Thinking about the most important items in your home, your mattress is probably in the top five. After all, a good night’s sleep is linked to so many health benefits, including a reduction of stress, an increase in focus and attention, and a lesser chance of developing heart conditions, cancer, and inflammation. Plus, you spend about 1/3 of your life in bed, so you should consider buying the perfect mattresses for you.
However, there are many factors to consider when you are purchasing a mattress. For example, do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? Do you have a certain budget? How do you choose such an important thing for you and your family, keeping all of this and more in mind? Look at the tips below for help!
Step 1: Know What You Like And Dislike
If you are reading this, you probably already know what you didn’t like about your old mattress. Maybe it had some rips and tears in it. Maybe your body deeply sank into it, making you feel achy when you woke up. Maybe it was collecting too much dust, affecting your allergies or asthma in the morning.
what you know to your advantage! For example, if you and your partner wake each other up when you toss and turn, look for a mattress with a high stabilization. If you feel sharp points or lumps, look for a mattress with high durability.
This also means you should know the firmness level of your bed. Mattresses are ranked on a firmness scale – 1 being extremely soft, and 10 being extremely firm. Most people like a firmness between 4 and 7, being anywhere from slightly soft to slightly firm.
Step 2: Go To The Mattress Store
While it is true you can buy just about anything online, a mattress should not be one of those things. After all, you need to make sure that it is comfortable for you and your partner, and that is impossible to test online.
If you are thinking of buying a mattress, it is recommended that you spend about fifteen minutes laying in it, in the same position that you normally sleep in. People may stare at you while you do this – but laying down on the mattress is truly one of the best methods for determining if the specific mattress id for you or not. Don’t be surprised if one of the employees asks you to wake up because you fell asleep! Check out this guide.
Step 3: Use The Trial Period To Your Advantage
Many manufacturers offer between three weeks and three months to try out your mattress. They are aware that people are used to their old mattresses, so they want to make sure that the mattress you buy really is the perfect choice for you.
Dr. Steven Scharf, who is the director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, recommends that you keep the same pillow to rule out the pillow being the cause of your sleep problems.
If it turns out the mattress you purchased is not the right fit for you, simply return it within the trial period, and begin the process again! Make sure that you know exactly what you did not like about it, so when the employee at the store asks you why you are returning it, they are better able to guide you to a perfect mattress.
Step 4: Stay Within Your Budget
Did you know that retail stores sometimes inflate the price of a mattress by as much as 300 – 1,000%? Make sure you are savvy about that, as well as exactly what you want in a mattress, to make sure that you avoid flashy deals.
A recommended budget is $1,000, though bigger beds do require more money for higher quality. Remember, when it comes to mattresses, a high price does not always equate great quality. But don’t go for a low-priced product, either – a mattress costing $500 or less is generally not worth the time. Keep in mind, a typical mattress lasts between 8-10 years. A $1,000 budget at that price is just over a quarter per day!
Step 5: How Do You Sleep?
Everybody sleeps in their own way. Most people sleep on their side, back, stomach, or sometimes even a combination of all of those!
If you are a side sleeper, you probably shift what side you sleep on, as well as if you keep one, both, or neither of your legs straight. A softer mattress is recommended. If you sleep on your stomach, a mattress that supports you is what you need. You would want a firmer mattress. Sleeping on your back would require you to have a mattress that is not too soft, and not too firm.
If you sleep in a combination of ways, you probably will want a mattress that is a 5 on firmness. This way, you combine the best of all worlds! If you and your partner sleep in different ways, it is best to discuss the firmness before deciding.
Know the type of the product that you and your partner like. According to Sleep Standards, make sure you and your partner take a trip to a store, and try out all potential mattresses for about 15 minutes each, using the way you naturally sleep. Use the manufacturer’s trial period to ensure that you love the mattress, and would be comfortable sleeping on it for the next 8-10 years. Make a budget of about $1,000, and stay within your budget!
There are other things you should consider when buying your mattress. For example, are you planning on sleeping in the bed by yourself, or with a partner? Are you a light or a heavy sleeper? How much do you weigh? How firm do you like it? Do you prefer with foam or coils? These are all questions that you should answer before actively looking for a new mattress.
