The mattress is probably among the most important and personal home items you own. We all know we're supposed to get seven hours of sleep (at least) each day--and a bad mattress will definitely prevent that from happening. What it comes down to with a mattress is your own personal comfort and how it can support your body specifically. While the comfort level of a mattress varies from person to person and the construction of mattresses can be broken down to a science, one thing is certain when you're looking to purchase one: It's a big investment and you better make sure it works for you. Thus, we took note of some of the general things to keep in mind if you're in the market for a mattress, whether it's a memory foam or a regular spring mattress.For the most part there are three main mattress types: inner spring, latex and memory foam. There are, of course, also air mattresses and ones made up of latex foam, but mattresses at most stores generally stick to the above three. Our pick: Latex (Find out why below)
Ask about inner springs. Without going too much into the intricacies of construction, inner spring coil mattresses are the most common and cost-effective, and they tend to be firm. Ask about the type of support wire coils in a spring mattress. There are four types: open (hourglass shape), offset (square top), pocket (individually fabric wrapped cylinders) or continuous (S-shaped). Out of the the four, open coil support wears out most easily and continuous coils provide the best evenly distributed support. Our Pick: Continuous coilsMade from all-natural latex rubber, this mattress option is hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant. Not too firm and not too plush, latex is a good choice for people who might be suffering from back pains, and it also retains heat well. Many go for 9"-12" thick latex mattresses, which has more layers of latex rubber inside, and don't go below 6", but this is highly dependent on your specific comfort level. We've found the 7"-10" range to be a good fit for us.
The most well known body-molding, memory-foam mattress is by Tempurpedic. What's important to know about memory-foam is that it heats up much more than other mattresses as it isn't as breathable as latex or spring mattresses. However, its firmness has been said to provide much better cushioning than innerspring mattresses, but memory-foam usually comes with a much high price tag. Be firm with firmness. Contrary to popular opinion, a firm mattress is not always best. An extremely firm mattress can actually provide uneven support and end up putting stress on body parts like the hips and shoulders. Likewise for a mattress that is too soft, making you sink and thus causing body aches. However, one tried and true tip is to go with a medium-firm (or cushion-firm) mattress, like a latex foam one, if you suffer from lower back pains -- it gives better support to the spine's curve. This goes without saying, but you'd be surprised at how many people succumb to the convenience of purchasing a mattress over the internet these days.
You should check out mattresses in person and definitely lie down on one to test it out in the store to make sure it's comfortable for you. Not to mention, shipping costs can be high, which would make an already expensive purchase even more costly.There are mattresses that go for under $1,000 but most people tend to invest that amount into one. Some mattresses can cost thousands of dollars (even tens of thousands of dollars), but in general, we find that one that costs anywhere from $500-$1200 with the right support is satisfactory and easy to find at chains like Sleepy's and department stores such as Macy's. If you're shopping around for a mattress now or thinking about getting one in the near future, here are a few options to get you started, and don't forget to check out the shopping video also. And let us know in comments below what other factors are important to you in a mattress. Front page Flickr photo by Flashy Soup Can Sleep Train Education Center With so many different models and types of mattresses, shopping for one can seem confusing.
The Sleep Train Education Center is a great place to start. Here we address this confusion by educating shoppers on common questions about mattress construction and mattress types. Now you can shop with confidence. How to Shop For a New Mattress It's easy to be a smart shopper when you have the right information. Here are a few tips: Come Prepared: Dress comfortably, you will be testing many mattresses... Know what you’re buying: Mattress manufacturers use different model names to identify each mattress... More Mattress Education ResourcesPromising the Moon and Stars: What Mattress Brand is the Best? What Is The Best Mattress Brand On The Market? These days we have so many mattress brands to choose from to get a good night's rest that narrowing down the perfect fit can be a difficult decision. From foam to innerspring, each mattress brand has a grouping of unique offerings. I'm here to help you get to know some of these brands a little better so you can find the bed that suits you best.
