Believe it or not, a mattress can either make you or break you. Your entire day depends on your mattress. The quality of your mattress not only impacts the quality of your sleep, but also resultantly affects your health. Among the positive effect of a good mattress on your health includes lowers blood pressure, metabolism and reduce proneness to adverse health effects. Mood and productivity also improve. On the other hand, poor mattress quality results in poor sleep quality. As an effect of which causes low metabolism, increased blood pressure, increased susceptibility to health problems, poor mood, low levels of happiness and productivity among others. Therefore, investing in your mattress is important. Stinging on your mattress may save some cash but it compromises your general health. There should be absolutely no issue in splurging a little more than usual on your mattress due to its various positive effect.
Now that the importance of a good mattress has been established, the matter of purchasing a good mattress needs to be addressed. While most intend for the best mattress, they often do not get what they want due to various circumstances. For example, lack of knowledge, poor recommendation, high emphasis on cost more than quality and lack of choices to name a few. However, fret not as there is never a bad time to change your mattress. Here are a few guides on purchasing a mattress.
When do you need to purchase a mattress?
Given the current technology, mattresses have been designed to last as long as possible, but the classic rule of thumb suggests replacing your mattress every 8 years. However, this rule of thumb depends on the performance of said mattress. It is purely a judgement call. If you think your mattress needs replacing because it has been causing poor sleep quality, then you should replace it.
Where to shop?
In store
If you are the kind that needs to see it to believe it, then you should definitely purchase your mattress in store. Buying in store allows for you to have a feel of the mattress and gauge its performance. You also get to negotiate its price or shop sales. The sales representative may also be beneficial in providing valuable input. Furthermore, some stores will help dispose your old mattress. Though cons of buying in store is that it could be overwhelming due to the various choices available. You are often pressured to decide due to time constrain. A rushed decision is often a poor decision. Though you could always return the next day, the hassle of returning to the store and the commute involved can be discouraging. The best thing to do is to remove yourself from the situation for roughly 10 minutes to make an objective decision. It also helps to go with a friend.
Online
Too busy to head to the store? Well online shopping to the rescue. Online shopping is convenient because you can shop from the comfort of your home or while you are on the go. Most of the mattress manufacturers have their own online store where selections are often similar if not more than its physical store. The best part about online shopping is that it gives you time to decide on the best mattress. A quick Google search will easily display pros and cons, customer reviews and sometimes discount codes. Some online stores offer free shipping with a minimum purchase value, money-back guarantee and other perks. Point to note, always focus on the return policy. Some cons include inability to have a feel of the mattress. Shopping online is not a you get what you see, but more of a you get what you think you see.
What to look for in a mattress?
While purchasing a mattress, there are some things worth taking note of such as;
Lifespan of mattress
The lifespan is one of the first things you will need to focus on. The average lifespan of a mattress differs on the type of mattress. Latex mattresses have the longest lifespan, a good one averaging up to 12 years while memory foam and hybrids typically have an average lifespan of 10 years. Innerspring mattresses and pillowtop mattresses can roughly last up to 8 years and 7 years respectively. While its obvious that latex mattresses have the longest average lifespan, it may not suit your needs due to various other reasons – which brings us to the next point to note.
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Type of mattress
Technology has provided us with the luxury of different types of mattress. For one, memory foam. The unique feature of memory foam is body contouring which provides ideal support and less pressure on your body. Memory foam provides you with the hugging sensation you never knew you needed. There are different memory foam mattresses available in the market. Next, latex mattresses. Latex mattresses are famous for being cooling and comforting. They offer you with a kind of bounce and responsiveness. Pillowtop mattresses on the other hand are mattresses that consist of a soft layer sewn atop. It offers you a soft and cushioned feeling, contrary to innerspring mattresses that provide you with a kind of strong support for those who prefer a more traditional feel. Hybrid mattresses likes its name gives you an all-round benefit more than disadvantages. Sleepers are offered support, comfort and bounce. These days, there also adjustable mattresses that provides the flexibility you need in accordance to your sleeping position.
Budget
This is a toughie but also one of the more important criteria in buying a mattress. There are a few things to consider when budgeting for a mattress. Firstly, the price does not always reflect the mattresses quality. Expensive mattresses are not always the best of quality and cheap mattresses do not always mean poor quality. Next, do some research on the market price of mattresses. King sized mattresses are usually the most expensive, followed by queen sized mattress. These prices are usually standard across stores, but some could be inflated. So, make sure you are not paying more than you should but if you are paying less, then it is more than okay. Ultimately, always pay for the quality of your mattress than anything else.
Firmness
Firmness of a mattress is not equal to support. In fact, there is a mattress firmness scale you can refer to where preferred firmness level often falls within the 4 to 7 range. Firmness is often correlated to the initial comfort provided by the said mattress, but it is subjective. How firm a person may perceive the mattress to be depends on their weight, sleeping position, preference among others.
Sleeping position
The mattress you choose will need to match your sleeping needs. Again, the firmness of your mattress can be used as a general guide. Side sleepers often prefer a firmness level of 3 to 6, while back sleepers prefer something between 5 to 7. Sleepers who sleep on their stomach prefer 5 to 7. Again, this is subjective and may not apply to all individuals.
Weight
Your weight plays an important role in your choice of mattress. You need to pick a specific type of mattress according to your weight category because the support provided by your mattress correlates with your weight. Heavier individuals would need more support foams while lighter individuals do not quite need the same.
What if you picked the wrong one?
Do not worry if you pick the wrong mattress because most store offer a trial period. Which is why it is important to note the return policy. Some stores also offer either a full or partial refund. Or else, you always can sell the mattress to someone whose needs fits the mattress, provided it is still in new condition.
Evidently, a lot of thought needs to be put into purchasing the ideal mattress. Therefore, take your time and make an informed decision simply because mattresses are an investment to your health and general wellbeing.