One of the most important purchases you can make for your home is buying the correct mattress. With the average person spending around a third of their life asleep you want to make sure you pick the best mattress you can for your body. A good and restful night’s sleep can do wonders not only for our physical health but our mental health too. Having an old and worn-out mattress or one that isn’t suitable for you can contribute towards a poor night’s sleep impacting on how you feel when you wake up.
But knowing which mattress to choose isn’t easy, especially if you are ordering online. It pays to do some research before making your purchase to be in with the best chance of finding the perfect mattress for you to sink into night after night.
When Should You Buy A New Mattress?
It is recommended that you change your mattress every 7 – 10 years but this also depends on how well you look after your mattress during the time you have it too. Regularly cleaning and turning your mattress can do wonders in extending the life of your mattress. It was thought that flipping your mattress extended how long it would last, but these days, most mattresses come one-sided so rotating them top to bottom quarterly is best practice for taking care of your mattress.
That being said, our bodies change as we get older and this could also mean you may need to refresh your sleeping arrangements. Finding a mattress that conforms to your sleeping positions and supports you as your sleep could help you find your sleeping routine once more.
What Mattress Should You Buy?
Looking through all the different specifications, materials and levels of firmness can feel like a never-ending and fruitless task. There is so much information to sift through it can be hard to lose sight of what you actually need to help you get a good and restful night’s sleep.
The key to choosing the best mattress for you lies in how you sleep. Do you sleep alone or with a partner? Are you a side sleeper or do you sleep on your back or front? Do you fall into a deep slumber each night or are you awoken by the slightest thing? Whether or not you have back problems can also play a part too? All of the questions can help you find out the firmness you need to be looking for when it comes to replacing your mattress.
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Taking this into consideration, if you sleep on your back and are a heavy sleeper you may need a firmer mattress to support you as you fall into a deeper sleep. However, this isn’t the case for side sleepers who may prefer to go with a lighter feel to aid a restful nights sleep.
If you suffer from back problems, you need a mattress that will support your back’s natural shape and not cause you any undue aches and pains when you wake up. A soft comfort topping like latex or memory foam can help you relax into your sleep as you lie down in the best position for you and your back to relieve the pressure.
What are the best materials to look for in a Mattress?
All mattresses are made differently. All with different levels of support and materials used to build them into something you want to sleep on. There may be many different materials used when it comes to making your mattress but mostly what you will be looking for is one that feels comfortable to sleep on. The top layers of a mattress are external and can range from super soft and comfortable to slightly firmer and more stiff feeling.
Choosing an organic wool and latex mattress can not only offer you superior comfort but also temperature regulation too which is important for getting a good night’s sleep. Waking up too hot or cold during the night can lead to poor quality sleep as you are being disturbed. The latex will also provide support for your pressure points too to help you ease naturally into your sleep without holding your body in an unnatural position.
Alternatively, choosing a full memory foam mattress can help alleviate some aches and pains associated with poor sleeping positions. The warmer your body temperature the softer the foam becomes moulding it to your body. Pressure points in your body are a slightly higher temperature meaning it can help the mattress mould around you where you need it too and provide the support you are looking for to help you get a more comfortable and less restless nights sleep.
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If you have decided against a memory foam mattress a pocket spring mattress may be what you need to consider. Unlike traditional spring mattresses where the coils are in closer contact with your body and possibly exacerbating your symptoms or contributing to a bad night’s sleep, a pocket spring mattress is different. All the coils are individually wrapped and kept separate to better respond to pressure from your body.
How Much should you spend on a Mattress
A cheap mattress is most definitely a false economy. Choosing a lower-priced mattress, unless on sale, could mean it lacks the support you need and isn’t the quality you are looking for. A mattress costing around the £200 mark could need replacing sooner than the advised 7 – 10 years meaning you could end up spending more in the long run when it comes to replacing it.
If you can afford to, it is worth investing more money into a better quality mattress from the off to truly make sure you are getting what you need to aid a good and restful night’s sleep. Look for the best quality mattress at your price range before checking it has everything you are looking for. It is worth spending a little extra to ensure you are going to get the best nights sleep possible.
