Sleep Like Royalty: The Ultimate Guide On How To Find The Best Mattress
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But if you are not getting a good night's sleep, there is a good chance that your mattress is responsible for it, and it might be time for an upgrade.
Did you know that as your body sleeps, your pituitary gland releases growth hormone which helps the body to grow and repair itself? Neither did I! But if we are not sleeping well, these critical processes may not happen as effectively as they should.
In fact, according to Spine-health, sleeping on the wrong mattress can cause “poor sleeping posture, strains muscles and does not help keep the spine in alignment, all of which contribute to low back pain.”
Being that we spend around 16 years of our lives in bed, this is no time to compromise.
Luckily, there are so many choices of mattresses to choose from; anti-allergen, orthopaedic, open spring, memory foam, and hybrid mattresses being some of the most popular.
Let’s dive in to find which mattress would suit you best.
1. MATTRESS FIRMNESS FOR THE TYPE OF SLEEPER YOU ARE
The first thing to consider is how you sleep because spine alignment is the most important factor.
Many people tend to switch positions throughout the night, but there are three main positions, each of which is suited to particular comfort grades.
Front Sleeper
Firm Mattress — Best for those who sleep on their front, have an average to heavy build and suffer from back pain. So you’ll need more support with less of a gap between your body and the mattress to stop you from sinking into the mattress causing lower back pain.
Back Sleeper
Medium - Very Firm Mattress — This is ideal for back sleepers who need the most support to not wake up with a sore back. But shoulders, heels, elbows, and buttocks are also pressure points for back-sleepers. Pocket, orthopaedic & memory foam mattresses would be best.
Side Sleeper
Medium - Firm Mattress — This firmness will help to support your shoulders and hips, reducing pressure and aching on your joints. A mattress that can provide the perfect blend of comfort and support like a pillow-top or memory foam mattress is ideal.
Combination Sleepers
If you are someone who frequently changes positions while you sleep and has developed aches and pain, you may need a mattress that provides adequate support in any position.
A medium to a medium-firm mattress that is made of foam or latex tends to provide the right spine alignment, with the ability to conform and provide pressure point relief in any position.
2. TYPES OF MATTRESSES
Alongside comfort grades, choosing the right mattress type is also conducive to a good night’s sleep, the best way to know if a mattress is right for you is simply to visit a shop and try them out.
But here is a list of the most common mattress types and their characteristics.
OPEN SPRING
Traditional spring mattresses are the most cost-effective option, it is constructed from interconnected metal coils which cover the entire sleeping area inside, there is a border made of wire for additional support.
These are wrapped up in layers of fabrics and padding for comfort. This type of mattress offers reliability and good value for money.
Pictured: Sealy Millionaire Backcare Open Coil Mattress from Mattressman
ORTHOPAEDIC
Orthopaedic mattresses are designed specifically to reduce pressure on the joints, neck, and back.
Orthopaedic mattresses can come in a variety of fillings such as pocket spring, memory foam, latex, or traditional spring, but all of them must provide the maximum support for optimum push-back, even weight distribution to prevent stress on the pressure points, the correct spinal alignment, and fosters a healthy posture which improves blood circulation.
Pictured: Slumberland Natural Solutions 2000 Mattress from Benson For Beds
HYBRID
Hybrid mattresses combine two types of mattresses in one.
They usually consist of memory foam, gel, or a latex layer with an innerspring system underneath.
This means you can enjoy the pressure relief of memory foam with the sturdiness and breathability of a spring mattress.
Pictured: Octasmart Hybrid Mattress from Dormeo
POCKET SPRING
Superior to a traditional spring mattress, a pocket spring mattress is made up of individual springs that are encased in their own pocket of fabric instead of moving as one unit.
This means that each pocket works completely independently of the other, only reacting to pressure applied to that area which is good for couples as it supports individual body weights.
MEMORY FOAM
A memory foam mattress is made from a very dense and low-resilience type of foam called polyurethane and other chemicals that use body heat and pressure to soften and contour your body for individualised comfort that relieves pressure and supports spine alignment.
It will bounce back to its original shape within seconds, but over time the mattress will remember your optimal sleeping position and body shape, hence the name “memory”.
Pictured: The Original Foam Mattress From Eve
LATEX
Is one of the top eco-friendly types of mattresses.
The latex is derived from the sap of a rubber tree and does not contain any chemicals or solvents like memory foam mattresses, but it does respond to our movement, support spine alignment, and contour to your body like memory foam.
Latex also has a great amount of elasticity and is 20 times more durable than polyurethane (memory foam) mattresses.
Pictured: Relyon Somerton Dunlopillo Latex Mattress from Dreams
PILLOW-TOP
A pillow-top mattress has extra padding sewn on top.
This extra padding improves the overall plushness, which is why they are usually seen on traditional spring mattresses to relieve the stiffness of the metal coils underneath.
Pillow-top mattresses can gently cushion your body without you sinking in too deeply.
Pictured: Luxury Natural Collection Egyptian Cotton Pillowtop Mattress from John Lewis
3. PICKING THE RIGHT MATTRESS SIZE
Size does matter! And if it’s optimal comfort (and freedom) you’re looking for, then getting the right size mattress is not something to be overlooked.
