If you decide to purchase a new mattress, the most hard thing to figure out is where you should start. For example, you need to decide whether you should shop online or go in-store. Besides, you may want to prioritize budget-friendly options or decide to spend on a fancy model.
As if this is not enough, you should always consider the shape, size, design, and material make-up of the new mattress. As you can see, there are lots of things that need consideration, especially if you are shopping for a mattress for the first time. This page discusses what to consider when getting a mattress.
The age of the mattress
Perhaps, this is a good starting point when it comes to purchasing a new mattress. Well, the age of the mattress that you are using can play a significant role for you to decide whether or not it’s a good idea to buy a new one.
The rule of the thumb, you should start by thinking about finding a new mattress if the one you are using is 8 years old and above. Remember that this is not a set standard, though it is usually a great benchmark. You can use it to check in with the condition of the mattress you are using and determine if it’s still performing its job.
You can find some mattress suppliers that provide expiration dates for various mattress materials as well as bed sizes, so it’s a good idea to check with them. These dates can be helpful in figuring out the lifespan of your mattress. Also, the best way you can determine whether or not you need to get rid of the old mattress is simply by listening to your body.
If you are waking up with body pains in the morning or have problems finding a comfortable sleeping position, then you need to find a new mattress. You should also consider finding a new mattress if you notice new dips in the mattress, especially if they fail to be fixed by rotating it.
The firmness of the mattress
As explained above, the firmness of the mattress matters when it comes to having a comfortable sleep. Simply put, firmness refers to the softness or hardness of the mattress. It may seem like a simple thing to know the firmness of a mattress, but it can be tricky to determine the firmness of a mattress and the firmness that you need. This is because the firmness and feel of a mattress can depend on your definition for firm, medium, and soft. Also, it can depend on the specific body type, size, and weight.
This conversation can get even more complicated because many people confuse firmness and support. You see, a supportive mattress should be the one that can set your spine in an even line, meaning it shouldn’t create some pressure points. This can also be achieved on a firm, medium-firm, and soft mattress. It’s worth noting that firmness is the actual feel of the mattress. Ideally, you may find a supportive mattress in all the firmness spectrum.
Bearing this in mind, the average firmness level for many people is between the 4 and 7 range. But some people may desire either to go for the lower end of this range while others can prefer the higher end, depending on your preferred sleeping position.
Your body weight
Weight is considered another huge factor that you should think about when buying a new mattress. This is because the hug, sinkage, cooling, feel, and support of a mattress can be affected by your weight.
Depending on your overall body type and weight, you can find that you may want a specific type of mattress that satisfies your unique sleeping needs. Therefore, you need to know a few different weight categories to understand what type of mattress can work best within these categories. These categories include light sleepers, average sleepers, and heavy sleepers.
Light sleepers
Light sleepers refers to people who are 150 lbs or below, but they don’t exhibit the same sleeping positions. Therefore, these recommendations are based on various feelings that people are after. On the firmness scale, soft felt mattress is between 4-6/10. If you are a light sleeper, there are good chances that you can find a soft mattress.
Medium feel usually falls between 5.5-7/10 when it comes to the firmness scale. Lighter weight sleepers may not sink deeply into their mattress to make your bed dense, which can make you feel uncomfortable.
On the firmness scale, firm feel mattresses are between 7-9/10, so lighter sleepers need to choose mattresses that have thin comfort layers. Also, they can be better off by using a mattress with a quilted cover comfort layer or pillow top cover comfort layer.
Average sleepers
On the firmness scale, the soft feel is between 4-6/10. The needs of average sleepers who weigh between 150 to 200 lbs are usually the same as lighter sleepers. But if your weight is close to 200 lbs, then it’s a good idea to choose a mattress that has thick top layers of foam so that you can have a lot of cushion.
Medium feel is between 5.5-7/10 when it comes to the firmness scale. This is the best feeling for all the average-sized sleepers because most mattresses are designed to cater for average sleepers while keeping in mind the medium firmness.
For a firm feel, it should be 7-9/10 on the firmness scale. If you desire to have a firmer mattress, then you need to decrease the thickness of the comfort layers and decide to increase the thickness of the support layers.
After considering all these key factors, it’s now time to think about your budget. It’s important to think about your budget even before you start looking for an ideal mattress. You’ll have to know the balance between balance without compromising your comfort. Fortunately, there are many comfortable options available across the pay spectrum to make it easier to find a mattress that is within your budget.
