How to find the mattress of your dreams
Buying a mattress has never been more complicated. Memory foam, gel, latex, innerspring – each brand seems to have its own language. If you don’t know what to look for, you could end up paying too much for something that doesn’t fit your sleeping style.
What size should I choose?
First, decide what size you need: If you have a small room, you might opt for a full-size bed, or you might prefer the spacious comfort of a California King bed. King and Queen sizes often come with a split box spring (two smaller box springs that are formed together) for easy maneuverability. This is a good time to buy a replacement box spring as well. Failure to do so could void the warranty on your new mattress and could also shorten the life of your mattress by not providing enough support. You can often get a discount by buying both at the same time!
What materials do I choose?
The two main types of mattresses are traditional innerspring and memory foam. Innersprings have seen innovations in recent years, such as “pocketed coil” technology that allows each spring to move separately. Memory foam (originally developed by NASA) can come in a variety of options. It can have cooling gel or be combined with another material, such as latex foam (for added support), and can be made of two or more layers.
If you get hot easily, look for breathable materials that allow air to flow freely and consider something with cooling gel. Also, you should choose an option with good support: sinking deeper into the bed will absorb and retain more body heat than staying closer to the surface.
How smooth should it be?
The next consideration when choosing your mattress is more personal: how do you sleep? You may like to sleep on a rock-hard surface, or you may want one as luxurious as your pillow.
The materials used will affect the softness to some extent, such as latex foam that creates stability, as mentioned above. However, the extra cushioning really determines how soft your bed will be. There are three styles of cushions: pillowtop, Eurotop, and tight top. Pillowtops have visible padding sewn on top, while Eurotops have padding sewn on the inside. A form-fitting top without additional cushion, for an extra firm sleep. Try to avoid choosing something too soft or too firm, as this can create painful problems over time.
Once you’ve decided what’s important to you, you’ll be better prepared to hit the showroom floor. You’ll be able to find the best mattress to fit your budget without having to buy something with features you don’t need. Look for a store that allows you to test your purchase at home for a period of time. Some places offer a 100-night guarantee, while others don’t accept returns, so be sure to ask.