Guest Blogger: Essential Tips Before you Buy a Mattress

 Entry #2044, January 25, 2012

Your bedroom should be comfortable and restful. Nearly everyone has suffered from a restless night due to a mattress that was too soft, too hard, too lumpy, too small, and so on. So when it’s time to replace your old pallet, you no doubt want to find one that is just right for you, like Goldilocks. The only problem is, there are a lot of products out there to peruse, which can make it hard to narrow your options. And even if you find the perfect one, it could be way out of your price range. Of course, you’re likely to keep your mattress for the next 8-10 years (or even longer if it’s high quality and you take good care of it). And during that time you’ll no doubt want to get the best rest possible. So perhaps the use value will prompt you to spend a little more. But before you splurge on the mattress of your dreams, there are a few things you should consider.

Mattress tips to consider before buying

Image via: Tracy Murdock

Comfort can be hard to gauge.

The relative comfort of a mattress depends almost entirely on the person using it since we all have different ideas about what conditions provide for a good night’s sleep. Some people prefer a mattress that they can sink into while others don’t want the top to give an inch when they lie on it. The real problem, however, is that five minutes spent on a mattress in the store won’t necessarily tell you what an entire night will feel like. So even if you think you like an extra firm mattress, most experts recommend that you go one level softer. Or if it’s still too firm, you could always add a layer of foam or a pillow-top mattress cover.

Consider size.

It can be hard to convince yourself to spend several hundred dollars more for the next size up when you go to buy a new mattress, but if you’ve been sharing a queen-size bed for years, feeling every movement your partner makes all night, you will be pleasantly surprised by the benefits that come with upgrading to a European or California king mattress. Both of you will likely enjoy deeper sleep and fewer interruptions from your bed-mate.

Details may vary.

It’s important to understand that there is no uniform system when it comes to mattress specs. While the sizing tends to be fairly accurate from one company to another, the softness and firmness ratings from vendor to vendor are rather subjective. So don’t expect that just because you like a firm mattress from one company that you’ll like them all.

Look at these tips before you buy a mattress

Image via: Mark Burstyn Photography

Try it in-store, buy it online.

There’s no doubt that you can find some crazy deals online where mattresses are concerned, but this is one of those purchases that you really need to try before you buy. So head to your local mattress retailer to bounce a few bed springs and then seek out the model you like online for the best possible deal.

Alternative options.

These days, the mattress and box springs combo is practically a dinosaur. Sure, waterbeds (like the ones at www.my-waterbed-shop.com) have been around for a while, but technological advances have now produced pillow-top mattresses, sleep number beds, memory foam, and even products that are half old-school and half new (foam on top, springs on the bottom) for those who just can’t decide. You might not think you’ll like some of these alternatives to traditional fare, but you’ll never know unless you give them a try.

For more bedroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.