Just moved into your own place? So, How To Choose a Mattress?
Starting a new life and you have no clue as to what kind of mattress you should buy?
How about we break it down for you so that you can pick the best mattress for yourself and enjoy happy sleep. One of the most difficult things in understanding which mattress would be perfect for you is the number of options available in the market.
If you are going to shop online then you could make a mistake in picking the wrong mattress. If you are looking forward to walking into a retail store then there are a lot of chances that the salesman is going to pitch the mattress that needs to be cleared sooner.
There are a lot of things to consider while buying a mattress, your budget, the size of our bed, the shape preferred, the kind of material used in the mattress, the design and the durability.
In this guide, you will be able to pick the best option for yourself and not regret your decision every night you go to bed.
For you to have the most productive days and be in good health, you need to have good sleep. Buying the perfect mattress will help you in living a healthier life as your sleep will get better and once rested you will be good for the entire day.
Table of Contents
Understanding your sleeping position
The first thing you need to understand is how you sleep.
Once you are aware of your sleeping position, you will be able to select the right mattress for yourself. If you pick a mattress that is not well built for your body type then you will start getting problems with your back and poor sleeping patterns.
Types of sleeping positions
- Sleeping on your stomach
- Combination Sleepers
- Sleeping on your sides
- Sleeping on your back
Sleeping on your stomach
If you have a habit of sleeping on your stomach, then according to healthcare experts you need to stop doing so. After some time you will start getting problems in your back and your neck as you are applying a lot of pressure on your spine making it weak.
But if this is how you prefer to sleep and would like to continue to do so then the ideal mattress for you will be something that is able to provide your spine good support. You will have to opt for a firm hybrid or a foam mattress.
Combination Sleeper
If you keep twisting and turning in your sleep throughout the night then you are considered to be a combination sleeper. The best mattress for such types of sleepers is medium-firm mattresses. These mattresses will work wonders for you as you will be able to get the best speed possible.
Memory foam mattresses would not work for you as you will always feel as if you have been tied up to the bed due to its hardness.
Sleeping on your side
Most of the pressure on the body is put on the shoulders and the hips for side sleepers. This means that people who like to sleep on their sides cannot go for hard or medium-hard mattresses and it would affect their sleep and then health eventually.
The best mattress that can be advised is a soft mattress so that the weight distribution can be proper and you can get a sound sleep each day without affecting your shoulders and hips. It has been seen that many of the side sleepers prefer memory foam mattresses.
Sleeping on your back
One of the best positions recommended by health experts is sleeping on your back. Your body gets proper support and great sleep. It is not recommended that you sleep on a soft mattress if this is your preferred sleeping position. The soft mattress would affect your spine as the proper shape cannot be maintained and a lot of pressure will be applied to your back.
You should go for a firm foam mattress or a hybrid mattress if you are a back sleeper. The hybrid mattress is a combination of coils and foam to give users the best sleep.
Body Shapes
The shape of your body also plays an important role in selecting the right mattress. Different body types adjust differently to the types of mattresses available in the market. People with lesser body weight are generally comfortable with softer or medium-soft mattresses while people with heavy body types should go for a firmer or a hybrid mattress.
If you are a tall person, let’s say more than 6 feet then a twin bed mattress is not suggested as often they would be sleeping with their feet hanging from the bed.
The Right Support for your Body
When we talk about support, there are a lot of things to consider.
The right mattress for the right body weight can be said to be the main thing to look into here but you also need to take into account the fact that if you are a combination sleeper then you could find yourself moving towards the corner of your bed and having weak sides to a mattress would harm your sleep significantly.
A light-bodied person can sleep on a soft or a medium soft mattress but for a heavyweight person, it is always recommended that the mattress should have coils for support along with memory foam for a better sleep experience.
Health Issues pertaining to the wrong mattresses used
Lots of people complain about not getting sound sleep due to uncomfortable beds. It’s not the bed that is uncomfortable but the mattress. Many people visit physiotherapists or Chiropractors for pain-related issues related to back and neck problems.
If you select the right mattress for yourself then you will not only save on those doctor visits but also see yourself getting better each day.
If you have had severe back pains in the past then you cannot pick a foam mattress as those would be too hard for your back muscles and the pain would never go away.
