If you find yourself constantly tossing and turning at night, seemingly uncomfortable with your mattress, maybe it's time to rethink your sleep solution. With so many high-quality mattresses available on the market and lots of technical terms and claimed benefits, it's important to choose one that addresses your needs and comfort requirements to narrow down your choices. You also want to avoid the common mattress-buying mistakes that may turn into an unfulfilling mattress investment.
Here are some mattress shopping mistakes to avoid to ensure you get the right mattress for a better snooze.
Buying a Mattress Without Understanding the Different Types
Mattresses might look the same at a glance, but the different types of mattresses make a difference in the quality of your sleep. Memory foam mattresses are popular and preferred by many in Singapore because of their price and contouring comfort. Latex is highly durable, provides the right bounce, and is ideal for hot sleepers since it does not absorb the natural heat of the body to conform. Bonnell spring mattresses are traditional mattresses that provide a firmer feel compared to pure foam varieties, giving proper support to stomach and heavier sleepers. Mattress sharers love a pocketed spring mattress as it offers an individual response to movements. Others opt for hybrid mattresses for customised comfort.
Buying a Mattress Without Knowing Your Sleeping Position
A very common mattress-buying mistake is getting one that is not suitable for your dominant sleeping position. Back, side, and stomach sleeping are the three most common sleeping positions. Combination sleepers switch between two or three positions. If you are a back sleeper, it is recommended that you go for a medium-firm to firm mattress, depending on your preference and back condition. Innerspring and hybrid mattresses are great for back sleepers. Softer mattresses may not be the most comfortable and might not provide your back with the proper support, especially if you're suffering from back pain.
Side sleepers, on the other hand, will benefit from a plusher mattress, such as a memory foam mattress. Because a soft mattress allows your body to sink into the foam, your shoulder and hip pressure are reduced. Firmer mattresses are recommended for stomach sleepers to prevent the stomach from sinking deep into the foam and the back from losing its natural shape. Innerspring or pocketed spring mattresses are advisable to keep a stomach sleeper’s shoulders and hips aligned.
Forgetting to Measure Your Space Before Buying a Mattress
One of the most crucial factors to consider when buying furniture or a mattress is your available space. Ultimately, you want to fit the best comfort within your available space.
Do you want a king-size mattress? If you plan to place two beds in a shared room, will two super single mattresses fit? Should you go for a single mattress?
Make sure you have enough room for it to break in. When shopping for a mattress, measure your bed space and ensure that you have enough allowance in your pathways for the delivery. For an easier delivery process, you may opt for a bed in a box. Many mattress companies offer this with free mattress assembly.
Falling for Cheaper Mattresses
We want to save money as much as possible when buying a mattress. That's why we often fall for the "great deals," aka the cheaper mattresses.
Cheaper mattresses are made from single foam units that provide less body support and minimal flexibility in targeting pressure points. Budget mattresses are great for minimal use, but if your priority is looking for a mattress that will elevate your sleep quality, invest in a more supportive mattress. If you're aiming to save, buying a cheaper mattress that won't last long isn't your best move.
Mattress sales happen every holiday or month, depending on the store or site. Take advantage of these if you want to get a higher quality mattress within your budget. Also, a few additions to your budget can lead you to a significantly better deal, so we highly recommend taking your time and searching through mattress units before clicking the checkout button.
But don't fall for mattress sales either.
Although we recommend looking into sales to get a higher-quality mattress, we also want to prevent the tendency to buy a mattress you don't like just because it's on sale. Remember that spending a few more minutes searching, reading descriptions, and looking for customer reviews will lead you to a better mattress purchase than relying on lower prices and markdowns alone.
Not Testing the Mattress
Almost 1/3 of your life involves sleeping on a mattress. Choosing one can either improve your sleep quality or keep you restless once you wake up. Buying a mattress in a brick-and-mortar store after a single feel or a five-minute trial might mislead you toward an uncomfortable mattress. Before purchasing a mattress in-store, make sure you get a good feel for it. When buying a mattress online, you can enjoy a 100-day free trial. This is advantageous since adjusting to a new mattress usually takes weeks.
Tip: Although called a "risk-free" trial, mattress companies are very particular about the sanitary condition of the mattress upon return. To prevent potential return hassles, always keep your mattress clean by using a mattress protector and practising proper sanitation. This is also to protect you from allergens and dirt.
Not Checking the Return Policy
Various mattress firms handle returns differently, so it's good to understand the return policy in preparation for the worst. If the mattress you bought isn't suitable for your liking, you can still return it without too much hassle. Before checking out the mattress, ask yourself, "What are the conditions for a refund or exchange? Are there charges if I return a product? How long will it take for my old mattress to be replaced? "How will I be refunded?"
Asking questions will help you handle your mattress better during the trial period. If you are shopping online, you can refer to the retailer's Return and Refund section. If you have further questions, feel free to clarify them with the customer service team.
Not Considering Brands You Don't Know
Popular brands will more likely grab your attention the first time you visit the store. In fact, many mattress shoppers play it safe and settle on brands they know instead of exploring the whole collection. When shopping for something as vital as a mattress, be sure to keep an open mind and explore all your possible options. Some lesser-known brands can definitely compete with the quality of well-known names in the mattress industry. The key here is proper research and observation.
Equipping yourself with some mattress buying knowledge will help you land an absolutely great deal that you will enjoy in the upcoming years. Mattress buying may seem too complicated at a glance, but you will absolutely enjoy doing it informed.
Make the most of your mattress investment by reading our ultimate mattress buying guide.