Purchasing a mattress is the most important furniture purchase you’ll make because you spend more time on a mattress than on any other piece of furniture you own.
The seven points below are things you should be aware of and consider before you purchase a mattress since that mattress will be a huge factor in the quality of sleep you receive each evening. Being prepared will save you time, so you won’t be walking around the mattress store aimlessly.
Decide on a budget
The prices of mattresses vary a great deal. If price is your number one consideration you can find an inexpensive mattress and box spring set for a few hundred dollars. But I recommend buying the best mattress and box spring you can afford. When you buy a mattress you get what you pay for.
Decide what size mattress you need
If you are buying a mattress for a child a twin size mattress is fine, but if you are an adult and there are two people sleeping in your bed I don’t recommend going with anything smaller than a queen-size bed. If you can afford a king-size bed and you have space for it, I recommend it.
Test. Test. Test. Try out mattresses
Go to several stores and lay down on different mattresses. See what you find comfortable. A firm mattress isn’t always the best mattress. It depends on the individual. If you and your partner prefer different firmness levels look for a mattress that can have different firmness levels on each side.
Don’t be concerned about the words, firm, extra firm, etc.
Firmness is not standardized in the mattress industry. One manufacturer’s firm mattress may actually be firmer than another manufacturer’s extra firm mattress. Look for comfort and support. You want to feel cradled and supported when you lay on a mattress. And don’t feel self-conscious about going into stores and lying on as many mattresses as you want. It’s the best way to tell if a mattress is or isn’t right for you. The best way to check out the mattress is to take off your shoes and your coat. Lying on a mattress with your coat and shoes on is not going to help you determine what mattress is right for you unless you plan on sleeping in your coat and shoes every night.
Warranty is important but not as important as you might think
A mattress with a 25-year warranty is great, but the life expectancy of a great quality mattress is only about 10 years. You want a warranty to protect you from defects and problems. To me, a sleep guarantee is more important than a long warranty. What I mean by a sleep guarantee is that you are given a period of time to try out your mattress. For example, some stores and manufacturers give sleep guarantees of up to 90 days although 30 days is the most common. If during that time you decide the mattress you purchased is not right for you, you are able to either exchange it or return it for a refund.
Get familiar with the terms innerspring and box spring
Innerspring mattresses are, by far, the most common type of mattress purchased. An innerspring mattress is made with tempered steel coils encased in layers of cushioning and upholstery. The box spring or foundation is what the mattress sits on. It’s generally not considered a good idea to put a new mattress on an old box spring. A manufacturers box spring and mattress are designed to work together to give you the best product. In addition, many manufacturers will void their warranty if a mattress is not placed on the box spring that is designed to go with it.
Know what choices you have besides the traditional innerspring and box spring sets.
There are other viable options depending on what you are looking for. Those options include foam mattresses, futons, airbeds, adjustable beds, and waterbeds.
Foam mattresses – a foam mattress can be made of solid foam piece or may be composed of several layers of different types of foam. Some foam mattresses have a top layer that is composed of memory foam that remembers the shape of your body and conforms to it.
Futons – futon beds are basically a frame with a folding mattress on it. A futon can function as both a sofa and a bed. Most futons come with a standard 6-inch foam mattress, which isn’t very comfortable if the futon is going to be a person’s primary bed. If the futon is going to be a primary bed a better option is to purchase an innerspring mattress for the bed. Several manufacturers make innerspring mattresses for futons. The innerspring mattresses are more expensive but are also a whole lot more comfortable. If an innerspring mattress is out of your price range, try to at least upgrade to an 8-inch foam mattress.
Airbed – an airbed is just what it sounds like a bed full of air. Most airbeds (or air mattresses) are touted as being portable, easy to set up, and easy to store after use. Today’s airbeds are a lot more than inflatable pieces of plastic. Some airbeds have adjustable firmness levels and/or a heated top to make them more comfortable.
Adjustable beds – an adjustable bed is a lot like a hospital bed because it allows you to adjust the head and foot of the bed to your liking. Adjustable beds come in all sizes and the larger sizes have separate controls for each side of the bed.
Waterbeds – today’s waterbeds are more sturdy than the wobbly water-filled mattresses from the 70s that you could get seasick on. The latest designs are built to look like an innerspring/box spring set. The interior of the mattress has layers of baffling and upholstery to provide support and comfort.
There are a lot of choices in mattresses today. If you do a little research and become familiar with the different types of mattresses available to you before you start to shop, the task of finding the right mattress for you will be easier.