Buying a new mattress can be a challenging and time consuming process, and it can also be quite expensive depending upon the type of mattress you’re looking at and the budget you’ve pre-established. You obviously want to choose the best mattress for your individual situation, but doing so is easier said than done. The simple fact is that there is no single mattress or type of mattress that is best for everyone. Just because a mattress has been given the distinction of the best rated mattress doesn’t mean that it will work for you. The reason for this is that the term “best” is very subjective and depends on a whole host of factors including your sleep style, comfort preferences (firm or soft) and any complicating medical conditions such as back or joint pain. Fortunately, there are some basic things to consider when narrowing down your search for the best mattresses. The following article will outline the basic process so that you can feel good about shopping for, and hopefully walking away with a great mattress at an unbelievable price.
When it comes to identifying the types of mattresses that are best for your situation you can’t simply look online or read product reviews. I don’t care how well someone writes, a written explanation of a mattress simply won’t cut it. Instead, you must get out into the stores to physically touch and feel the different offerings. You need to talk to a knowledgeable salesperson and lie down on a few mattresses – take a nap if you feel inclined to do so. If you’re going to potentially spend a few thousand dollars on a mattress that could last you upwards of 15 years you want to be sure to spend some time with it before plunking down your hard earned money. Consider the following tips when narrowing your search:
1. A Medium Firm Mattress is Generally Best – although not for everyone, physicians and researchers agree that a medium firm mattress offers the best balance of comfort and support. Soft mattresses tend not to offer the greatest support and extra firm mattresses typically aren’t the most comfortable.
2. Establish a Price Range – the last thing you want to do is to fall in love with a fancy adjustable memory foam mattress only to later realize that the $5,000 price tag is out of reach. Setting a price range will help to narrow down your options so that you’re only focusing on the mattresses that you can afford. Fortunately, all of the mattress types, from memory foam to spring and coil, are available at a wide range of prices, so don’t feel as though you’re constrained.
3. Strongly Consider Replacing Your Existing Foundation – placing a new mattress on an old, tired foundation can result in a less than satisfactory experience. It is recommended to purchase an entirely new foundation whenever you upgrade your mattress. The cost to do so in minimal compared to cost of the mattress itself.
4. Understand the Warranty – while all mattresses come with a warranty, not all of them are equal in terms of what they cover and for how long. Another key difference is whether the warranty is pro-rated or non pro-rated, which will affect how much financial burden you have to incur when and if the mattress needs to be repaired or replaced. Under a pro-rated warranty, you may be responsible for paying a portion of the repair or replacement cost. It’s also important to understand whether or not the warranty requires you to flip the mattress, since some manufacturers won’t honor repairs if you haven’t maintained it properly.
5. Consider the Size – you may only need to purchase a double mattress now, but consider your future needs as well. As mentioned before, most people will keep their mattress for 7 to 10 years, so it’s important that you choose wisely. If in doubt, consider going with the largest size you can reasonably accommodate, both in terms of space and your pre-established budget.
6. Avoid Cheap Mattresses – a cheap mattress may seem enticing, but you will likely end up regretting the purchase shortly thereafter. It’s worth spending the extra money to avoid having springs and coils poking you in the back just 1-2 years into ownership. Trust me – I’ve been there before.
Apart from the tips mentioned above, it’s important to shop at a well established and highly regarded mattress retailer. While other all inclusive furniture stores may stock mattresses they likely won’t have the knowledge or experience that a true mattress salesperson will have. The best places to look for a good mattress store are through local online review sites and also via the recommendation of others. There are all sorts of mattress review sites on line including Consumer Search and Kingsdown Mattress Reviews.
Related posts:
- How to Find the Best Mattress Stores Buying a mattress is stressful enough without having to worry...
- How to Choose an Inflatable Mattress We’ve all had the experience at one time or another...
- The Advantages of a Pillow Top Mattress You hear the phrase tossed around all the time –...
- Protect Your Investment with a Waterproof Mattress Pad Buying a new mattress can be one of the most...
- Why You Should Consider a Single Memory Foam Mattress There is no arguing with the rising popularity of memory...
