Buying a Bed | The Bed King

How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes When Buying a Mattress

Buying a mattress is a long term investment, one that requires careful thinking and choosing on your part to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Quality sleep impacts every aspect of your life and a mattress not suited to your needs can exuberate current health conditions, and encourage sleep disorders.

So whether you in the market for a new mattress, or tossing out the old one, here are some factors to consider before buying a mattress.

When to Purchase a New Mattress

Considering how important sleep is, and how the quality of your sleep can interfere with your health, weight, stress levels and emotions, it would be wise to relook your sleeping arrangements and when to purchase a new mattress.

So when would be the ideal time to buy a new or replace an existing mattress?

When you buy a new bed and you need a new mattress....obviously!
When you’ve had your mattress longer than intended, between five and ten years
When your current mattress is no longer providing you with support and robbing you of restorative sleep, leaving you tired and irritable
You wake with aching muscles and general pains that occur every night after sleep
You have increased night waking, after ruling out illness, noise and stimulants
You wake tired, even after getting adequate hours sleep
If you find allergies on the increase, your mattress could be harbouring dust mites and mould from years of usage without a mattress protector
Sleeping on someone else’s bed is more comfortable, heck even the couch! Its time to toss out your old mattress and bring in a new one

6 Things to Consider Before Buying a New Mattress

Before diving in and buying a mattress, there a few things you need to consider to ensure you buy the right mattress for your needs and reward yourself with quality sleep.

Medical Condition: If you have an existing medical condition that requires a specific mattress to aid sleep, find out what mattress is best suited to help you sleep better with this condition.
Sleep Position: Your preferred sleeping position plays a vital role in comfort and support. The best mattress must contour and support your position and any other position you sleep in by proper spine alignment and relaxed muscles.
Build and Height: Your build, weight and height will determine what mattress would be comfortable for you, and what support you would need to ensure proper alignment of your spine.
Comfort: How does the bed feel when you sleep, especially in your preferred sleeping position? Ensure your partner (if you have one) is present when choosing a mattress, and make sure they lie down with you for at least 10 minutes.
Support: Consider your spine alignment and position of your hips and shoulders when determining what support is best for you. When sleeping on your side, your spine should be straight, and when lying on your back, the mattress should follow and support the natural curve of your spine.
Quality: Being a long-term investment – you should have a realistic budget in mind before purchasing a mattress, based on your needs. Buying a cheap and cheerful mattress might solve an immediate problem, but more than likely you will end up buying again.

Be realistic and spend with the notion that your mattress is a long-term investment and take into consideration your medical condition, sleep position and build. Your mattress should mould to the shape of your body, providing optimum comfort.

4 Differences That Will Make a Difference?

How do you benefit from sleep? By identifying the differences that will make the difference to your quality of sleep. There are four differences to consider before buying a new mattress.

Firmness: Go too firm, and you force your hips, spine and shoulders out of alignment, or too soft, your hips and shoulders will sink into the mattress - pushing your spine out of alignment. So how do you find the right balance? The best mattress keeps your spine neutral and in alignment, and your hips and shoulders are supported.
Size: Consider your height and build when buying a mattress. If you are small to medium build then a standard double or queen mattress will suit you just fine. If you are a descendant of Goliath, then a super (California) king will suffice.
Coil Count: Light sleepers and partners that move around need an Independent Coil Sprung Mattress, which is better suited to those who don’t want to know their partner’s every move. They hold more coils designed to independently support movement.

Innerspring Mattresses have fewer coils; therefore every movement is felt, resulting in interrupted sleep.

Brand: Whether you are into big brands or no brands, you need to consider the old adage ‘You get what you pay for’. Cheaper mattresses or less known brands may have cut corners during the manufacturing process, and if it does not meet your needs, and you have shelled out your hard earned cash, then you better get comfortable sleeping on the couch, as you will probably be more comfortable there!

Invest in a mattress suited to your needs, be realistic and buy a mattress that compliments your sleep positions, your medical condition and build. Take into account how you feel while sleeping and make sure your body is supported. Take care of your old or new mattress using a good quality mattress protector, (which will add years to your mattress) and most importantly when buying a new mattress, consider what sleep is worth to you.

Discover personal comfort and support with Bed King’s range of mattresses, pillows, bedding and bedroom furniture available at www.bedking.co.za