Wanting to choose a new bed? Is your bed old and due for an upgrade, or maybe you`re tired of waking up in pain? A bed is a huge factor in our ability to sleep well, yet many people overlook its importance and keep using a mattress that fails to provide enough support and comfort. Getting good sleep is one
of the best ways to maintain and improve our health. A new bed can be a sizeable investment but taking this step will lead you to better sleep and health.
To make the task of choosing the right bed a little less daunting we will be sharing key information step by step in this article, which aims to aid and assist you in finding the best bed with the right firmness and features to suit your needs, which will deliver great sleep night after night.
Comfort is subjective which means that it is crucial to find a mattress that feels right for you. A few key factors should be considered when deciding on a mattress such as:
- What is your sleep position?
- What level of firmness do you need?
- What type of mattress could meet your needs?
Sleeping Positions
What position are you in when you fall asleep? And what position do you find yourself in when you wake up. Depending on your answer to these questions it can give insight and clarity in helping you to choose the best bed for you and your needs. The four most common sleeping positions are:
- Back sleepers:
People who sleep on their backs put a great deal of pressure on their lower back, which affects the bottom five vertebrae (L1 – L5) in the lumbar area. It is the most common cause of back pain and one of the leading reasons why most people visit their doctor. To avoid pressure and a U-shape formation of your spine which creates strain, a back sleeper’s ideal mattress would be one that provides support for the spine while helping to maintain the natural curve of the spine. As a result, back sleepers do best with a Medium Firm to Firm mattress.
- Side sleepers:
Many adults sleep on their side and experts says that doing so comes with a range of benefits, from reduced joint and lower back pain to a significant reduction in chronic pain associated with long term conditions. Sleeping on your side may have many health benefits but many people who sleep on their sides experience discomfort and pain in their hip joints and shoulders, due to unsuitable bedding. The shoulders and hips are areas where the body is the widest and as such, they have sharp pressure points. To reduce the pressure on these areas side sleepers would do best with a Medium Soft to Medium Firm mattress.
- Stomach sleepers:
Sleeping on your stomach may feel comfortable at first but it places far more pressure on your lumbar spine than sleeping on your back. Stomach sleepers usually do best with a Firm mattress that can keep them out of a U-shape and keep their spine from sinking too far into the mattress, which subsequently causes your spine to go out of its natural alignment.
- Combination sleepers:
Combination sleepers may sleep on their back, side, or stomach during the night, rather than remaining in one position. This makes choosing a mattress that suits each position important. Medium firm mattresses are a great choice for combination sleepers as they are soft enough to provide pressure relief to the shoulders while sleeping on your side and firm enough to support your hips while you are on your back.
Firmness
Mattress firmness simply refers to the feel of a bed when you lie down on it. Whether it feels hard, soft, or somewhere in between, it is essentially describing the feel of the mattress in terms of comfort. Comfort is subjective, which means that each person’s opinion on whether a bed is comfortable or not will be different. To help navigate and figure out what firmness you need, the mattress industry will
often score its beds on a firmness scale with a range from 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest mattress and 10 is the firmest mattress. For now, let’s go over what a Soft, Medium and Firm mattress actually feels like.
- Soft:
Soft mattresses generally fall in the 1 to 4 range on the firmness scale. They are typically made with cushioning materials like quilted pillow tops or thick layers of memory foam known as “comfort layers”. They are characterized by feelings of deep sinkage, body contouring and pressure relief. Soft mattresses are best for side sleepers or people who have problems with shoulder or hip pain.
- Medium Firm:
Medium Firm mattresses generally fall within the 5 to 7/10 range on the firmness scale. These beds usually combine soft foam top layers with sturdier foundations of either high density poly foam or pocketed coils. This provides an excellent balance between comfort and support, with sufficient amount of pushback. They are a great fit for a wide range of sleepers and body types. For that reason, Medium Firm mattresses can be great for combination sleepers or back sleepers.
- Firm:
Firm mattresses which generally fall within the 8 to 10 range on the firmness scale feature comfort layers such as a soft foam atop high-density poly foam or springs. It is designed to keep you sleeping on top of the bed. Heavier sleepers and people who suffer from back pain will appreciate the high level of spinal support “firm” mattresses provide. Firm mattresses not only provide excellent support but allow for maximum airflow, which means you stay cooler while you sleep.