It is recommended that you go for a medium soft mattress, something like memory foam or hybrid mattress, to see good results in your pain management. If the right product is purchased then you do not have issues getting to sleep on time.
Choosing the right mattress
I hope what you have read so far has given you a fair understanding of the type of mattress that would suit your requirements. But there is more. You also need to be aware of the types of mattresses available in the market right now and how technology has made these mattresses what they are.
Now you shall get equipped with the knowledge on these mattress types and what they consist of.
Types of mattress
- Innerspring
- Latex Foam
- Foam (Memory Foam & Foam Mattresses)
- Waterbed
- Airbed
- Hybrid Mattress
Innerspring
The innerspring mattress has been one of the most purchased options over the years due to its durability and cost. These days this option is rarely available in the market. The mattress used to consist of long-running coils that had been fixed into the fabric of the mattress.
Some of these mattresses would consist of one long coil running through and some would have small individual springs (coils) fixed to the base. They would add a layer for padding over the coils that would prevent you from feeling these coils.
This coil system eventually started fading out of the picture as moving on these mattresses while on the bed would become a task and the person sleeping next to you would feel the waves of the mattress hence affecting their sleep. The bounciness, later on, started becoming a pain there used to be a lot of spillage on the beds due to it.
If you were planning on going for an Innerspring mattress then I would recommend that you go for the one that had individual coils in the mattress to avoid discomfort to your partner.
Latex Foam Mattress
People who are combination sleepers love latex foam mattresses due to their softness and comfort. The sleeping experience will be great as you will not feel stuck in the bed. You can easily manoeuvre on the mattress with ease and expect a comfortable sleep. Many buyers love the option of getting organic latex mattresses as they have better durability and also have a natural feel.
Most of the latex foam mattresses consist of plant-based latex. However, there are a number of people who are allergic to latex and I would recommend that you consult a doctor before opting for this mattress.
Latex foam mattresses are known for their durability and last longer.
Foam Mattresses
Foam mattresses consist of 2 types, memory foam and foam. A polyurethane foam layer is placed at the bottom of the foam mattresses. But some foam mattresses consist purely of foam and they are firm. These mattresses usually cost less.
The open-celled foam mattresses are more breathable and are a little softer than the all-foam mattress. These mattresses have better performance.
Memory foam mattresses are the most popular foam mattresses as these take up the shape of the person sleeping on them and help with back and pain issues.
This is a great option but for people living in hot climatic conditions, it would have a lot of issues as it is known to trap heat and make the experience a stuffy one. To regulate temperature on these mattresses, some companies use gels or perforations to make the mattress more breathable.
Waterbeds
These are water-filled mattresses that are placed on polished wooden frames usually. You have the option of heating or cooling the mattress as per your choice hence giving you a great sleeping experience.
The maintenance of these waterbed mattresses is very high and the majority of users complain of leaks. Some health experts have pointed out that the waterbed mattresses are great for lower back issues too.
You may consider this mattress provided you live in a child and pet free environment as these mattresses are very delicate and hard to maintain.
Airbeds
Air Beds are high quality inflated mattresses. You can always adjust the softness of the mattress as per your preference. These mattresses are not the most common option. Like Water Mattresses these mattresses are tough to maintain as there can be a lot of leakages and then patches need to be placed in the affected areas.
Here you have the option of working on your back and neck issues by adjusting the firmness of the mattresses each day as per your sleep patterns.
Hybrid Mattresses
Hybrid mattress is a combination of Foam Mattress and Innerspring mattress. This mattress is made of coil springs pocketed in the middle of latex foams. This mattress is one of the most preferred mattresses as it is a combination of firm support and comfort.
This option does not work well for people who need soft mattresses but the Hybrid mattress works great for a lot of sleeping positions and body sizes. The Coils in the mattress makes them highly durable and also an expensive option.
Conclusion: How To Choose A Mattress?
Lastly, you need to understand that mattress purchase is a big investment and you need to be sure of what you buy as you will have to use it for 7 to 10 years.
Hope this has been of good help to you and now you could have the confidence of purchasing the right mattress for yourself.
Our Recommendations For Best Mattresses:
- Awara Mattress Honest Review
- DreamCloud Sleep Mattress Reviews
- Airweave Mattress Review 2024
- SolaySleep Review with Coupons
- Layla Mattress Review
- Sheex Reviews
- Ikea Mattress Reviews
