The right mattress can make the difference between years spent resting peacefully or spending that time losing out on crucial sleep.
We need sufficient rest to operate at peak alertness – without it, we do suboptimal work, our enjoyment of life suffers, we age faster, and most frighteningly, it puts us at risk of getting into a serious accident.
When you set out to purchase your first mattress, know that you will shelling out a considerable sum of money for a piece of furniture you will be sleeping on for at least the next decade.
While checking out Nectar sleep reviews is a great place to start, it helps to know what you like in a mattress rather than relying 100% on the opinions of others.
In the article below, we’ll go over several attributes you should be familiar with before slapping down your charge card to make this expensive purchase.
1) Your firmness preference
One of the most important aspects of mattress selection revolves around the firmness of its surface. Everyone has their own preferences, but many others have no idea what type of mattress is best suited to their body.
If you are at all unsure about which mattress firmness you like, take time to ‘window shop’ at mattress stores in your area.
Try out different surfaces and note your reaction to each. If you take a liking to one over others, go ahead and opt for it – remember, you’ll be sleeping on this surface for a decade or longer (or you’ll be shelling out big bucks again someday soon to correct a mistake you could have avoided).
2) Customization based on how you sleep
Once you know how hard or soft you like your bed, you will then want to consider how you sleep (and if you have a partner, how they sleep as well).
If you sleep on your side, you’ll want to err on the side of softness. A smaller surface area of your body is contacting the mattress, so you’ll want a material that will cradle your body better.
If you are a stomach sleeper, you’ll want a firmer bed, as soft toppers tend to be smothering for people who sleep in a prone position.
Those who sleep on their back should go with something between the two extremes – soft enough to be comfortable, but firm enough to prevent the spine from aligning itself in harmful ways.
Finally, those who have partners who toss and turn should consider getting a mattress that has pocketed coils, memory foam, latex, or dual air chambers.
Unlike a mattress that has unified springs, the variants mentioned above isolate movement so it is imperceptible to the person on the other side.
3) Other accommodations to keep in mind
Does any build-up of heat prevent you from falling asleep? If so, you’ll want to avoid getting mattresses made from foam or latex, as these materials are adept at absorbing and holding in warmth.
Instead, get a fiberfill mattress or feather mattress topper, as these materials dissipate body heat far more efficiently than the above-mentioned materials.
Suffer from allergies? Foam or latex mattresses are a great choice, as they have anti-microbial properties that prevent mold and dust mites from taking hold.
If you have acquired a fiberfill mattress to address heat issues as discussed above, you’ll want to install an allergen resistant cover over the top to prevent the previously-mentioned issues from taking up residence in your new bed.