Luckily Goldilocks only had to sample two beds until she found one that was ‘just right’. But for the rest of us it’s a bit more of a drawn out process, as there are so many things to take into consideration. It’s such an important decision, and knowing you’re going to be spending hours of your life on it for the foreseeable future can add pressure to the whole bed buying experience and leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed.

 

It doesn’t help that going into a shop to buy a bed can be a bit of a nightmare, and there are 4 ugly truths about mattress stores. You don’t get much time to test each one before making your purchase, delivery times can be slow, the sales advisors can be pushy and there’s not likely to be a refund policy. So if you get your mattress home, sleep on it for a few nights and decide it’s not for you, well you’re pretty much stuck with it. Here are a few tips to take into consideration before taking the plunge, so you can make the most informed purchase possible.

 

Think About Ditching The Springs

Probably the biggest decision you’re going to have to make when choosing a mattress is between foam and springs. If you’ve always gone with springs, trying a memory foam mattress might feel a bit weird because it’s so different. You even might think you don’t like it much at first. But research has shown that memory foam mattresses perform better in terms of support, weight distribution, relief from pressure points and overall quality of sleep. Springs lose 16% of their support in the first year alone, and so a bed that can feel very comfortable at first has the potential to go soft and springy quite quickly. It always comes down to personal preference though, if you really feel like springs suit you better then that’s the right choice for you.

 

Take your weight into consideration

This might be something you haven’t even thought to factor in, but your weight and build should influence what you buy. Some beds and mattresses will have weight restrictions, and others will wear out quickly if you or your partner are heavier. It might be a case of needing a higher density mattress that supports you better if you opt for memory foam, or a firmer sprung mattress if you opt for classic springs. Most mattresses will have an upper weight limit of around eighteen stone, so if you’re around or over this weight choosing correctly will mean your bed and mattress lasts you for the right amount of time (seven years, this is when everyone should change their mattress). If you and your partner are very different weights or prefer very different levels of firmness, it’s possible to have a custom mattress made where each half is different and then zipped together.

 

 

 

Think About The Size of Your Room

It’s tempting to go for the biggest bed you can find, and although a bigger bed will offer more comfort (especially if you have a wriggly sleeper beside you at night) you may want to consider if it will fit in your space. Will you fit your bedside tables at either side, and will the mattress go up the stairs? If you live in a flat or have an awkward hallway, opting for a rolled memory foam mattress may be your only option. They arrive vacuum packed and tightly rolled a bit like a duvet so are easy to maneuver around awkward bends. They then gradually expand when you roll them out to the size of a full mattress. Alternatively, as with the custom mattress you may need to go for something that splits into two, and can then be zipped together when it’s in the room. Be sure to measure hallways and factor in any tight turns to the room you’re putting it in before buying your mattress.

 

Invest in quality

While a high price tag doesn’t always equate to good quality, in most cases you will get what you pay for. The bed, and the mattress in particular is one area where you really don’t want to skimp, by doing so you’re only going to set yourself up of years of uncomfortable nights. Be aware that these things do tend to be expensive, have a look at price points online and work out roughly at what price you’re happy to go to. You’re better off waiting for sales and discounts rather than buying cheaper models, and so if your budget is low perhaps wait for the January sales or seasonal sales. A more expensive mattress is likely to be made with better quality materials and been subject to better research and testing so will last you longer. You’ll actually save money in the long run where you’re not having to replace it as soon.