Choosing the Perfect Mattress
What do you need to think about when choosing the perfect mattress to sleep on each night? What about mattress dimensions and whether to choose a plush or firm mattress? You also need to know how to envision this new item fitting into your bedroom, with all that entails.
Then there are other long-term considerations like mattress disposal and mattress recycling. You may wonder how to recycle your mattress or otherwise upgrade from one purchase to another. How will that work? After all, mattresses are BIG. They’re not the thing you can just toss when you get tired of it or replace it.
Here are some of the best tips for choosing the right mattress for a good night’s sleep.
Look at Modern Mattress Technology
Today, you have some pretty specific choices for choosing the perfect mattress.
First, you have the traditional spring mattress with what the pros call an “innerspring” composition. You also have a foam mattress that doesn’t have springs in it at all. In addition, there is a hybrid where you can get a spring and foam in one modern design! Which one will best outfit your bedroom for a calming sleep?
Assess Your Sleep Patterns
Here’s another big consideration—how do you most often sleep? On your side, on your back or on your stomach?
Or is it a combination?
Some of this is going to determine the mattress that you choose. For instance, some back or stomach sleepers are going to need a firmer mattress than if they were side-sleeping. It might seem strange to have to figure out what you “most often” do, but the more you can identify your sleep habits, the better choices you can make when it comes to a mattress.
When it comes to choosing a mattress for back pain, this is especially important since a firmer mattress can help with spinal alignment and lower back support.
Consider Your Body Type
It’s also a good idea to think about body type and your overall weight and height when choosing a mattress.
Obviously, if you’re taller, you’re going to need a longer mattress to be comfortable. Also, with larger body types, you may need a firmer mattress, as mentioned above. Sinking in too deep can lead to back problems!
Mattress Sizing
After you get all of this figured out, you’ll be looking at different sizes and shapes of mattresses.
Lots of people find the system confusing at first. Here are the conventional options:
- A twin mattress, which is 38″ x 75″
- A twin XL mattress, which is 38″ x 80″
- A full bed mattress, which is 54″ x 75″
- A queen bed mattress, which is 60″ x 80″
- A king bed mattress, which is 76″ x 80″
Most people choose queen-size mattresses for their bedrooms. However, Olympic queen-size mattresses are 6 inches wider, making them a good choice for people who are taller than average or want more room to move around in bed. These mattresses also have a few other advantages. For one thing, they provide a more comfortable sleeping surface for couples since there is less chance of one person rolling into the other person’s space. Read more here about the benefits of Olympic queen-size mattresses. You’ll also find a few tips on what to avoid when purchasing an Olympic queen-size mattress.
California King or Western King
In addition, there’s something called the California King or Western King. This bed measures 72″ x 84″, which is also a little confusing to people who are thinking about dimensions as being height first, then width.
One way to explain it is that the conventional king bed looks more like a square. In fact, there are only four inches of difference between the two dimensions.
The California king is different—at a record-setting 84 inches, it’s ideal for people who are over six feet tall. However, it’s a bit thinner than the traditional king—four inches thinner, to be exact—and has more of a rectangular shape.
In terms of mattress sizing, you also want to consider the size of the room or space you are filling. Most people want at least a couple of feet at the side of the room to walk around the mattress. If you want to walk on both sides of the mattress, double that distance when you’re planning for space.
Another good rule of thumb is that the Western king is kind of like two twins XLs put together. That’s another option—to get two smaller mattresses, and put them side by side. That can help with trying to get a bigger-sized mattress into a smaller room or through a smaller door.
Temperature and Controls
Here’s another tip for choosing the best mattress for your bed.
Do you want heating components on the mattress? What about dual controls for picky co-sleepers?
These bells and whistles are often part of an informed decision when you’re looking for a new mattress.
Made in the USA Mattresses
Another distinction is whether this major purchase was made in the USA or overseas. American-made mattresses can be more expensive, but they are generally pretty high in quality.
Mattress Recycling
Then there’s that whole question of what to do with an old mattress that you no longer need anymore.
Lots of people experience the need for a new mattress over time. Springs can wear out and body weight can change, for example.
So it’s helpful to have a provider who will accept a used model and let you trade-in. Otherwise, you need to find someplace to offload the old mattress that you don’t use anymore.
Take note of all of these tips for getting the best mattress when you’re looking for a new bed.
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