What Should I Consider When Buying a Mattress?

When purchasing a mattress, there are several things you should consider. First, determine what size you need. The smallest size you can purchase is a twin. The next largest is a full, also called a double, followed by a queen, a king, and a California king. If you need a great deal of room or will be sharing the mattress with a partner, you will likely need at least a queen. At the same time, you must consider the size of your bedroom to ensure it can accommodate the size you select.

Another consideration is firmness. The mattress should be firm enough to support your body and to make you feel comfortable, which means it should be consistently firm throughout the entire mattress and capable of keeping your body aligned. If it is is too soft, it will not properly support your neck and back. This can cause those areas of your body to be sore when you wake up in the morning. At the same time, the contact points should feel soft against your body. Otherwise, your body may begin to ache and you will have a restless sleep.

If you can’t find a comfortable mattress within your budget, mattress toppers provide extra layers of comfort to cradle your body’s problem zones. Look for toppers explicitly designed for your pain, as they often have specialized construction to provide a better night’s rest. For example, the best mattress toppers for shoulder pain are those with a medium bulk and firmness to support the area while not putting pressure on it. They should help distribute your weight evenly across the flat surface rather than allowing your body to sink in.

The mattress you select should also be well constructed. High quality mattresses will have thick padding and a higher coil count to provide optimum support. The padding is important because it provides comfort and helps prevent sagging. The ticking, which is the outermost layer of the mattress, should ideally be a cotton-polyester blend or better. Lower quality mattresses may have a vinyl ticking.

Of course, you must also consider the appearance of your mattress. Since your it will likely be covered most of the time, this may not be much of a concern for you. Nevertheless, you should consider the color, the pattern, and the fabric used to make the mattress. It will be a part of your bedroom for many years, so you need to be sure it is one you will be happy with — both when the sheets are on and when they are off.