Whether you are moving into your first house and therefore buying a mattress for the first time, or you and your partner of several decades are starting to feel the wear and tear of a busy life and need to buy a mattress to suit your new needs, the prospect can be a daunting one. There are so many different types of mattresses that you can feel overwhelmed by the choice. While we can’t make the choice as easy as you might have hoped, there are a few things you can think about to cut down the number you have to choose from.
First, it is important to work out what your budget is. This might seem like a really simple idea, but you may not realise how much you need to spend on a mattress. If you are unsure, have a quick look at a couple of mattress sites and get a feel for the prices you might be expected to pay. Knowing what the average price is, work out what you can afford to spend and then stick to that. Always remember that you will spend a third of your life on your mattress, so it is worth investing as much as you can.
It is then important to try and ascertain what firmness you prefer, or is going to be best for you. This will partially come down to personal preference, but whether you suffer from back or joint pain will also have an effect. If you do experience any kind of back and joint pain then go for something firmer. The younger you are the less likely you are to feel genuine pain, but you may also want to consider that sleeping on a firmer mattress will help you avoid developing these problems later in life. But, if you can’t abide a firm mattress then you should go for something of a medium firmness, as being comfortable is the most important thing.
You will also want to work out whether you prefer foam or springs. A good rule of thumb for this is not to go for foam if you don’t like the sensation of sinking into a mattress. Also, avoid memory foam if you are prone to overheating during the night, as this can get quite warm. The benefit of foam is that it helps to relieve pressure, but if you don’t like the idea of foam then you will be ok with a pocket sprung mattress.
There are various other factors that may affect your choice of mattress, but knowing the price, firmness and type you want are a good base to start from, anything else beyond this will help you narrow your choice down. You will find that once you are looking at the right type of mattress, the right firmness and in the right price range the differences between the cheaper ones and the more expensive ones will become apparent very quickly. For example, those mattresses that have side stitching and are hand tufted will be more durable than many others but also more expensive. You can then decide whether you think the more expensive ones are worth it or not.