Your home is the space you get to make your own — and you want to do so in the best way possible. Of course, budgets come into play, and you might have to rely on your creative instincts to make each room look its best.
But there’s one area where you should be less budget-conscious, and more quality-focused — in the bedroom. And, no, we’re not talking about the furniture you use to decorate or the color paint you brush onto the walls. Your bedroom should be your primary focus because it contains your mattress, the most valuable item in your whole entire home.
Here’s how to pick the right one, why a mattress is so important and why shouldn’t skimp on price when you pick one out:
Choosing the Right One
There are plenty of factors to consider when buying a mattress, but some are more important than others. Of course, your home might have size constraints that prevent you from fitting a California king in your bedroom but do be conscious of the size bed you pick — experts say your mattress should be six inches longer than your height.
On top of that, find out the number of coils in your mattress, should you choose one with the bouncy metallic springs inside. For reference, a full-size mattress should have at least 350 coils, while a queen should have at least 480 and a king is best with 580 or more. Count the curves of each coil, too — the coziest mattresses have five turns within it.
Most people will find the sweet spot in a mattress that’s of medium firmness. Options that are too soft allow your body to sink in too far into the bed, making it difficult to move naturally while you sleep. This can leave you achy or numb in the morning when you wake up — you probably don’t want to experience that sensation.
A mattress that’s too firm over-supports your body, meaning it places your head and spine out of alignment. It might be tough to gauge the perfect firmness, though, since most mattresses will soften over time. Speaking with a salesperson to learn more about the mattress’s lifespan and likelihood to give a little bit is an excellent practice — you’ll be able to determine if you need to go for one that’s slightly firmer, softer or just right based on how it will break in.
Some mattress experts advise buying a new box spring along with every new mattress, although that point is up for debate — others have found that it doesn’t make much of a difference when topped with a new model. And always start shopping for a new bed if yours has lumps and bumps, if you wake up feeling achy, or if you feel as though you haven’t slept well in a while.
As you search, you can try your hand at bargaining with the salesman in the shop where you discover your perfect bed, but there’s no use in shopping around. Lots of mattress shops change the names of their selection so that you can’t find them elsewhere. When in doubt, shop somewhere where salespeople don’t make commission, so you know they’re more focused on getting you into the perfect bed over anything else.
Why It’s Important — and Why You Shouldn’t Skimp
There’s a reason why the mattress is the most important item in your home. The quality of sleep you log each night has a serious impact on your health. For starters, a chronic lack of sleep can be a contributing factor in heart disease and high blood pressure. Plus, a poor night’s rest is often a root of sleep apnea, which causes sufferers to wake up multiple times throughout the night as their airways close while sleeping.
Poor sleep lends itself to poor mental health, too — you won’t just wake up grouchy on Monday mornings because you’re tired. Instead, regularly lousy sleep can make you feel both anxious and depressed, as well as angry and sad. Plus, without enough sleep, you won’t clear your mind for the day ahead, leading you to feel mentally fatigued. It goes without saying, but these aren’t the ways you want to feel before tackling your to-do list.
Sometimes, people who don’t sleep well end up gaining weight, too. As you snooze, your body has time to emit the hormones that keep your appetite, metabolism and energy levels in check. Without the right amount of time to do this, you’ll wake up without preparing your body to perform these functions properly, which can lead to weight gain.
All these factors should be enough to prove to you why it’s important to find the perfect mattress and extend your budget when doing so. Sleep is a crucial factor in your health, and a comfortable mattress is the literal base for catching the best Z’s possible. So, follow the above buying guide and don’t hold the purse strings too tightly — your mattress is worth the splurge.
