is highly subjective, of course, and also what’s available. Years ago we had to go in-store to make our purchase, but now with so many brands offering mattresses online, you have so many more options and price points to think about. More money doesn’t always mean a better mattress, and that’s because at the retail level, mattress pricing is dramatically inflated, sometimes as much as 1000%. My advice? Start with a $1,000 budget. It’s tipping into the luxury product realm and you will be able to have many more options (anything less and you’re going to be disappointed in the quality). That said, if you want a King/California King, you will have to increase your budget to accommodate. And remember: If this mattress is intended to last you for the next 8-10 years, don’t skimp if you can avoid it! Your sleep is worth the investment.

Don’t forget to ask about the refund policy!

You may not be happy with your pick, so fear not: If you bought the mattress in-store, you may get a partial refund, whereas if you went the online route, brands often arrange to pick it up and will give you 100% of your money back. Test out a new mattress for a month risk-free so you can get used to it before making your final decision.

What’s the right firmness?

This is a bit of a tricky question to answer, but here’s how you can identify what might be the best for you:

  • Consider your weight and sleeping position to narrow down a range.
  • Ask whether you’ve found yourself wishing for a harder or soft mattress when using your current mattress at home or if you’ve recently stayed at a hotel.
  • Visit a retailer as a research mission and try out some beds. Make sure to stay on a mattress for at least 10-15 minutes to evaluate what’s comfortable

Sleeping Positions:

What position do you default to when you tuck in and fall asleep? What position do you find yourself in when you wake up? These answers will provide helpful insights into how you choose a mattress. The parts of your body that need more support to maintain good spinal alignment is based on your sleeping posture. Finding the right mattress to suit your sleeping position can help avoid any aches and pains. Check in with yourself to see if you are a back sleeper, side sleeper, stomach sleeper, or all of the above. Depending on which way you sleep, your pressure points in your body will vary, which will determine what type of mattress best suits your comfort. Whether you shop in-store or online, these questions are important to ask the sales associate so they can help you figure out which mattress will minimize misalignment.

Family sleeping