The key things to consider are:
What your build/size is
How tall you are
How big your room is
Whether you sleep with a partner
Below are the UK Standard sizes.
Small Single - (L190cm x W75cm): It is the same length as a standard single – but is 15cm narrower so is often used for children as it’s too small for an adult. However, they might be ideal for a box room or small guest bedroom.
Single - (L190 x W90cm): Unless you’re a lot taller and/or you like to sprawl out without your legs hanging off the sides, the single mattress is the right size for a single adult.
Small Double - (L190 x W120cm): Also known as a ‘queen-size’, it may work for two but will be very snug.
Double - (L190 x W135cm): This size can accommodate two average-sized adults, it has a bit more width than a small double, but only by 15cm!
King - (L200 x W150cm): King-size is a bit more expensive than a double, but it will provide a lot more sleeping space and comfort.
Super King (L200 x W180cm): A super king mattress is basically two standard single mattresses stuck together. It's big enough for couples to have lots of wiggle room.
4. MATTRESSES THAT SUIT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Best Mattress Type For People With Limited Mobility
We’ve already looked at the best mattresses for joint and back pain, but for those that struggle with mobility, have disabilities, and/or other ailments, you’ll want a mattress with multiple foam layers that won’t have as much motion transfer (so you won’t roll or move to the other side of the mattress), you could also consider an adjustable/electric bed that can cater to your needs.
Sleepmotion by Dreams does just that! At the touch of a button, you can adjust the position to sit up, watch TV, work on your laptop or read a book, it can make getting up and out of bed much easier.
Check out the ‘Sleepmotion’ promotional video below.
Video Courtesy of Dreams
Best Mattress For Overheating
If you suffer from night sweats, it's unlikely that you’ll be getting a good night's sleep.
A mattress with breathable chambers of air can make all the difference by reducing heat trapped around your body.
Mattress options like the CoolTouch™ Sensation Luxe Mattress by Tempur come with an exclusive cover that keeps you cool throughout the night and absorbs excess heat. The cover can also be removed for washing!
Mattresses For People With Allergies
Hypoallergenic mattresses guarantee some protection against allergy triggers like dust mites, bacteria, and mould.
Foam mattresses have been found to be very beneficial in reducing the risk of allergens and dust mites as the solid core structure makes it impenetrable to dust mites.
The Silentnight Mirapocket 1000 Geltex Pillow Top Limited Edition Mattress is a great example of what to look for in a hypoallergenic mattress.
It has a purotex-infused knitted cover to guard against allergens and is approved by Allergy UK.
Quick tip: Be aware that different brands may use different terms for hypoallergenic like allergy-free, non-allergenic, and anti-allergy.
Comfort Grade & Mattress Type For Pregnant Women
It is normal for pregnant women to suffer from heartburn, backache, nausea, and night sweats, which are exacerbated when sleeping on the wrong mattress.
A good night’s sleep is important to both mother and baby and since doctors recommend that expecting mothers should sleep on their side, the mattress you choose needs to reduce pressure on the shoulders and hips.
The Nectar Memory Foam Mattress would be ideal, it has three layers of premium memory foam, a medium-firm comfort grade, low motion transfer, and can accommodate weight up to 230 pounds.
What Is A Bed-In-A-Box?
A bed-in-a-box is essentially a mattress (usually foam or hybrid) that can be transported in a conveniently sized box. This tends to make delivery times quicker and is easier to unpack at home.
Brands such as Simba, Emma, Nectar and Casper offer this type of delivery, taking the stress out of trying to squeeze a mattress through awkward access points, having your mattress delivered in a box means your bed can arrive within 5-7 days and be set up in minutes.
Cheaper Alternatives To A New Mattress
Sometimes our mattresses just aren’t serving their purpose like they used to, and you might find that the lack of comfort and support is causing you aches and pains, but if you have a tight budget you could consider getting a mattress topper.
A mattress topper is a detachable padded layer that sits on top of your mattress for extra support and comfort.
They can be made from fillings such as memory foam, gel, hollow fibre, and microfibre.
They can help if your mattress has started to sag or if you find your mattress to be too hard.
Even when you do buy a new mattress, you may want to keep a mattress topper on it, as they also help to prolong your mattress’s lifespan by keeping it fresher and cleaner for longer and reducing pressure on the springs.
Pictured: Soft As Down with Silk Double Mattress Topper from Soak & Sleep
Best Mattress For Couples
Split Tension mattresses are the ideal option for sleeping partners who like different levels of firmness and don’t want to compromise.
They are constructed from two mattresses (with your individually preferred spring tensions) that can be placed together to make one, many split tension mattresses have a ‘zip and link’ option too.
Split tension mattresses also support the individual needs according to body weight and reduce disturbance from the other person.
What To Do If You’re Not Happy With Your New Mattress
Just in case your new mattress does not live up to the hype, remember to check the small print before you pay for it.
All mattress brands should offer a guarantee and many of them offer a 30-365 night trial to try out at home with the option to exchange or get a refund after that period has finished if you change your mind.
Hope this post has helped you to decide what mattress would work for you and hopefully get you some ZZZs!
