Do Your Research And Go In With A Budget
The first thing you should do before you even head out to shop for mattresses is know how much you’re willing to spend. Going into any major purchase with a budget and spending cap in mind will help you avoid spending too much and will also help you buy the best mattress you can afford while avoiding the extra fluff and accessories that mattress stores are notorious for trying to load you up with. Keep those add-ons and accessories in mind when you head to the store. As soon as you select a mattress, the salesperson will try and sell you mattress covers, extended warranties, bedframes and other accessories that you may or may not actually need.
Mattress stores are notorious for making it difficult to comparison shop, so don’t expect to be able to go from store to store and see the same mattress there for different prices. You’re better off paying attention to mattress brand and mattress type when you go shopping. Don’t put too much stock in model names or “line” names. One store may have a line from a prominent manufacturer under one name, and another store will have a line from the same manufacturer under another name, and in reality the mattresses are the same and simply marketed differently for different retailers.
If you’re trying to stick to a budget, check out your local mattress stores’ catalogues or websites to see what’s on sale. Make notes of model names and numbers that are in your price range, and when you get to the store, ask to see those specific models. In some cases, mattress stores only stock a few of the models on sale (so you don’t find out they’re out of stock until you’re in the store), so find out early if they have what you’re looking for.
Understand What Type Of Mattress Is Right For You
Mattress manufacturers and retailers have dozens of names for different types of mattresses, but there are only really a few basic types:
Tempur-Pedic/Memory Foam – Tempur-Pedic mattresses are actually a brand name, but many people use them to describe any mattress type that uses “memory foam” or another type of foam that moulds to the shape of your body while you sleep, and offers even support all over your body. You essentially sink into it, and the mattress applies even pressure to your body at all points. Tempur-Pedic and memory foam mattresses tend to get warm over the course of the night, so if you need a cool sleeping surface under you, they may not be right for you.
Sleep Number Beds – Sleep number beds use inflatable air pressure chambers inside of the mattress that you can customise to suit the level of firmness you want in your sleeping surface. You can, at any time, make the mattress firmer or softer, and depending on the model you get, you can tilt the bed up into a reclining position, or you can get sleep number beds that have different chambers on either side of the bed, so you and your spouse or partner can enjoy different levels of firmness. “Sleep Number Bed” is a trademark of Select Comfort, which makes most of the beds that fit this description. They tend to be fairly pricey.
Firm vs Plush – Firm and plush, as their names imply, indicate the firmness or softness of the mattress in question. You’ll see some mattresses described as “extra firm, firm, plush, ultra plush” to denote how hard or soft the mattress actually is. In some cases, to get to the “ultra plush” end of the scale, manufacturers add thick pillowtops and cushions to the tops of a standard matress to make it feel softer. You can also find mattress types in between like “cushion firm” or “pillowtop” or a firm mattress that has extra padding on the sides and top or a pillowtop on it that makes the mattress softer when you lay in it but still is firm enough to provide support while you sleep.
Come in and find the right mattress today.