How to choose a mattress?
The quality of your sleep has a great impact on your health and wellbeing overall. It can affect how you function both physically and mentally throughout your day! It affects your brain function, productivity, mood, diet and much more! That is why it is vital to get the right quality and adequate amount of rest during the night so that you’re able to function better during the day!
There are several factors to consider when it comes to choosing a mattress including what size you want, how soft or hard it should be, how much space there is for movement and even the appearance of the mattress (how it looks) i.e., the fabric, the colour etc.
Mattress types
When looking for a mattress, you may have noticed that there’s just too many types to choose from! One may be good for you if you sleep on your side while another one may be just right if you sleep lying flat on your stomach. But all mattresses can fall in either of these categories: foam, innerspring, latex or hybrid.
Foam mattresses are made entirely with foam and is a good choice for side sleepers. They provide support to your body and enough space for movement. The best and most well-known is memory-foam among others.
Innerspring mattresses are made with a coil-based support system and a few other layers. This provides a balance of both – a firm surface and the spring support.
Latex mattresses offer first-class durability with moderate outline. They can last up to 25 years without losing support.
Hybrid mattresses are made of two inner parts: an innerspring support and a solid foam comfort system. These mattresses provide a combination of bounce and contouring and are ideal for all sleepers in any position.
Which firmness is right for me?
Comfort is key especially when it comes to comfort in sleep, don’t you agree?
Firmness expresses how soft or hard a mattress feels. Some people may prefer a softer mattress while others prefer the firmer one.
Mattress firmness describes how your mattress feels under your body. To help you understand which firmness is right for you, below is a scale ranging from 1 to 5 (5 being the firmest) which will guide you in selecting the right mattress for you!
Soft 1/5
Soft mattresses use cushioning material like thick parts of memory foam in the top layer. Soft mattresses provide pressure relief and is perfect for your lower back, shoulders, and hips. Ideal for both back and side sleepers but best for side sleepers.
Medium-firm 3/5
Medium-firm mattresses combine soft foam layers and a strong foundation which creates the perfect balance between pressure relief and support. Medium-firm mattresses are great for back sleepers as they can benefit from extra mobility. Ideal for all, side sleepers, back and stomach sleepers.
Firm 5/5
Firm mattresses are highly supportive with a thin layer of soft foam atop high-density springs. Great for strict stomach sleepers and back sleepers.
Researchers recommend sleeping on a medium-firm mattress especially one with adjustable firmness and one that promotes comfort, excellent back support and most importantly, one that promotes quality sleep!
Remember that these firmness ranges do not apply to everyone. Some people just prefer a softer mattress while some prefer a firmer one
If hip pain or back pain is a concern for you, you are recommended to choose a mattress that will aid your aches and make a difference to your quality of sleep!
Some studies suggested sleeping on memory foam helps decrease any pain and you can fall asleep faster while another study suggested that latex foam puts less pressure on the body which helps you sleep in a better position as well as stay at a comfortable temperature throughout the night!
But again, a mattress ideally is supposed to provide support for your back and spine. It should also fit your budget and other needs.
A few other factors that you can look at when choosing a mattress could include:
- considering your weight and sleeping position,
- while using your current mattress at home or if you recently stayed at a hotel, did you find yourself wishing for a firmer/softer mattress?
- Give it some time. Try visiting a local mattress store to try out some mattress types which will help you decide better on which firmness works for you! In order to really estimate the right mattress for you, you’ll have to stay on each one for at least 10 or 15 mins and then see which one was most comfortable, which one you liked best and then finally decide on the one you’re going to buy.
