Losing sleep over your bed? You're not alone. There's no doubt that sleep is vital for your physical and mental well-being. However, choosing a new mattress can be overwhelming due to the endless options of styles, sizes, and materials. In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about choosing the right mattress for your needs, so you can sleep easy.
Identify Your Sleep Needs
Sleep Positions:
Before you go to a mattress store or start your online search, it’s important to know how you sleep. Are you a side, back, stomach sleeper or are you prone to tossing through the night? Do you share a bed? Fortunately, there are excellent options available for every sleeping position. Back sleepers tend to do better with a firmer mattress, while side sleepers often prefer a softer mattress that relieves pressure on your joints.
Allergies:
If you are sensitive to allergens, the correct mattress will make a difference in the quality of your sleep. Mattresses can be a haven for allergens such as dust mites, mold, and dander. Many mattresses are hypoallergenic and can help minimize exposure to these allergens. Consider moisture wicking or antimicrobial features in your bed search.
Temperature:
For those who sleep hot, cooling technology has come a long way in helping you rest comfortably. Gel-infused memory foam or gel beads absorb and dissipate body heat, while open-cell foam has an airier texture, allowing for better ventilation to keep heat at bay. Some mattresses have open airflow channels embedded in the layers. Finally, consider the ultimate tech in temperature technology: Phase Change Materials (PCM). PCM helps to absorb and release heat as needed to maintain a constant comfortable sleep temperature.
Choose the Right Materials
Memory Foam:
Memory foam is made from a polyurethane foam that is extremely popular in today’s mattresses. It’s known for adjusting to your body shape and can relieve pressure on your shoulders, hips, and back, making it perfect for a side sleeper. Another benefit of memory foam is its ability to reduce the feel of motion. If your partner tosses and turns, memory foam will greatly reduce any movement you feel.
Gel-Infused:
Top-rated cooling technology utilizes gel-infused memory foam layers and is the best at dissipating body heat and regulating temperatures. Like memory foam, it contours to your pressure points but returns to its original shape quicker when pressure is removed. In essence, while regular memory foam contours to your body more effectively, gel-infused memory foam excels at regulating your body temperature.
Latex:
Both natural and synthetic latex layers are used similarly to memory and gel-infused memory foam layers. They have a springy feel that prevents sagging. However, latex is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew, which makes it a great choice for those with allergies or asthma.
Innerspring:
Traditional and widely recognized, innerspring mattresses are known for their durability and ability to retain their shape. Innerspring mattresses tend to be more on the firm side and are great for back sleepers. The level of firmness depends on the thickness and number of coils. Another advantage is that they are often budget-friendly and more affordable than memory foam, gel-infused, or pocket coil mattresses.
Pocket Coil:
Pocket coil mattresses are an upgrade to innerspring mattresses. Many individual coils wrapped in fabric pockets are able to move independently to reduce the feel of motion and increase contouring and support. The support can vary depending on how tight each coil is and the number of pocket coils. Pricewise, these mattresses are less expensive than memory foam or gel-infused mattresses but are usually priced above a traditional innerspring mattress.
Hybrid:
It’s normal to have more than one sleep need, and thankfully, there’s more than one solution per mattress! A hybrid mattress is a combination of either innerspring or pocket coil and memory foam or gel-infused memory foam. The springs provide firm support while the foam layers add soft comfort and cooling technology. A hybrid mattress is a great choice for couples with different sleep needs- a built-in compromise!
Find The Right Mattress Retailer
REVEAL by XSensor:
This pressure-sensing technology is a game-changer for those needing a little extra help finding their perfect mattress. Look for a mattress retailer that has an in-store REVEAL XSensor system, originally invented for the medical industry. 1,664 sensors map out your various pressure points and produce an image that allows you to identify where you need comfort and where you need support. The system then gives personalized mattress type recommendations.
Designer Furniture Gallery is proud to provide our customers with the REVEAL by XSensor system.
In-Home Trials:
At the end of the day, how do you truly know you’ve found the right mattress? The best way to know is to test out your mattress in the comfort of your own home. A good mattress retailer will have an in-home trial period which allows you to test out your purchase with the ability to exchange your mattress within a certain time-frame.
At Designer Furniture Gallery, we want nothing more than for you to be 100% satisfied with your mattress selection. We offer a free 30-day trial period with our Love your Mattress Guarantee. If you find your mattress doesn’t quite suit your unique needs, you have two weeks to select a new mattress.
Online Search:
Let the web work for you! Head over to our online Mattress Department, where you can narrow your search down by size, firmness, material type, and brand to get a list of recommended mattresses.
Research Brands and Read Reviews
Considering the sheer volume of manufacturers and mattress styles, doing your homework can help you narrow down your search for the perfect mattress. Read reviews on varying mattress models to get an overall sense of quality. Remember, everyone has different sleep preferences, and what may work for others may not work for you. At this point, let’s break down our most trusted mattress brands with high reviews.
Chattam & Wells:
Chattam & Wells are artisans who hand-craft each mattress using luxurious materials such as cotton velvet, cashmere, horsetail hair, and talalay latex. These are natural materials that are soft, comfortable, and breathable. Their mattresses also include two layers of coils in two sizes, guaranteeing support, while latex layers give plush cushioning.
Malouf:
Malouf is well known in the bedding market for their pillow technology, quality bedding, and adjustable bases. And now, they’ve applied their high standards to a new line of hybrid mattresses. Malouf mattresses focus on cooling technology with gel-infusions, cooling foam, and ventilated layers over pocket coils.
Malouf is also a Certified B Corporation, meaning they meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact.
Mattress 1st:
Designer Furniture Gallery is a proud member of Furniture First, a purchasing cooperative that aims to bring quality, affordable furniture and mattresses to communities through member retailers around the country. Due to their collective buying power, Mattress 1st produces innerspring, pocket coil, memory foam, gel-infused foam, and hybrid mattresses at very reasonable prices.
Serta:
If you ever stayed in a hotel, chances are that you’ve slept on a Serta before. Well-known in the hospitality industry, Serta is the top choice of many due to their extensive range of options for any type of sleeper. With 90 years in the mattress industry, Serta is a well trusted brand that designs and assembles their mattresses in the USA.
Select the Right Base
Mattress Type:
The type of base you choose for your mattress can make all the difference. A memory foam mattress does best on a solid, flat base, while an innerspring mattress pairs well with a box spring or slatted foundation.
Many mattresses are designed to work perfectly with an adjustable base, which allows you to raise or lower the head and/or foot of the bed for customizable comfort. For those with digestive issues or head and neck pain, raising the head of the bed even a few inches can provide significant relief.
Manufacturer Recommendations:
Ask a sales associate in-store or visit the manufacturer’s website for foundation recommendations for your mattress model. If you have a warranty, be sure you are pairing your mattress with the appropriate base to ensure your warranty remains valid.
At the end of the day, your search for the perfect mattress doesn’t have to be a difficult task! By considering your sleep preferences, the most suitable materials, reputable retailers, brand and model reviews, you’ll be well-prepared to make a mattress purchase that will have you sleeping easy all night long.