Classic Brands Classic Brands Mattresses have been a leader in the field of specialty sleep products since 1971. They began as a leading producer of waterbeds and waterbed products, but today they offer an innovative line up of memory foam and latex mattresses that offer an optimum sleeping experience. Fun fact - the average tenure of a Classic Brand employee is over 20 years! Classic Brands prides itself on its skilled craftsman who take the greatest pride in building quality products. Eclipse Eclispe Mattresses began in the 1890s when its founding brothers immigrated to New York City from a small town outside of Ukraine. Today they operate 37 factories across 6 continents, and continue to honor the traditions they were founded upon. They are all about memory foam mattresses that combine timeless traditions with innovative technologies to improve the sleep experience. Hampton and Rhodes Hampton and Rhodes Mattresses are exclusive to Mattress Firm, offering firm, plush, pillow top and soy-based memory foam that adds an extra level of comfort while making the mattress easier to put a sheet on when making the bed.
Known for a more traditional feel with simple and durable designs, Hampton and Rhodes is now the sixth largest mattress manufacturer in the United States. Lux Living Lux Living Mattress is another brand that is exclusive to Mattress Firm, taking pride in their American-made products that provide you with high-end quality at a reasonable price. Their mattresses use materials like latex and memory foam to provide support and comfort for many years to come. Natura Natura Mattresses aims to give even the littlest of sleepers a "greener healthier sleep solution." Natura gathers eco-friendly materials from countries around the world with sustainable and renewable resource programs. With natural materials like coconut coir and organic cotton, the Organix II Crib mattress aids overall health and well-being. This mattress is also certified organic and guaranteed free of harmful chemicals/off-gassing to provide newborns with a healthy sleep environment. Tempur Sealy International, Inc. Tempur Sealy is the world's largest bedding provider and holds some of the most highly recognized brands in the industry, including Tempur®, Tempur-Pedic®, Sealy®, Sealy Posturepedic®, Optimum™, and Stearns & Foster®.
Sealy Mattress has been refining its mattresses since 1881, when cotton gin owner, Daniel Haynes, invented a mattress filled with cotton in Sealy, Texas. Sealy Posturepedic firm or plush mattresses incorporate ground-breaking technologies and design help to give you a better night's sleep. Stearns and Foster has been around the longest of its competitors. The company was founded in 1846 when George S. Stearns and Seth Foster started making cotton batting for mattresses in Cincinnati, Ohio. Stearns and Foster holds a special place in my heart, as I actually started my career with this brand 23 years ago when they were shipping mattresses by railcar. With gorgeous hand-tufted finishes, styled handles, masterful embroidery and peek-a-boo fabric sewn under the mattresses, today's Stearns and Foster beds give your bedroom a rich luxurious look and feel. In addition to stylish details, only the finest materials - like Mongolian horsehair, luxurious silks and cashmeres and high-grade wools - are used in their mattresses.
If you're looking for one-of-a-kind sleep style that meets your comfort preference of cushion firm, plush, pillow top, or other models, this mattress brand certainly makes a fashion statement. Tempur-Pedic Mattresses revolutionized the mattress industry by offering one-of-a-kind memory foam that adapts to your shape, weight and temperature. This technology was adapted from innovative materials used to protect astronauts. Globally recognized by NASA and certified by The Space Foundation, Tempur-Pedic mattresses respond to your body for personalized comfort, alleviating pressure points and reducing motion transfer to help sleepers rest undisturbed. Serta Serta is crowned the largest mattress brand in the United States and the Official Mattress of the National Sleep Foundation. With attention to detail and consistent investment in mattress innovation and technology, Serta mattresses bring relaxation and rejuvenation night after night to children, teens, adults, and even newborns.
In the past, Serta has been known for its A-list partnerships with the likes of Vera Wang and the Bellagio hotel. Simmons has been in the mattress business for more than 100 years, designing a wide variety of mattress types including firm, plush, ultra-plush, luxury plush, firm pillow top, luxury pillow top and many other models. Simmons Beautyrest mattresses make up one of their most popular lines, providing durability and comfort through the use of hybrid technologies. As a testament to how comfortable these mattresses are, 18 of the top 20 hotel brands use Simmons mattresses. Snuggle Home Snuggle Home Mattresses are brought to you by the same company that sells that amazing smelling fabric softener! Representing down to earth family values and comfort, Snuggle Home's mattresses bring in the warm, playful spirit of their iconic character, the Snuggle Bear. To assure long-lasting sleep at night, their mattresses have been designed and crafted to deliver fresh, cozy comfort night after night with the help from some of the most advanced comfort materials.