Bedroom Ideas

Mattress Buying Guide: What to Consider When Choosing a New Mattress

If your mattress is showing signs of wear and tear, it’s probably time to invest in a new one. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress is paramount to getting a restful night’s sleep, preventing back pain, and waking up feeling full of energy. Use our buying guide to find the best mattress material, size, and firmness for your lifestyle.

Understanding Different Types of Mattresses

As technology advances, there is more variety in mattresses available, and shopping for one can feel overwhelming at first. The perfect mattress supports your body in a neutral position — your spine should be relaxed and straight. 

Innerspring Mattress

An innerspring mattress is traditionally constructed with a framework of metal wires and springs covered by your choice of cushioning material. This type of mattress makes movement more effortless while you sleep. Many innerspring mattresses contain individually wrapped pocket coils that reduce motion transfer between sleeping partners. An innerspring mattress offers the ideal support for back and stomach sleepers.

The coil count in a spring mattress should increase as the size of the mattress increases to offer adequate back support. The minimum standard coil count for full-size beds is 300 coils, 400 coils for queens, and 480 coils for kings. Coils can only provide so much support, and high coil counts do not necessarily offer any more comfort than those at the lower end of the typical scale.

Memory Foam Mattress

A memory foam mattress offers much cushioning for your body and is a popular choice for side sleepers. The memory foam molds to your body and eases the impact on your pressure points, making it the best mattress for people with muscle or back pain. Memory foam also absorbs movement, and it can be helpful for light sleepers with restless sleeping partners. 

The foam softens with your body heat, making it feel slightly softer in warmer climates and firmer in cooler climates. Our memory foam mattresses incorporate a latex-like gel memory foam to offer more support and temperature regulation than natural memory foam. These mattresses are made with numerous layers of support material for optimal pressure relief.

Latex Mattress

Latex mattresses are soft and slightly bouncy. They’re made from a natural material (latex) that comes from the sap of rubber trees. Unlike memory foam, latex does not retain heat, so latex mattresses won’t become hot at night and disturb your sleep. Remember that most modern mattresses combine both technologies when comparing spring and foam mattresses. A latex mattress, for example, often has innerspring or pocket coils at its core.

Hybrid Mattress

Hybrid mattresses are multilayered and combine memory foam or latex with innerspring systems for maximum support and cushioning. A hybrid mattress incorporates the trusted and well-established technology of innerspring construction to provide adequate back support. It also uses the newer material technology behind memory foam and latex mattresses to offer plush cushioning for pressure points.

A hybrid mattress may be the ideal option for sleeping partners who sleep in different positions. The layers in the mattress can feel equally comfortable for side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers. All our mattress types are available in various comfort levels, from extra plush to extra firm, to support every type of sleeper.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mattress

Sleep Position

Back Sleepers 

If you sleep on your back, you’ll need a supportive mattress that allows your spine to lie in a neutral position. Ultrasoft beds are not always ideal because they sink in while you sleep, putting your spine out of alignment. Back sleepers, and especially those with back pain, should look for a firm or medium-firm mattress. 

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers may find a soft mattress suits their sleeping style best, as it provides extra support for their back, hips, and shoulders. These mattresses rate 3 to 5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, and you often feel as if you are sinking into the cushioning rather than lying on top. 

Stomach Sleepers

Support is imperative for stomach sleepers. Without it, your mattress will sag under your midsection, causing an arch in your spine that ruins comfort and causes back pain. Look for a solid, firm mattress with gentle cushioning for your chest and hips.

Mattress Firmness

Soft Mattresses

These mattresses score between 1 and 5 on the mattress firmness scale. They are made of lower-density foam or latex that sinks in when you lie on it, conforming to your body contours and giving you that weightless feeling.

Medium Mattresses 

Medium mattresses rate between 4 and 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale and are ideal for back or combination sleepers. They often have a firmer foundation, such as coils with a soft foam top for a plush mattress feel. Remember, firmness is subjective. Most people enjoy a mattress of medium firmness, which is the middle ground for back and side sleepers.

Firm Mattresses 

A firm mattress is better suited to stomach sleepers and those with larger body mass. They score between 8 and 10 on the firmness scale and offer exceptional support with minimal sinking. A firm mattress typically relies on high-density foam or latex that won’t compress under a sleeper’s body weight. 

Mattress Material

Breathable Mattress 

The inner construction of a mattress is not the only thing that affects your comfort levels. The outer fabric is essential, too. Mattresses upholstered with natural fibers, such as cotton or bamboo, tend to be more breathable. That means they wick moisture away from your skin at night, keeping it cool and dry. Your bedding set also has a role — choose cotton, linen, or bamboo sheets and comforters for maximum breathability. 

Hypoallergenic Fabrics

Natural latex is the most hypoallergenic mattress material. It won’t cause skin or sinus irritation, is breathable, and naturally repels bacteria and fungi, extending the longevity of the mattress. Memory foam can be hypoallergenic, too — its dense composition prevents dust mites, a common cause of nighttime allergies, from entering the mattress.  

Mattress Size

Twin Mattress

Twin mattresses work well for children and guest rooms. They may also be the right size for an adult who sleeps alone, but they are generally too narrow for two adults to share to get a comfortable night’s rest.

Full Mattress

A full mattress is ample if you sleep alone, and two adult sleepers can easily share a double bed. If there is enough space and your budget allows, consider full beds for the children’s and guest rooms.

Queen Mattress

The fuller-length and more spacious queen mattress is the most popular. It is perfect for a couple, should fit in a smaller bedroom, and provides sufficient legroom for tall individuals. 

King Mattress

If you or your partner moves around a lot, a king-size mattress is the best option, especially if you have a large bedroom or share the bed with children and pets. The extra space helps relieve pressure points, as you seldom end up on the edge of the mattress.

Why You Should Test Various Mattresses

Investing in a new mattress means making a decision that will influence your sleep quality for many years. When shopping, spend 10 to 15 minutes on each mattress as you would at home. Relax and get into your normal sleeping position to test how comfortable each mattress feels. 

You should also lie on your back and slide the palm of your hand under the curve of your lower back. A large gap between your back and the bed indicates it’s too firm, and no gap means it is too soft. Turn onto your side and make sure you can feel the mattress touching your body from your ribs to your pelvis. The right mattress will offer support along the entire length of your spine. 

It’s also worth checking the warranty details before buying a new mattress. A more extended warranty indicates durability, so you know you won’t have to replace your bedroom furniture anytime soon. 

Find Your New Mattress at Home Zone Furniture

No matter what type of sleeper you are, Home Zone has a mattress for you. We offer premium mattresses of various materials to suit your sleeping style and budget. Contact us for more information, or visit any of our Home Zone stores to put our mattresses to the test.

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