1. You won’t toss and turn on the right mattress
Some people may tell you that a new mattress can eliminate tossing and turning. While pressure points play a role in restless nights, moving in your sleep can be a normal habit unrelated to your bed. A good rule of thumb: if you can’t get comfortable due to pain or wake with sore spots, your bed may be to blame.
2. The firmer the better
Conventional wisdom has suggested that choosing the firmest mattress is best for back health and support. However, recent research has shifted to suggesting medium-firm mattresses provide the greatest pain relief and comfort for most people. Ultimately, when it comes to deciding between soft, medium, and firm, go with what makes your body feel refreshed.
3. Paying more guarantees better sleep
As consumers we often assume that the more expensive product will be better than a cheaper one. Often inflated costs are due to advertising, markups, or trying to create an impression of luxury. When comparing mattresses, look at the quality of the materials, reviews, and guarantees rather than using price as a measure of quality.
4. Mattress A = Mattress B
Mattress manufacturers often produce similar but different lines for different retailers, in large part so that they cannot be directly compared to those at other stores. Salespeople may not always have accurate information on competitor offerings and may compare similar mattresses with different features. Rather than accepting comparisons at face value, do your own research, looking at what actually goes into the bed and the quality of the materials.
5. A mattress is okay to use until it sags
Your mattress doesn’t have to be sagging four inches to lack support. Consumer organizations typically recommend replacing a bed after 5–8 years of use. After this time, average innerspring mattresses will begin losing their ability to support the sleeper, and padding/foam materials tend to become compressed. Changes in weight and age can also necessitate the purchase of a new bed before visible wear is present.
6. Mattress fabrics make a big difference
Retailers often emphasize upgraded models with ultra-premium silk-damask quilted-luxury covers, but these may not make a huge difference to the sleeper. Most people put sheets and/or mattress pads on top of the mattress, so direct contact would not occur. Upgrades like silk, cashmere, and fancy-sounding blends likely won’t be worth the added costs. One place you could see a difference, however, is in selecting breathable fabrics that allow air to flow through the mattress — like natural cotton, bamboo, and wool.
7. The cover will protect your bed
The standard cover that comes with most mattresses is not waterproof or dust-mite proof. If small children or pets will be on the mattress, or you tend to sweat at night, a waterproof or water-resistant cover (such as a health protector) is a good idea. It will help protect your investment and save you from issues should you need to return the bed or file a warranty claim. Dust-mite-proof covers can also be helpful for those with allergies, especially on innerspring beds.
8. Toppers can fix everything
When your mattress starts getting uncomfortable, you may be tempted to slap a topper on it to extend its life a little longer. However, a mattress topper is not suitable for every situation. If your bed has dips or poking springs, is too soft, or lacks underlying support, a mattress topper will not improve the situation. A topper can be good for providing pressure relief on a too-firm bed or extending the life of a mattress that may have lost resiliency in comfort layers but remains supportive.
9. The warranty will cover everything
Mattress warranties tend to be somewhat complicated. Many luxury beds feature 20-year-or-longer warranties, but that does not mean the entire mattress is covered. Typically, the bed will have a full coverage period followed by a prorated period, which will vary depending on the brand and type of materials. Even during the full coverage period, the warranty may be limited to certain components or a specific degree of impressions. Chances are you will be replacing the bed long before the warranty period, so decades-long warranties may not be as impressive as they sound.
Read more: Understanding Your Mattress Warranty
