Buying Your First Mattress – A Guide For Beginners

One of the biggest parts of setting up a new home or apartment is getting the right bed. Unfortunately, there are all kinds of options out there, from high end luxury mattresses to bargain basement mattress and boxspring sets. If you’re just starting out, getting your first mattress can seem pretty daunting. After all, no one wants to spend too much, and mattress prices alone can seem astronomical.

But don’t be tempted to buy the cheapest one you find. The rule of “you get what you pay for” applies just as much to bedding as to anything else. A cheap mattress might seem fine at first, but it won’t last as long. Here’s a guide to getting the right first mattress for your lifestyle, preferences, budget and situation. It doesn’t have to be all that hard!

Mattress Size

The first thing you’re going to want to think about when buying a new mattress is your living situation. Are you in your first apartment, or are you in a house you’ll be staying in long term? People who’ll be moving their beds again and again need to think about the size and portability of their mattresses, especially when dealing with narrow halls and doorways, staircases, and tight corners. A divided boxspring or a smaller bed might be required. If you’ll be staying put, size and weight are only an issue when you first move the bed in.

Next, you’ll want to think about room size and how you sleep. Do you stay mostly in one place, or do you roll around? If you wake up in the morning sleeping diagonally on your current bed, it’s a good bet that you’ll want a larger mattress. Will you be sleeping alone, or with someone else? Having a bed partner can affect the mattress size you’re going to need, as well as the type of mattress. Last, think about how the bed will look in your room. If you’re having trouble visualizing a different size, consider laying out the outline in tape on the floor or on your current bed. That can help you understand how much floor space a given mattress size will take up. All these factors will go into choosing the right mattress size.

Mattress Type

There are a lot more different kinds of mattresses on the market than there used to be, from traditional innersprings to futon mattresses, futon hybrids, latex mattresses and memory foam options. The type of mattress you choose will depend on your lifestyle, how you sleep, who you sleep with, and your body. If you have a back problem, joint problems, or other medical issues, a memory foam or latex mattress might be perfect for you. If you expect to have to move your bed a lot, a futon style mattress might be a good choice. Just roll it up when you move.

Innersprings are a good choice for people who want the support of springs but don’t want to pay for more costly options. If you sleep with a partner and don’t want to be disturbed in the night, look for a style that minimizes movement from the other part of the bed. Try out any mattress you’re interested in, and bring your bedmate. A mattress will feel different with one person on it than it will with two. You might feel silly, but people test their beds this way all the time. People who toss and turn may find that foam mattresses work better for them than other types. If you aren’t sure, take the time to try out examples of all these kinds of mattresses.

Firmness

In addition to size and construction, you’re going to need to think about firmness. Different people prefer different things when it comes to how soft or firm their mattress is. The market has a wide range of options, from firm to super plush pillow tops, so it’s possible for nearly anyone to find the mattress that’s right for them. The best way to decide what you prefer is to head to the mattress store. Kick off your shoes and lie down on a few mattresses. Ideally, you should spend a few minutes on each one, so it warms up and conforms to your body. You’ll soon know if you like a lot of support, or prefer sleeping on a cloud.

Of course, if your bedmate has different preferences, you could run into problems. Many couples choose to compromise on the mattress they get when this occurs. Some, however, choose a mattress that can provide different levels of firmness for each half of the bed. These specialty mattresses often have an inflatable bladder inside that helps them provide more or less support, according to the preference of the user. These are costly, but they might be worth it for a really good night’s sleep.

Budget

This will be a big factor in any mattress you buy. There’s no point in pretending otherwise. It’s important to look at the amount of money you have available to spend on a mattress, and stick to the correct price range. Just be aware of what a good mattress that fits your preferences will cost. If you have back pain or insomnia that requires a memory foam bed, you’re going to pay more than someone who can settle for an innerspring. Bargain hunting can be dangerous – if you see a product priced well below what you can normally expect for that mattress, be suspicious. It may be made from inferior materials that won’t last as long as you’d like them to.

Taking the time to choose the right mattress might be expensive and difficult to do. However, it’s worth it in the long run. Everyone deserves a good night’s sleep, that is why we are here.