Everything You Wish You Knew About How to Pick a Mattress

Has your best night’s sleep ever been on a mattress in a hotel? You probably wish you’d peeked under the sheets at the label to find out what brand helped you sleep so well. You’re in luck. Mattress technology has improved so much that virtually every high-quality bed helps you feel like you’re sleeping in a luxury hotel room. All you have to do is understand what you’re looking for when choosing a mattress. We at Pottery Barn are here to help. We know you’ll encounter many types of comfortable mattresses when researching what’s right for you. These tips will help you make the most of your shopping excursion.

When You’re in the Store

Here’s one of our most important tips on how to pick a mattress: go to the store and try them out in person. You’ll live with it for about 10 years, which is how long a good quality mattress should last. You can rest assured that furniture and bedding sales associates have seen it all. It’s okay to make yourself right at home when testing mattresses. Dress comfortably in loose fitting clothing so you can climb in and out of beds. Some stores offer you a pillow to help you naturally position yourself on a mattress. Or, bring your own covered in a pillow protector. Try a mattress out for at least 15 minutes. Just lie there in different positions. Try each mattress that you like at least twice and, sure enough, one mattress will stand out as the most comfortable. 

Knowledge Is Power

Perhaps last time you went out to choose a mattress, you didn’t know much about what to look for. Now, you have more expertise in what sizes and kinds of mattresses you may personally like. If you have a partner, the decision is a bit more complex. It helps if both of you know what kinds of sleepers you are to help inform your choices. Stomach sleepers tend to prefer firm mattresses. Back and side sleepers like plusher tops. Hot sleepers may prefer gel-infused foam that keeps them cool. Cold sleepers don’t necessarily have a preference, although memory foam can help keep them warmer. One of you may move around more than the other, and that too will give you a better indication which way to go when choosing a mattress. 

Make sure you purchase a new box spring with your mattress. Though your current box spring may look in good shape, it may be losing its support. Putting a new mattress on an old version may void the new mattress’ warranty. You may not need a new bed frame, but check with the retailer to make sure it doesn’t void the warranty, too. Tell the sales associate if you are buying a mattress for a platform or storage bed frame. That may also make a difference in what type of mattress you need and whether or not you need a box spring.

Levels of Firmness

There’s a saying in the bedding industry: you can always make a firm bed softer with featherbeds and pads that add loft, but you can’t make a soft bed firmer. If you think a mattress is even a smidgen too soft, try one level firmer. However, if you feel a mattress is so firm that even a featherbed can’t help, don’t settle. Go softer. If you and your partner’s preferences are far apart, consider an adjustable air mattress. Not to be confused with the temporary blow-up mattresses, an air mattress has air ballasts surrounded by foam. That way, there’s an electronically controlled base for each sleeper.

The Innerspring Mattress

Most mattresses sold today have steel coil innersprings, which offer superior support. Quality mattresses have individual wrapped steel coil springs that conform to your body, eliminating some motion transfer if you sleep with a restless partner. There’s still a bit of bounce, allowing you to easily change position. Innerspring mattresses are most often found with plush pillowtop pads sewn to the top of the bed. This reduces the need for flipping. Many pillowtop pads are manufactured with some degree of memory foam for added comfort and to give the mattress extra motion isolation. There’s even hotel-quality bedding for the complete experience.

The Memory Foam Mattress

Memory foam mattresses are innerspring-free and made of layers of supportive foam that responds to the heat and weight of your body. Some sleepers love it. And some sleepers prefer innersprings. The foam conforms to your body shape without the inherent bounce of an innerspring mattress. Instead, the foam isolates movement as you sink a bit more into the mattress. Most memory foam mattresses are infused with tiny gel beads to reduce surface temperature and cool down your body, though the mattress may still feel warm. Crisp percale cotton sheets are best bets for memory foam mattresses because they can keep the mattress feeling cooler. 

The Hybrid Mattress

Experience the best of both worlds with a hybrid mattress containing innersprings and foam or innersprings topped by an air mattress. All types of  bedding fit hybrids. The mattress blends the support of individually wrapped coils surrounded by high-density foam and a layer of gel-infused memory foam or air to help relieve pressure points during sleep.