How to Find the Right Mattress For You
A bed is more than just a place to sleep—it’s an integral part of your home that can affect everything from your posture and health to your happiness. That’s why it’s important to find a mattress that’s right for you, one that aligns with your sleep position and provides comfort to support your body weight. Fortunately, with a little knowledge and the right mattress, you can ensure that your bed will work hard for you and provide quality rest throughout the night.
The most basic beds were probably a heap of straw or some other natural material. The wealthy could afford to build wooden platforms, some of which were curtained and piled high with cushions. By the 17th century, a portable bed became popular in upper society and even became a formal piece of furniture that was used to receive friends, especially before or after childbirth or during periods of mourning.
There are many different mattress types, and the best type of mattress for you depends on your personal definitions of soft, medium, and firm, as well as other factors such as body size, sleep position, temperature sensitivities, and motion transfer (how much movement ripples through a bed). The experts we interviewed recommended that people look for a mattress with at least medium firmness to prevent waking up with back pain.
If you suffer from back pain, make sure to test the bed’s edge support by sitting on the perimeter and seeing how much it caves in. This is a key factor for heavy sleepers because it helps avoid sinking and provides good spinal alignment. You can also ask the sales associate about spine-alignment charts to help you find a mattress that will address your specific needs.
A quality mattress should be durable and easy to clean. You should also look for a mattress with a minimal amount of off-gassing and odor. Also, make sure the mattress is certified to meet federal flammability standards.
How old is your current mattress? It’s generally considered time for a new bed if you’ve had it for over 8 years. If you’re sharing your bed with a partner or pets, consider getting at least a queen-size mattress for better support and to allow everyone plenty of room.
Another big consideration is a mattress’s firmness, which you can test in store by sitting on the edge and seeing how much it caves in. Experts recommend a mattress with at least medium firmness, which our testers found to be the most comfortable. Some doctors and orthopedic surgeons also recommend medium-firm mattresses to reduce pressure on joints and muscles.