With back to school rapidly approaching, our schedules seem to get busier than ever, which makes it more important than ever to get a good night’s rest! Whether you are looking for a new mattress for yourself or for your student, discovering the perfect mattress will lead to a better night’s sleep, increased energy, and focus! When our minds and body get the proper rest we need, we are more productive in our work life or at school and much healthier and happier.
So how do you discover that perfect mattress? Well, for many of us it is a matter of laying on multiple beds to discover your support preference. For some, it is the doctor or chiropractor that will tell you what kind of bed to buy, and for others, it’s going to be online shopping and buying that one mattress that they say is “perfect for everyone”. Some of these ways may lead you to a good choice, but how do you really know?
At the Boulevard, we use technology and personal sleep characteristics to find the perfect mattress for you. Our “You Sleep” sleep mapping system uses 1,620 sensors to create a pressure map of your body. It uses information about how you sleep, like side, back or stomach to tell us what type of support levels you should look for and what type of comfort levels are best for pressure relief and overall comfort.
Once you know your support and comfort recommendations, you can now choose from a few beds that are right for the way you sleep. The thing about buying from a store that has more than just one option in those preference levels is you still get to have choices.
You can choose from an all-foam mattress like the Serta iComfort; in the same comfort and support preference, you can choose a Beautyrest Hybrid with memory foam and innerspring. You can choose a Tempur-Flex mattress or a hand made Aireloom with latex. All of these mattresses have their own set of unique features and benefits that can make it the perfect mattress for you.
I thought I would share with you some information that I got from Brooklyn Bedding Company about 5 things you should NOT believe about buying a mattress. By Chad Taylor, May 30, 2017:
All you want is a great night’s rest. Whew! That’s a big order. It’s time to buy a new mattress. Here are 5 things that you should know not to believe before you buy that new mattress. Not believing will help you buy wisely
- But, it’s so Pretty. Don’t be swayed by the looks of a mattress. You’re going to put sheets on it – and, if you’re smart, a mattress protector. Your mattress is for sleeping – not for show. You’re looking for support for your sleep position and sleep style. You’re looking for quality at a fair price. Don’t buy a bed based on its looks. Remember, beauty can be only skin deep so don’t be convinced by a pretty face.
- This Mattress will make Everyone Happy. Many companies will try to tell you that their mattress is designed just right – just right for everyone. Stop and think. Will a woman who weighs under 130 pounds and a man who weighs over 200 both think it’s perfect? Do you prefer a soft comfort level because you sleep on your side? Or, are you a stomach sleeper that needs a firmer mattress? How you sleep and what you prefer should be an important part of your decision. So, unless that mattress that is right for everyone is exactly right for you, keep looking until you find the mattress with a choice of comfort levels and the feel and support that is right for you.
- You should spend 15 minutes on the Bed to be sure. Very simply, that’s not enough time to know if a mattress is going to be comfortable and supportive. You need to sleep on it and you need to sleep on it for about 30 days to give your body a chance to adjust to a new mattress, according to the experts. When you buy, pay attention to the return policy of the company. Can you return or exchanged at the end of 30 days or 45 days – or even longer? You need to find the mattress that has a return policy if it turns out not to be the right one for you.
- Everyone Loves a Pillowtop Mattress. It’s softer. It’s cushy. It must be the right choice. Not necessarily true. You should pay attention to the integrity of the mattress – the support it gives you and your spine. A pillow-top doesn’t make the mattress. In fact, you can make your own pillow-top. Buy a good supportive mattress that keeps your spine aligned and if you want plush feel, buy a good, fluffy mattress pad. The good news there? If it flattens out, you take it off and buy another one. Hard to do that if the pillow-top is a part of the bed.
- My Back Hurts so I need a Firm Mattress. Again, not necessarily true. If you have back problems, you want a mattress that supports and keeps your spine in its natural curved position. A mattress that is too firm won’t support you in proper alignment. Instead, it will create pressure points that may create pain and aches. Do some homework on how different comfort levels support the way you sleep before you buy. Don’t just tell yourself that firm is best.
While Chad makes some very good points about what NOT to do. Here are a few questions you should ask your sales person and/or yourself when you are buying a mattress:
- Do I know what I am getting? Look for printed information about what is in the bed and how it is made, most professional sale people know how beds are made but it should be easy for you to find the info on the bed or on line.
- Am I getting the best bed for me, or for us? Don’t just buy the first bed you see, try to find out what type of bed is right for you (pressure mapping) and lay on a few different options that meet your preferences. Please remember that if you and your spouse have far different preferences then look for options such as a split king or queen that you can each have the right mattress for you.
- Do I need to lay on the mattress first or can I buy on-line without trying it? You are really shooting from the hip, so to say, if you buy without trying a mattress. Even if the mattress has great reviews from others, we have told that no one mattress is right for everyone.
- How do I get the best deal? Now here is where you can look on-line and do some comparing before and after you go into the store to choose the best mattress for the best price. Ask the salesperson what bed they think is the best bed for the money, most of the time it will be a mattress that is a good value.
- Will the mattress keep you cool at night? Technology in mattresses has come a long way in the last 10 years. Most of it has been in the area of helping people sleep cooler or helping them get to sleep faster. Keep in mind that the 2 best ways to stay cool in your mattress are air flow and phase change material that regulates temperature. Some of the gel coatings I see on mattresses will make you even hotter after a short time.
Plan, take your time, and know exactly what you are purchasing so you can be confident that you and your loved ones will be getting the best night’s sleep.
If you would like to know more or if you just want to come in and try out the You Sleep pressure mapping system and see what type of mattress is best for you, come in and ask for me or work with one of our sleep experts. After all the first step in getting a great night’s sleep is getting the perfect mattress to sleep on.