Buying a mattress is different from buying most other pieces of furniture for your home. After all, you’ll be sleeping on it for literally thousands of nights to come.
Needless to say, comfort is your number one priority.
A poor-quality mattress can not only impair your ability to give your body the rest it needs, but it can also cause discomfort, and even pain, whereas a good-quality mattress can do the opposite — provide you with quality sleep, improve your mood, and even lower stress caused by poor sleep quality.
Yes, choosing a new mattress will take some work on your part, but if you do your homework, know your own preferences and bone up a bit on the available choices, you’ll be rewarded with years of good sleep!
So fix yourself a cup of tea, settle back, and learn about the 6 things you need to know before you shop for your next new mattress!
1. Know What You Like — and What You Don’t
Just like Goldilocks, you have to figure out whether you prefer a firm surface, a soft surface, or something in between.
Mattress firmness is a very subjective choice, and only you know what feels good to your body, and if you’re comfortable, you’re more likely to get a good night’s sleep. You will never know exactly what you want by simply researching online you need to get out there and test them for yourself.
2. Size Matters
If you’re sleeping with a partner, consider how your current mattress size is working out.
Do you feel crowded? If so, it might be time to move from a double to a king-size or larger (super king) mattress. With this in mind though the last thing you want to do is buy a new mattress that simply takes over the bedroom. Not all rooms can take a king or super king so measure up and see what you can get away with.
If going for a super king(6ft) then there is an option to go with a zip and link. This is very important and in most cases, I would recommend this option as access up-stairs can be an issue. Zip and link is a mattress split into 2 sections that has a zip to link it together. Again measure up and know what sort of access you have.
Very important to know as we get asked a lot in Ireland is what size is what. So just a quick run through:
Single = 3ft wide x 6ft3
Double = 4’6 wide x 6ft3
King = 5ft wide x 6ft6
Super king = 6ft wide x 6ft6
3. Try Before You Buy
Most stores selling mattresses expect you to lie down on the models you’re considering. You may feel a bit funny about it, but trust us, the store won’t!
If you share the mattress, you should both go.
Lie down in the position you normally sleep in. Spend at least 5 minutes there so you can get a good idea of what the mattress feels like. (Some experts advocate spending up to 20 minutes “testing” a new mattress, but you may run the risk of falling asleep, which could be embarrassing!)
It’s nice to get recommendations from staff and friends but linking us back to tip no.1 “know what you want” it’s important to listen to your own body and what ticks the boxes. Just because a friend said they got a new mattress and it’s the best investment they have made will not mean it will be the same for you.
So take your time test all the options out, and you will be in a better position to make the right decision.
4. Know the Leading Industry Brands
These mattresses are leading the pack for a reason.
Some of the better brands to check out are
- King Koil
- Respa
- Odearest
- Briody Beds
They might cost a bit more, but we’re talking about several years of your “sleep life” here, so cost should not be your main concern.
That said …
5. Know Your Budget
Don’t be fooled into thinking the most expensive mattresses are necessarily the best on the market and will be perfect for you. Know what sort of budget you have when you are on the hunt for a new mattress. There is a mattress to suit every budget.
6. Take Advantage of Technology
It matters! Ask about things like natural latex, pressure-relieving memory foam or back support features, all of which are designed to help you feel more comfortable so that you’ll get better quality sleep. With every mattress different and unique in its own way let the store educate you on these as you try them all out for yourself to see which suits you best.
By now, you’ve figured out that we weren’t kidding about doing your homework when it comes to shopping for a new mattress!
It does take some thought and a little legwork as well, but in the end, you’ll be glad you took the time to make a thoughtful decision.
If you’re shopping for a bed frame or headboard to go with your new mattress, that’s a whole other thing! In that case, you’re more at liberty to go with what appeals to you aesthetically but making sure it offers the support your new mattress richly needs and deserves
For some of the best-performing mattresses and beds in Ireland, be sure to visit Frank McGowan at Unit 17, Airside Retail Park Swords Co. Dublin.
We’re open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m, and on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. And don’t hesitate to contact us anytime for information about any of our fine furnishings.