Understanding the Firmness Scale
- 1 out of 10: A mattress that is 1 out of 10 would be extremely soft, making it un-sleep able and would offer way too much sinkage, disrupting any potential for support.
- 2 out of 10: Slightly more realistic than a 1 out of 10 mattress; a bed that scores a 2 out of 10 would be ultra-soft and probably wouldn’t be supportive enough for the average sleeper.
- 3 out of 10: A mattress that is 3 out of 10 on the firmness scale is a little more manageable but there’s still a lot of sinkag It’s usually made of memory foam which is known for pressure relief. This softness level is best for side sleepers.
- 4 out of 10: A mattress that scores a 4 out of 10 usually means that its soft but has a more balanced fee This firmness level is best for side sleepers.
- 5 out of 10: A mattress that scores 5 out of 10 would be “medium”. This means the surface does not sink much and will conform to a noticeable extent. These mattresses are balanced out by a sturdy base of either high-density poly foam coils or springs.
- 6 out of 10: A mattress that scores 6 out of 10 indicates a “medium firm” mattress and has an all-round balanced fee
- This is by far the most common level of firmness and is preferred by the vast majority of sleepers, including combination sleepers. These beds can either be made entirely out of foam or a combination of foam and coils.
- 7 out of 10: A mattress that scores 7 out of 10 brings us into “firmer” territor These beds are notable for their support as they lift the sleeper up. It’s ideal for combo, back and stomach sleepers.
- 8 out of 10: A mattress that scours 8 out of 10 are firm. They have very little hug/contour and lots of pushbac
- Generally, these are ideal for back or stomach sleepers.
- 9 out of 10: A mattress that scores 9 out of 10 will feel similar to an 8 out of 10, but with even less hug and sinkag There’s extreme pushback here as it’s a very firm mattress and most sleepers will probably find this mattress a bit too firm for their needs. Heavy sleepers may prefer the extra firm feel.
- 10 out of 10: And finally, a mattress that scores 10 out of 10 would be ultra-firm. Very few mattresses fall into this categor
Mattress Types
Having understood these factors, it would be best to know the different types of mattresses that are available on the market next. Almost all mattresses can be identified as one of five types.
- Foam:
Foam mattresses are made entirely from foam and no coils. They provide above average contouring, pressure relief and motion isolation, thus making them ideal for side sleepers and for couples who have partners who are easily woken.
- Innerspring:
Innerspring mattresses are one of the oldest and most popular mattresses in the industry. This mattress type utilizes a core support system made of metal springs or coils. While the coils offer some support, innersprings often lack sufficient pressure relief and have limited motion isolation. With a lower price point, these are more popular among budget shoppers.
- Hybrid:
Hybrid mattresses comprise two elements: an innerspring support core and a foam comfort system to provide enhanced support, comfort, and low heat retention. These mattresses are a new category in the mattress industry and offer the best of both worlds. The advantage of this mattress is that it can be a good fit for sleepers in any position. However due to the combination of foam and innersprings, it can be more expensive.
- Bed in a Box:
Unlike traditional mattresses which are sold in a ‘ready to sleep’ form, a bed in a box is a mattress
made of memory foam. It is compressed and rolled up so it can be shipped and delivered in a box. All you have to do is simply unpack your ‘bed in a box’, roll it out and allow for it to reach its full shape. This mattress type makes it easier to maneuver around tight spaces like stairways and corners. Their only downside is that the materials used to make ‘bed in a box’ mattresses can have an odor upon being taken out of the box. Don’t worry about that as it takes a few days for the smell to be released via a process known as off-gassing.
- Air beds:
Air beds are inflatable beds with an air chamber as their support core. The mattress is pumped with air to keep it inflated. These beds can be utilized for many purposes whether it be for camping, traveling, guests or sleepovers. Air beds offer comfort, support and convenience at a moment’s notice, as they are easy to use, compact and don’t weigh much. However, it is important to note that due to the materials used to make an air bed such as vinyl, synthetic plastic, rubber or fabric the mattresses are easily punctured with a sharp object. Special care is needed around air beds to prevent puncturing and to ensure the longevity of your investment.
Conclusion
After understanding how important these factors are and how they influence the quality of your sleep, you should confidently be able to identify what kind of bed would offer you the best comfort and support to suit your needs. It’s important not to rush when picking out a new bed and to follow these guidelines when doing so. By doing so, not only will you have your needs met, but you will ensure that your investment will be profitable and deliver great sleep night after night.