Mattress shopping is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking into buying a new mattress for your home, there are some things that you need to take into consideration before making this massive new purchase.
Beds last a really long time (up to ten years), so make sure that you’re happy with the one that you purchase. While most places have return policies, you should still think about the future when purchasing a bed. Are you going to be happy with it for the next ten years of your life?
Your Weight (and Your Partner’s Weight)
No mattresses are made the exact same way, so you need to factor in your weight when looking to make a purchase. Because some mattresses can sink after being slept on for years, you want to consider a more firm, more durable mattress if you weigh more than 230 pounds. You’ll want to look for the best mattress for heavy people. There are plenty of great mattresses made with fat people in mind, you just have to find them.
Sinkage and cooling are two huge factors you need to look at when considering a mattress. Heavier people will want to consider a firm mattress that prevents sinkage and a coil mattress to help with cooling.
Sleeping Position
You should also always keep in mind the position you most often sleep in.
- Side sleepers should choose mattresses that range from very soft to medium/medium-firm.
- Stomach sleepers should choose mattresses that range from medium to medium-firm/very firm.
- Stomach sleepers should choose mattresses that range from soft/medium to medium-firm/very firm.
People who switch from sleeping on their stomach to sleeping on their back are in luck, as these two sleeping positions call for the same firmness. However, if you’re a side sleeper you’re going to want something much softer.
If you like to switch positions throughout the night, you’ll want to choose a firmness that allows for all three. In this case, you’ll want to go for something in the middle between soft and medium firm. Medium is your best bet.
Choose Your Ideal Material and Type
After choosing your firmness, you’ll want to start looking into the different materials that are available.
- Innersprings/Coils: These are one of the more affordable options on the market, but they’re also the least desired as there are many better options out there these days. However, coil mattresses allow for better cooling.
- Latex: These mattresses are known for being extremely comfortable and having a fantastic cooling system.
- Memory foam: Memory foam conforms to every inch of the body that presses into it, making it perfect for almost every type of sleeper. It also allows one person to move on the mattress without disturbing the other.
- Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses are both coil and memory foam. To benefit from a hybrid mattress, choose one that has close to 3 inches of foam. Otherwise, the coils are basically useless.
- Pillow-top: Pillow-top mattresses can be coil, memory foam, or latex. What makes them special is the soft fabric that’s sewn into the top of the bed, making it more soft and comfortable.
Buy the Perfect Mattress
No matter what your body weight is, how you sleep, and what type of mattress you’re looking for, there’s one out there for you. You just have to find it.
When looking for a mattress, it’s best to try them out in person. Go to a store and figure out which firmness you like the most. Use that information to look at mattresses online that may be cheaper.
When buying a mattress online, make sure that there’s a good return policy unless you end up hating it, and keep in mind that mattresses last up to ten years!
