Which Types of Mattresses Are Best for YOU?
- Last Updated 24th March 2023
- | Beds and Mattresses
Have you ever wondered which types of mattresses are best for you? Or what options are available, and how much you should spend on a good-quality mattress?
A mattress may seem simple, and you might think they are all the same, but choosing what you sleep on each night is more important than you might think. Whether you’re looking for the best mattress for back pain or the best mattress for side sleepers, choosing the right size and one with the proper support and comfort is critical if you want to sleep soundly. Isn’t that what we all want when we buy a new mattress?
When Should You Buy A New Mattress?
As a general rule of thumb, we should replace our mattresses every six to eight years. This period can vary depending on the original quality of the mattress and the amount of use it has had.
Similar to deciding if it’s a good time to replace your carpet, you may want to change your mattress if it has unwanted odours, has become dirty or stained, is damaged or if you’re changing the design of your bedroom.
Other factors that might make you want to change your mattress include the following:
- You are increasingly experiencing disrupted sleep.
- You often wake in the night with joint stiffness or muscle pain.
- You enjoy improved sleep when you sleep away from home.
- There are visible signs of wear and tear.
- You want (or need) to change the size of your bed.
- Your mattress is making more noise than usual.
- Allergies or medical conditions like asthma have worsened.
What Are the Benefits of a Good Quality Mattress?
Mattresses generally have two purposes: comfort and support. Therefore the benefits of having a good mattress are primarily related to your health. Your bed should be a quiet place to rest, unwind, and feel refreshed. Is that what you get from your bed and mattress?
Improved Sleep
A good quality mattress helps you achieve a good night’s sleep, benefiting your physical and mental well-being. If you are experiencing poor sleep or uncomfortable nights, it may be a sign that it’s time to get a new mattress.
The occasional poor night’s sleep isn’t too bad, but prolonged exposure to poor sleep can eventually lead to sleep deprivation affecting how well you function each day.
Improved Posture
A good mattress is crucial in achieving good back health by gently supporting your whole body and keeping your spine in a neutral position. You need a mattress that supports healthy posture and body alignment if you sleep in the same position night after night.
The right mattress can help you keep or regain a healthy shape and avoid spine misalignment. Misalignment can reduce your mobility and quality of life. The responsiveness of a good quality memory foam mattress can maintain spine alignment and provide cushion to pressure points. When your spine is correctly aligned, your head, shoulders, back, hips, knees, and feet stay relatively straight.
Protection Against Allergies
The highest concentration of dust mites in homes is in mattresses. However, dust mites are generally less likely to live in certain types of mattresses, such as memory foam or latex mattresses, because they are dense materials. These types of mattresses can also protect you against allergy triggers.
Other Health Benefits
Other possible health benefits of having a good mattress include the following:
- Stronger immune system
- Lower risk of mood disorders
- Increased average lifespan
- Lower risk of high blood pressure
- Lower risk of heart disease
- Increased fertility
- Lower risk of obesity
- Lower risk of diabetes
So, let’s look at some of the options.
Types of Mattresses
Their inner architecture is the most apparent component impacting how mattresses feel and last, and they come in many styles and materials.
This Aloe Vera Mattress is a one-sided model, so you can just rotate it; there’s no need to turn it over. With the luxury of 1000 Pocket Springs, memory foam and reflex foam fillings, it will contour to your body perfectly for both comfort and support.
Even though not every mattress of a particular type will perform the same way, they usually have some things in common. And as each of us has unique preferences and needs, there’s no perfect mattress.
The most common types of mattresses include:
Natural Mattresses
Just like regular mattresses, natural mattresses can comprise different materials depending on your needs. Manufacturers use natural fillings like cotton and wool, so these mattresses are usually more eco-friendly. Most fibres used to make them have natural temperature-regulating and moisture-wicking properties.
Memory Foam Mattresses
Memory foam mattresses contain a high-density foam that responds to the shape and heat of your body for personalised support. If you have pain or discomfort, this technology can assist in relieving pressure points and keeping your back in good alignment.
Traditional Spring Mattresses
You often get strong support and soft, comfortable sleep on a classic spring mattress, also known as an open spring mattress, because it has many connected metal springs. A traditional spring mattress offers reliability, comfort, value for money and a range of comfort grades.
Pocket-Sprung Mattresses
A pocket-sprung mattress offers more support than open coiled by distributing your body weight evenly and is usually more suitable for heavier people. Its springs have their own little pockets and work independently of each other. The elasticity of these mattresses gives a slightly bouncy feeling, and they are long-lasting durable mattresses.
Hybrid Mattresses
Combination (or hybrid) mattresses have a layer of memory foam, latex, or gel on top of a layer of pocket or open springs. So, these mattresses can provide both support and a soft, comfortable feel. They may suit you better if you’re a side or front sleeper.
How to Choose a Mattress
You want to buy the right mattress, but many choices exist. The more you look, the more questions you have. It can be exhausting. So how do you find and choose the right mattress for you?
As mentioned earlier, the comfort of your mattress is one of the essential factors for getting a good night’s sleep, and a regular amount of good-quality sleep can improve our health. Changing your mattress according to an expert’s advice is critical, and choosing the best one for you includes consideration of several factors.
Personal Preference
Which type of mattress do you find comfortable? There’s certainly no such thing as a one-size-fits-all mattress. If you’ve already tried different mattress types, you may have found that one suits how you sleep more than others.
Besides the issue of comfort, mattresses have other qualities that may suit your circumstances. Natural or memory foam mattresses will likely serve you well if you suffer from a bad back. Hypoallergenic mattresses made of memory foam, latex or gel foam can help reduce allergies and asthma symptoms – and so on.
Mattress Size
If you want to buy a new mattress, you should know the most common sizes as well as more about the different types of mattresses. It can be helpful to have some idea beforehand and plan around your bedroom space before making any decisions.
If you plan to buy your mattress and base separately or keep your old base, measure carefully to ensure your new mattress is a good fit. Here are some of the most popular UK mattress sizes.
Small Single Mattress
Single Mattress
Small Double Mattress
Double Mattress
King Size Mattress
Super King Mattress
Your Budget
With so many different types of beds and mattresses and such a huge price range, working out how much to spend on a new mattress can take time and effort. And although you are likely working within a specific budget, don’t be tempted to choose your mattress on the price tag alone.
Mattress Reviews
If you are researching various types of mattresses, consider looking at mattress reviews on your favourite review site. Which is an independent organisation whose research aims to get to the heart of consumer issues that matter. They test mattresses and provide an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of many mattress types.
Mattress Firmness
Another critical thing to consider before buying a mattress is its firmness. If you choose one that’s too soft or firm, you are unlikely to sleep well and could start experiencing back issues. Generally speaking, sleeping on your stomach is best suited to a firmer mattress and sleeping on your side is best suited to a softer mattress.
If the mattress is for children and those who weigh less than ten stone, you should consider a ‘medium-soft’ mattress. And someone who weighs more than fourteen stone may find a ‘medium-firm’ or ‘firm’ mattress is best for them. Remember that a firm mattress doesn’t always mean better support for your back.
We hope this has given you an insight into the different types of mattresses, the available sizes and a better idea of which mattress might be best for you. For more advice about choosing a new mattress, please don’t hesitate to contact the Carpet Stop Team. You can find your local store here.
