Time for a new mattress? You’ll know it when:
1. You wake up feeling stiff, tired, achy, groggy, or in pain.
2. You have circles under your eyes, and it isn’t because you stayed out late.
3. Your mattress isn’t young anymore. It sags, droops, or the fabric is falling apart.
4. You bought your mattress in a previous decade.
Mattresses have lifetimes just like people do. After only 5 years, your standard innerspring mattress simply does not give you the same support as it used to. It sags and fills up with bacteria and dust mites over time, which we think is pretty gross.
Shopping for a new mattress doesn’t have to be a pain. If you shop with a little savvy, a little shopping “know how,” the experience won’t even be a little overwhelming. For a few simple shopping tips that will make you an expert mattress buyer in no time, finding the perfect mattress for your needs with less than a modicum of fuss, keep on reading!
First: what’s your type?
Sometimes selecting a great mattress can be a truly daunting and confusing process, what with all the distinct mattress types available. Use this guide to select the type best for you.
memory foam beds: specifically engineered based on modern NASA technology, these comfortable and allergy resistant (read: bug proof!) mattresses conform snugly to your body, delivering the most comfortable sleep.
Pros: memory foam beds are hypoallergenic and conform to support every curve of your body. These beds alleviate pressure from crucial pressure points on your body, like your neck, back, and hips. They also have an extra long lifetime and are very durable: the average memory foam mattress will last about 20 years.
Cons: Generally speaking, memory foam beds tend to be warmer than other mattress types as their dense structure retains more body heat. They may have a factory odor, depending on where they were made.
Innerspring mattresses: these are your “classic” mattresses, the traditional ones that support your body on a bed of wire coils.
Pros: Time tested, classic, relatively inexpensive, fairly dependable and easy enough to maintain.
Cons: Innerspring mattresses cannot evenly distribute weight. Their hollow nature makes them an ideal breeding ground for dust mites, bacteria, and bedbugs.
Air Mattresses: Inexpensive and portable, air mattresses can be filled with a pump and deflated as desired.
Pros: Lightweight and storable, air mattresses are great for campers and singletons. They sometimes come with small, electronically controlled air pockets, giving you improved dynamic control over your bed’s firmness.
Cons: This bed is filled with air and is easy to puncture, in many ways like a balloon or a bike tire. Additionally, these beds do not give you even support while you sleep.
Water Mattresses: these artifacts from an earlier time are full of water and as such are particularly soft.
Pros: exceedingly soft, these beds also have built in “rocking” action. Modern water beds tend to be much more stable and supportive than those of the 70s.
Cons: unfortunately, these beds weigh a ton, and they can get very cold; they should be avoided by persons who suffer from motion sickness or chronic back pain. If your partner moves, you’ll catch a wave.
The second question you need to ask is: how do I get comfortable?
If you’re an average adult with proper sleeping habits, you will likely spend about a third of your lifetime in snoozing in bed. Obviously, with all that mileage, you’re going to want a supportive and comfortable mattress. Every mattress offers something different in terms of layers and firmness, and out of the wide variety of mattresses available today, most all of them will feel different.
The ideal mattress will keep your spine in the same alignment as a standing person with good posture. Choosing the wrong mattress or practicing improper sleeping posture will likely lead to back pain, particularly in your lumbar region. Mattresses that are far too soft, for example, will not give your back proper support, while mattresses that are far too firm will put too much pressure on your joints. You may have heard that a firm mattress is best for your back, but the truth is that firmness is less important than even support. As long as a mattress distributes your weight evenly, you can use any firmness level you like.
Take time to test out mattresses at a warehouse or in hotels to see how soft or firm you like them. Then get online and shop around for the best deals. Online shopping has a much wider selection than brick and mortar stores. Consider purchasing a bed with removable layers if you can’t make up your mind.
The third question you need to ask is: what’s my size?
Each and every unique mattress size will suit a unique need.
Your standard twin mattress (a “single”) is perfect for kids, dorm rooms, guest bedrooms, or bunk beds. They measure 39” wide by 75” long, which probably won’t cut it for tall women and couples.
An alternative to the regular twin is the twin extra long mattress, adding 5” in length for those who need the room. The problem with extra long twin beds is that it might be a pain to find sheets for them, though once again you can almost certainly find them online.
Double, also known as full, mattresses allow more room for movement and stretching. The average full mattress clocks in at about 54” in width by about 75” in height, which may prove (once again) a little short for some people. They are a great alternative for singles who find twin beds too cramped.
Do you plan on sharing your bed with a partner? If so, you really shouldn’t consider anything smaller than a queen sized bed. These large beds measure about 60” in width by 80” in height, easily accommodating taller persons and couples who like to snuggle.
A king mattress may be the most expensive, but it allows the most room for anyone who really likes their space. King beds are different from other beds in their measurement variations, so you’ll need to consider whether you’re more interested in a long bed or a wide bed. There are two types of king mattresses:
The standard king mattress (sometimes called the “eastern king”) is 76” in width by 80” in height, a whole 4” wider than its king sized counterpart.
The western king, or California king, mattress is 72” wide by 84” long, making it 4” longer than its counterpart.
The fourth question you need to ask is: how do I shop smart?
So, you’re going to test out a new memory foam mattress. First, you’ll need to wear some comfortable clothing. Try and lay your body down in the position you normally sleep. Do this for several minutes. Note how the heavier parts of your body feel. Are your hips, shoulders, and lower back supported? See how well the bed absorbs your movement.
Here are a few crucial points to consider while you shop:
1. Where’s it manufactured? Who makes it?
2. Will the mattress aggravate any of your existing allergies or chronic joint pains?
3. Is this mattress cost-effective, and can I afford it?
4. Am I confident that I’ll be able to comfortably sleep on it for years to come?
5. Does the mattress give me good, full support?
6. What is the warranty policy?
7. Will I be sharing this bed with someone, and what are this person’s needs?
8. Just how much space will I need to fully accommodate my dimensions, movements, and needs?
Always keep in mind that the sales associates you speak with should be competent, knowledgeable, and friendly or welcoming. If the person helping you can’t answer your questions, find someone else who can.
The fifth question you need to ask is: how can I further enhance the quality of my sleep?
Aside from sleeping on an orthopedically supportive memory foam bed, you can also practice these nightly exercises to help improve your sleep:
1. Drink some soothing chamomile (or other decaf) tea before going to bed.
2. Exercise regularly at least four hours before bedtime.
3. Develop sleep rituals before bedtime, such as listening to relaxing music or stretching. This will signify to your body that it’s time to sleep soon.
4. Consider eating a very light snack before going to bed to avoid mid-slumber hunger pangs. Dairy products or turkey are particularly good choices as they contain tryptophan, a sleep-inducing compound.
5. Sleep in a cool room on a cool mattress with enough blankets to keep you warm. If you have a memory foam mattress, consider using fewer blankets or sleeping in a cooler room.
6. Have a nightstand next to your bed where you keep water, books, journals, a CD player, and other things you might need to access easily. This way, you won’t need to get up and move around a lot before going to bed.
7. If you do feel the need to get up late at night, use a nightlight rather than the standard room lights so your body doesn’t set itself to “daytime” mode.
8. Take a hot bath 90 minutes before bedtime. The drop in body temperature you experience afterwards will make you sleepy.
9. Some people find that writing down their thoughts and feelings in a journal before going to bed is a great way to calm your mind and relieve stress.
10. If all else fails, try breathing deeply and slowly while counting breaths and the seconds between them (the modern day version of “counting sheep”).
With these considerations in mind, you will surely find the perfect mattress for you!


