1. How old is your mattress?
The age of your mattress plays a big role with regards to choosing a new one. As a general rule of thumb, if your mattress is over 8 years old it’s probably not a bad idea to consider getting a new one. However, this rule does not apply to all mattresses. The best way to decide whether you should consider replacing your mattress is if you’re restless, waking up in pain, not sleeping through the night, or just don’t feel well rested.
2. What type of mattress do you need?
The type of mattress each person needs varies upon personal preference. Below is a list of the most common mattress types and the reasons it might suit you.
HYBRIDS
Sleepers who want the best of all worlds.Constructed from a combination of latex, memory, polyurethane foams, coils, and / or other materials, these mattresses usually are designed to maximize certain benefits, while also minimizing certain cons. Great bounce, support, comfort, and cooling. A good all around option that is a very good choice for the majority of sleepers.
LATEX
Sleepers who want great bounce, cooling, and responsiveness. Additionally, good for sleepers who want foam, but want to stay away from the pronounced hug and contour that often comes with memory foam mattresses
MEMORY FOAM
Sleepers who want great hug, body shaping, contour, pressure relief, and support. There is a wide spectrum of foams classified as “memory foam” and not all memory foams are created equal. A good option for sleepers who want a more pronounced hug than many hybrid or latex mattresses offer.
COILS
Sleepers who want a more traditional coil / spring feel, great bounce, cooling, and strong edge support.
PILLOW-TOP
Sleepers who prefer a softer and more cushion comfort. If you enjoy a cloud-like type of support and comfort most pillow tops will offer the best sleeping surface for you.
ADJUSTABLE
Sleepers who have specific needs that would allow them to benefit from an adjustable foundation. These needs typically come from certain medical conditions, older sleepers, snorers and chronic lower back pain.
3. What Your Budget Is?
Price Doesn’t Equate Quality – Remember that the price of the mattress doesn’t always indicate its quality, especially if you are shopping in-store. Don’t Go Ultra-Cheap – Don’t spend less than $500 (Queen). Price isn’t a perfect indicator of quality, but if you’re not spending at least $500 you’re probably getting lower quality, lower durability, and higher toxicity in a mattress. Pay for Quality – Remember that this mattress can and should last you 8-10 years. A 10 year $1,000 mattress works out to $0.27 / day. Don’t skimp on your mattress!
4. What Firmness You Need?
Firmness is how hard or soft a mattress feels. The feel and firmness of a mattress depends on your definition of soft, medium, and firm. It’s highly subjective. Additionally, your body type, weight, size, and other factors play into the feel. A lot of times consumers confuse support with firmness. Firmness relates more to how comfortable a mattress feels initially. Whether hard or soft, the optimal firmness level goes hand-in-hand with comfort.
5. What Position You Sleep In?
Side, back, stomach, or a little bit of each, everyone sleeps in his or her own unique way. One of the biggest problems when choosing a mattress is that most people aren’t searching for a mattress that supports their sleeping style. Each sleeping position has its own specific needs and ideal firmness level.
6. How Much You Weigh?
Weight may not seem that important, but it can be crucial when choosing a mattress. The sinkage, hug, feel, cooling, and support of each mattress is highly affected by how much you weigh and your body type.
Depending on your weight and body type you may need a specific type of mattress or firmness to create the ideal feel and support that your body needs. There is no perfect formula or “best” mattress for everyone.
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Resources:
Sleepopolis. (2018). How to Choose a Mattress – 6 Step Guide | Sleepopolis. [online] Available at: https://sleepopolis.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-mattress/ [Accessed 5 Apr. 2018]