To be honest, selecting a mattress isn’t something most people are taught to do. There’s no class in school where they walk you through coil count or memory foam density.
If you’re stuck in mattress decision paralysis, don’t worry. Here are three things you should consider when selecting the right mattress.
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1. Think About How You Sleep
This is probably the biggest one that most people overlook. Your sleep position influences the type of mattress you’ll need. Are you a side sleeper who curls up like a shrimp? Or do you crash on your stomach like you’re sunbathing on a beach? Maybe you’re a back sleeper who doesn’t move at all. Or maybe, like many others, you toss and turn all night trying to find that one perfect spot.
So, when it’s finally time to get a new one (because yours is sagging in the middle or you’re tired of waking up with that annoying back pain), you’re kind of left staring at a hundred different options, wondering whether you need Memory foam or hybrid mattresses.
If you sleep on your side, you’ll probably want something softer that cushions your shoulder and hip. A mattress that’s too firm can create pressure points, and suddenly you’re waking up with pins and needles. Back sleepers? You’ll likely need something a bit firmer to keep your spine aligned.
Stomach sleepers? Well, you guys need support. Too soft, and your hips will sink too low, which messes with your lower back. And if you’re the kind of sleeper who flips around, you’re gonna want a mattress that strikes a balance.
Not too soft, not too firm, something that gives you support without making you feel like you’re sleeping on a plank. Just paying attention to how you fall asleep and how you wake up can guide you more than any sales pitch.
2. Don’t Obsess Over the Price Tag
Okay, this one can be tricky. There’s this idea floating around that the more expensive the mattress, the better it must be. But that’s not always true. Sure, a high-end mattress might have premium materials or come with fancy tech, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to magically cure your back pain or make you sleep like a baby.
Here’s the thing: your comfort is what matters. And comfort isn’t always tied to a price. You could try a $4,000 mattress and hate it. Then try one for $600 and love it. It happens. So while budget is obviously important, you don’t want to overextend yourself.
That said, be wary of super cheap mattresses too.
If you’re finding a brand-new queen mattress for $150, there’s a good chance it’s not going to last. You don’t want something that sags within a year or starts falling apart.
3. Test It Like You’re Sleeping on It
This might sound obvious, but when you test a mattress in a store, don’t just sit on the edge or lie down stiff as a board for five seconds. That tells you nothing. You’ve got to really get in there, stretch out, roll to your side, curl up, whatever you normally do in bed. It’s a little awkward, sure. But think about it. You’re making a decision that will affect your sleep every single night.
If you’re buying online (which a lot of people do now), you won’t get that in-store trial. But most online mattress brands offer some kind of risk-free trial period, like 90 or even 120 nights. That’s gold. Use it. Sleep on it for a few weeks and see how your body feels. If you’re waking up sore or noticing weird dips in the mattress, return it. That’s the beauty of those trials.
The Bottom Line
Picking a mattress isn’t exactly a walk in the park, but it also doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Just keep it simple: know how you sleep, figure out your budget without getting sucked into hype, test it like a human being, and understand what it’s made of. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know what works for you.
Read Next: How Can Changing Your Mattress Help Cure Chronic Back Pain?
