What You Need to Know About How to Choose a Mattress That Is Ideal for You

Key Takeaways:

Replace mattresses every 10 years (or sooner if sagging, discomfort, or pain occurs).
Test mattresses in-store with your sleep partner; prioritize movement ease and position support (side/stomach sleepers need softer; back sleepers need firmer).
Mattress Types:
- Foam: Affordable, molds to the body, but traps heat.
- Innerspring: Pocket springs reduce motion transfer; ideal for couples.
- Latex: Durable (12–15 years), hypoallergenic, and breathable.
- Hybrid: Combines materials for tailored comfort.
Prioritize support and personal sleep habits over trends.

With 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, we spend a third of our lives in bed. This sleep is essential for our survival, because during this time our body recovers, regenerates, and maintains its immune system. For these nights to be truly restful, a quality bed is essential. Given the extremely large and varied selection of mattresses, consumers no longer know what to look for.

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When should the mattress be changed?

This is the first question that consumers must ask themselves today. Although brands differ, it is nonetheless recommended to change a mattress about once every 10 years. It is considered that after this period, the mattress will no longer provide enough support.

However, some people prefer to replace their mattresses after only 5 years. In reality, it is up to you. If you have trouble falling asleep, if you can’t find a comfortable position, if you wake up with back or lumbar pain, then maybe it’s time to invest in a new mattress.

Over time, the mattress may also show signs of deformation, including sagging areas. Obviously, it is not advisable to continue sleeping on a worn-out mattress that sags and forms hollows. Therefore, a new purchase should be considered. Your back and neck will thank you for it.

However, to find the right mattress for your needs you need to try out a few models before finally settling on one.

Where can you try out a mattress?

To try one out, go to stores that specialize in bedding. Costco, Mattress Firm, Macy’s, and Sleep Number/Select Comfort have models of well-known brands such as Serta, Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns, and Foster-Simmons. The knowledgeable sales staff in these stores is available to answer your questions and help you find your dream bed.
It is also worth considering furniture stores such as Ikea. They offer a selection of mattresses, which are often comfortable enough, at relatively low prices. These stores also offer bed frames, bedding, and many other decorative items.

In your search, do not neglect the Internet either! Some brands even offer consumers the chance to test their new mattresses at home for 100 nights. Satisfied or your money back. And the return is free of charge.

How can you test your mattress?

To choose your mattress well, you must first test it and if possible, with two people, if you are a couple. In fact, a bed can be adapted to the morphology of one, but not the other. Therefore, it is important to find a consensus.

Soft or firm? This is the debate that arises when choosing the type of mattress. First advice: listen to your body and especially to the position in which you prefer to sleep. If you prefer to sleep on your side or stomach, a mattress that is too firm can be very uncomfortable. On the other hand, if you prefer to sleep on your back, a soft mattress may cause you to sink too deeply and thus not have the support you want.

Generally, it’s best to opt for a relatively firm model in order to have good support. You may want to add a removable mattress topper for added comfort. Finally, don’t forget that you move around during the night. So remember to roll over as much as possible when you test the mattress in the store and try different positions. If you can do this easily and smoothly, then it may be the right fit for you.

What are the different types of mattresses?

Foam mattresses

Foam mattresses provide adequate support at a very affordable price. Polyurethane foam models have a higher density, but are much better for everyday use and provide firm support night after night. If you have frequent back pain and your budget allows, there are also memory foam mattresses that conform perfectly to the lines of your body to provide maximum comfort and support.

However, foam mattresses have one major drawback: they don’t dissipate heat. And they are sensitive to moisture. If you tend to sweat at night, both in summer and winter, you should avoid this type of mattress.

Innerspring mattresses

This type of mattress has changed a lot because the springs are now pocket springs, which means they are wrapped independently in layers of fabric for optimal support and ideal pressure distribution. Because they follow the contours of the body and cushion movement, spring mattresses are also particularly suitable for couples: If one partner moves a lot, the other may not feel it.

For added comfort, these mattresses often come with a winter and a summer side. Each has a different texture and density to retain heat or, conversely, to dissipate it.

Latex mattresses

Latex mattresses – synthetic and/or natural – are more popular than ever among consumers. And rightly so, since these mattresses offer many advantages and are recommended for allergy sufferers, as well as for those who sweat a lot at night. Through its perforated cells, the latex mattress breathes. It is also very elastic and resistant. It is the type of bedding with the longest durability: between 12 and 15 years on average.

100% natural latex mattresses are more expensive than synthetic types, but they have the advantage of being biodegradable and do not emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds), making them environmentally friendly.

Hybrid mattresses

More and more brands are combining these different technologies to create more options to meet the evolving needs of consumers.

What price should I pay for a mattress?

Knowing that we spend a third of our days in bed, the choice of a mattress should not be based solely on price. Quite the contrary. Comfort, well-being, and support are essential if you are going to replace your mattress. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. There is a wide range of products to suit all budgets.

Basic models, often made from foam, typically cost around $250 for a standard twin mattress. For a higher-quality model, you will need to pay between $500 and $900 for a queen-size model. For luxury mattresses, prices can go up to several thousand. Fortunately, mattresses are regularly offered at very interesting prices during sales events with discounts of up to 80%. Some consumers prefer to wait for these offers to invest in a quality model at a low price.

Unlike furniture and other decorative items, a mattress is not an item that is subject to trends. It has a very long lifespan and if you take care of it by turning it over regularly, it will last an average of 10 years.