Understanding Your Options: A Simple Mattress Buying Guide
If you’re thinking about replacing your mattress, you might be overwhelmed by the number of options. Check out this mattress buying guide before you shop!
Whether you’re buying your first mattress for a new apartment or you’re finally upgrading your decades-old bed, the choices you face seem overwhelming.
The different materials, mattress construction, firmness, and even sizes mean you have a plethora of options.
Don’t be scared! Here’s a quick and easy mattress buying guide to take you through the essential steps to find the perfect one for your sleeping style.
Sleep Easy with This Ultimate Mattress Buying Guide
Box spring or memory foam? Shop online or test in-store? Here’s everything you need to consider when you’re shopping for a new mattress.
Mattress Types
The construction and materials used vary from mattress to mattress. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the common mattress types you’ll come across.
1. Box Spring
Spring construction is the oldest style of mattress available these days. A series of springs form the mattress, which is topped with some padding and fabric.
Spring mattresses are the cheapest type available as they’re inexpensive to produce. They’ve got the classic ‘bounce’ action and firm support.
2. Memory Foam
Newer mattresses made of latex memory foam mold to the contours of your body as you sleep. This means they provide a greater feeling of total support than a box spring that is less responsive to the body.
Some people find memory foam mattresses make them overheat at night, as the material is less breathable than a box spring.
Memory foam mattresses can even be shipped in a small box. They can roll up into small spaces, making them perfect for people who move frequently or aren’t physically able to handle moving a large box spring around.
3. Hybrid Mattresses
The best of both worlds, an innerspring system topped with memory foam latex delivers contouring comfort with spring support.
Hybrid mattresses are more expensive but solve problems presented by spring-only and foam-only mattresses. They’re more breathable, supportive, and ideal for couples who have different sleeping styles.
You can even find hybrid mattresses with customizable layers and components. These different flipable mattresses are perfect for couples with incompatible sleeping styles. Choose your side and simply flip the layers to suit your personal preference.
The Firmness Factor
Some people like a super-soft mattress while others require almost solid support. It all depends on your preferred sleeping style.
Side sleepers are best matched to foam mattresses that contour to the hips and neck.
Stomach and back sleepers need a more firm mattress that’ll prevent difficulties with these sleeping positions. Stomach sleepers, for example, need support for unobstructed breathing while asleep.
Test It Out
The best way to find out which construction type and firmness suits your sleeping style is to go and test some mattresses out.
Spend plenty of time trying out lots of different mattress types in a store. Make sure you lie on each one for several minutes to really test it out. Don’t worry that you’ll look stupid, it’s what you’re supposed to do in a bed store!
Even if you plan to buy online, test out mattress types in-store first to make sure you’re buying the best one for your needs.
What to Do with Your Old Mattress
Following this mattress buying guide guarantees that you’ll find the perfect mattress for you – but what should you do with the old one?
Arrange for your box spring to be recycled if you simply want rid of it. A curbside pickup service or junk removal company will collect your old mattress if you’re not able to transport it.
You could, however, get creative. Out of ideas? Here’s how to turn an old memory foam mattress into a chaise cushion.
