How To Shop For A Mattress - The Official Guide To Buying A Mattress Online​

Buying a new mattress should be top-of-mind when your current bed has been with you for several years already, but mattress buying is not going to be that easy as it can take a lot of time to choose the right one. With the number of brands, styles, and types of mattresses on the market, it can be tough to find a comfortable mattress to sleep on.

Investing time, effort, and money when it comes to shopping for a mattress is important since we spend several hours in bed. Sleeping on a sagging or lumpy mattress can disrupt your sleep to the point that your energy levels become low the following day. That said, you’re probably wondering how to shop for a mattress to get the best value for your money? Of course, there are a few things that you need to consider when shopping for one. Let’s get started!

Online or Brick-and-Mortar Stores?

There are two ways for you to conduct your mattress shopping. You can go online or check out brick-and-mortar retailers. Both are good options when searching for a new bed, but which one is better? A large number of customers prefer to buy their mattress online since they can get easy access to hundreds of options with just a few clicks.

Shopping for a mattress online means that your mattress will be shipped to your home compressed inside a box for easy delivery and it usually comes with a sleep trial too. You can send it back for free if you are not happy with it. Plus, buying one online means that you may save big compared to shopping in a physical store.

But what about buying from retail outlets? If you are the type of person who wants to get a feel for the product that you wish to buy, then visiting their showroom or even trying your luck in department stores may be worth all the effort. Having customers test the mattress first helps reduce the return rate in most mattress stores. If you are not concerned with the price, then going from one shop to the next is also a good idea, as you can make a snap decision right there and then.

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Factors to Consider When Shopping for a Mattress Online

Getting a new mattress is an exciting prospect as it can mean that you will have a more restful sleep in the long run, but before you spend money on a new bed, there are a few factors that you need to consider:

Why do you need to buy a new bed?

The first thing that you need to ask yourself before you invest in a new mattress is why you need to get one. If the reason why you want a new mattress is that you are not sleeping well due to a sagging mattress, it may be time to consider buying a new bed.

Buzzwords

It’s easy enough to get lost in the number of buzzwords that online mattress companies and retail shops use when promoting their mattresses. That said, you need to be careful when dealing with a retailer that claims that their mattresses will give you superior sleep, or that you will be sleeping as if you are in a cloud, and such. Focus on the quality of the bed instead.

Return policies

Most retail outlets, both online and those with physical stores have return policies. It is important that you understand what their policies are and compare them with others too before you buy anything. This way, you will know what your coverage will be when you purchase from them.

Bed frame

If you are planning on buying a new mattress, you should consider its compatibility with your bed. Bed frames may vary by mattress retailer and may vary in general, which is why you need to know what type yours is. If you have a slatted bed frame, make sure that your new mattress will fit on it.

Health condition

What else should you consider when shopping for a brand new bed? Your current physical condition should also be taken into account. If you are pregnant, you will want a mattress that will provide you with the proper support throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Those who have suffered a physical injury may find buying a mattress that can be used on an adjustable bed frame helpful. The same goes true to those who are elderly and are in need of more assistance getting in and out of their bed.

Availability

When it comes to mattress buying online, it’s worth considering whether it is available in physical stores near you. This way, if you are interested in testing out the mattress, you can do so by asking, “What mattress shop near me has it?” Mattress retail outlets may have online sites too, which makes it easier for you to track their showroom within your locale.

Customer service

Another factor that you need to consider when it comes to mattress buying is the customer service that the brand has to offer. Efficient customer service will be able to answer your questions without focusing on making sales. A brand with good customer care services will consider your sleeping needs and be knowledgable.

Types of beds

What’s nice about buying a mattress online is that there are so many different types of beds for you to choose from. We all know that a foam mattress is a popular choice because it conforms to your body as you sleep, but you’ll find a variety of latex mattresses too. You will come across innerspring mattresses that come with a foam layer online too because an online brand wants to differentiate itself from other mattresses typically found in local stores.

Other types of mattresses that you can shop online

Memory foam mattress

As the name suggests, this type of mattress is made from layers of foam. Compared to innerspring, this mattress tends to last longer and will give you that “hug” feeling when you lie on it because it conforms to the shape of your body. It can trap heat though, so you may want to look for one that has a cooling gel foam on top.

Innerspring mattress

Also referred to as a traditional mattress, this bed is typically made with steel coil-support that is enclosed with a foam layer for added comfort. The issue with this type of mattress is that when the coils deteriorate, it can become prone to sagging.

Latex mattress

Made from natural latex foam, harvested from rubber trees, this type of mattress has good bounce and adequate support but can be on the expensive side.

Hybrid mattress

This is a combination of a pocketed coil for support wrapped in layers of latex foam or several layers of foam on top. The foam layers are designed to contour to your body’s shape just like in memory foam mattress, but without causing heat to get trapped.

Factoring in sleep positions and mattress types:

Sleep position

If you want to get your hands on a quality mattress that suits you, you may want to factor in your sleeping position. There’s no hard and fast rule here, but how you sleep can mean that you may require different types of support. Here’s what you need to know:

Side sleepers

If you tend to sleep on your side, you will need a bed that will provide pressure relief especially on the points where your body will be pushing down on your mattress the most. Usually, a pocket spring type that comes with a soft top is recommended, but you can try latex or memory foam mattress too. Mattresses that are too firm are best avoided.

Back sleepers

Almost any type of mattress can be used if you are a back sleeper, such as innerspring, memory foam, latex, or hybrid even. Just make sure that the mattress that you are going to choose has adequate firmness to support your spine as you sleep.

Front sleepers

A pocket sprung mattress can help provide your body with all the support that it needs. However, a foam mattress may not be ideal because it gives you that sinking feeling which can be uncomfortable to some front sleeper’s. Latex is also a good choice since it has a good bounce.

Read reviews

Last but not least read the reviews! If you will be shopping for a mattress online, it is important that you read up on reviews for a particular brand. Customer feedback will give you an idea of whether customers find a particular bed comfortable. Choosing a quality mattress is important because you want your bed to last for years to come.

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