Bedding
How to Choose the Right Mattress for Yourself
Share this article
No two mattresses are the same. Even knowing that, a lot of people still sleep uncomfortably because they have no idea how to choose the right one for themselves.
Sleeping on the wrong mattress isn’t uncommon. After all, with so many different sizes and materials to choose from, it feels easier to just go with what someone else has suggested.
Well, this stops now.
Here’s how to choose the ideal mattress for yourself (and someone else) by basing yourself on different factors.
Choosing the Size of Your Mattress
The perfect mattress size of will depend on factors such as:
- Your height.
- Room size.
- Whether you sleep with a partner, children, or pets.
- Your personal space preference.
With that in mind, you should take the following sizes and measurements into account:
Twin Mattress
Size: 38 by 75 inches.
The smallest of the bunch, a twin mattress won’t take much space in the room. It’s ideal for children and single sleepers, and the perfect fit for smaller 7 by 9 feet rooms.
Full Mattress
Size: 53 by 75 inches.
This size suits young adults and not-too-spacious couples. It’s ideal for rooms that are 10 by 10 feet or smaller.
Queen Mattress
Size: 60 by 80 inches.
Very spacious single sleepers and couples who don’t mind a little less space will be satisfied with a Queen mattress. This size is ideal for 10 by 11 feet rooms.
King Mattress
Size: 76 by 80 inches.
Spacious couples and couples with children will find that this size accommodates them well. 12 by 12 feet rooms can fit this size of mattress without a problem.
- Your height.
- Room size.
- Whether you sleep with a partner, children, or pets.
- Your personal space preference.
Choosing the Firmness of Your Mattress
-
Your weight dictates whether you’ll sink uncomfortably into a mattress that’s too soft, or feel like you’re levitating on top of a mattress that’s too firm. That’s why your body mass index (BMI) matters here. You need to consider the amount of weight (and therefore the amount of pressure) your body will put on a mattress, so it can comfortably support all pressure points .The higher your BMI, the firmer you’ll want your mattress to be, and vice-versa. You can calculate your BMI here.
-
Depending on your preferred sleeping position, a softer or firmer mattress can offer superior comfort and support.
-
Firmer mattresses are the best choice for stomach sleepers. Think about it: a mattress that is too soft won’t provide enough support for their hips and lower back, causing this part of the body to “sink”. This, in turn, could make them susceptible to lower back pain.
-
For back sleepers, medium-firm to firm mattresses are a great option, as they can help align their back and prevent back problems.
-
As for side sleepers, depending on their weight, soft mattresses are a good call. Particularly for those who enjoy sleeping on their arms, the softness tends to prevent pain and numbness by molding the pressure points.
If you sleep with someone else, a soft mattress can be troublesome, as the heavier person tends to sink into the mattress while the lighter person tends to be pushed up. In this case, a medium-firm mattress is usually the consensus.
Choosing Reliable Materials
The three most popular mattress material options are:
-
Traditional innerspring: Not only are innerspring mattresses the most affordable options on the market, but they’re also bouncy and durable. If you use them for longer than 8 years, however, you could experience bumps and poking coils. So be careful.
-
Latex: Latex mattresses are more cooling than their counterparts, so if night heat is a problem, they could be a good option. Going for natural latex mattresses instead of synthetic latex makes them extra-breathable, and therefore a cooler, eco-friendly choice.
- Memory foam: Beloved by extra-comfort seekers, memory foam mattresses offer better support thanks to their modeling characteristic. Although they’re not as cooling as latex mattresses, they quite literally hug your entire body -- and some people are willing to sacrifice coolness for comfort.
If you want a mix of the above materials (known as hybrid mattresses), be ready to shell out extra dollars. Hybrid mattresses tend to be more durable, and consequently more expensive.
Golden tip: Be sure to rely on STANDARD 100 OEKO-TEX® certified mattresses and bedding. If you’re sleeping on OEKO-TEX® certified materials like Bedtribe’s bedsheets and duvets, know you’re sleeping on products that have been 100% tested for harmful substances. That means you’re spending one third of your life on the safest, cleanest materials -- and your investment was worth it.
More on Bedding
All the bedding basics covering duvets, mattresses, pillows & most importantly, bedsheets.