How Do I Choose the Right Mattress?

Deciding to purchase a new mattress is exciting news, congratulations! You are on your way to getting a better night’s sleep. With the endless sea of options on the market, you may be wondering exactly how to choose the right mattress for you. Searching through endless hybrid and memory foam options at various firmness levels and prices can be overwhelming. Rest easy knowing your friends and mattress experts at DeWaard & Bode are here to help make sure you find the perfect mattress for great sleep night after night. We’ve broken down the necessary key points you should consider before purchasing a mattress to help ensure you get high-quality sleep like never before. Keep reading to discover your dream mattress today!

Sleeping Position

Let’s begin by determining your preferred sleeping position. Consider whether you are a stomach, back, or slide sleeper to get a better idea of your ideal firmness and necessary support levels. Once you identify what type of sleeper you are, we can begin to explore the different available materials and mattress types to learn how well they accommodate and support each sleeping position.

The Best Mattress for Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need a mattress that provides comfortable support, cushion, and pressure relief for their knees, hips, and shoulders. Because of this, we suggest memory foam, latex, or hybrid options which all offer high levels of comfortable pressure-relieving support. Memory foam is highly recommended for side sleepers since the foam material contours closely to your body, uniquely cradling your curves to relieve pressure. Overall, you should look for mattresses that have a soft, plush, or medium feel and stay away from firm mattresses, as they will most likely not be able to provide enough pressure-relieving power.

The Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers

Stomach sleepers need a mattress that provides solid, firm support while still offering enough cushion to help reduce unwanted pressure. Because of this, we recommend going for a hybrid model with a medium-firm to firm feel to keep your spine aligned while providing essential support to the hips. However, if you weigh less than 130 pounds, a hybrid with a medium to soft feel would also be a great option. The spring coils in a hybrid mattress provide enough support to properly hold up your body, while the layers of foam add soft comfort to hug your body.

The Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Back sleepers need a mattress that can properly align the spine while still comfortably cushioning the shoulders, hips, and lower back. This is why we recommend a traditional innerspring mattress or hybrid mattress with a medium to firm feel. It’s important for back sleepers to get enough support in order to limit over-flexion of the spine and prevent unwanted body aches. If you want the right support but are a fan of the soft feel offered by plush mattresses, look for hybrid models that are made with thick layers of memory foam. This will give you the best of both worlds!

Budget

Once you have figured out the style and firmness level that best suits your sleeping position, it’s time to consider your budget. We recommend having your ideal price range and budget set before you begin searching and comparing possible options. This way, you will be able to narrow down your search to mattresses that won’t break the bank while saving precious time and minimizing frustration. There are plenty of amazing mattress options on the market to accommodate a wide range of different budgets, and set the price point that works best for you.

Size

The size you want your mattress to be is also an important factor to consider before purchasing. Consider the dimensions of the room it will be placed in as well as its long term use. For example, if you are buying a new mattress for a young child, you may want to go for a full or queen instead of a twin. This way, they can comfortably use the same mattress as they continuously grow. Perhaps you are purchasing a mattress for your guest bedroom; you might opt for a larger size in order to easily accommodate more guests. Whatever your new mattress may be for, think about the long term use and possible lifestyle changes before deciding on a size.

Picking The Right Mattress

When it comes to picking the right mattress, it’s important to remember everyone has unique body types and proportions, which means there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to mattresses. We highly suggest visiting your local DeWaard & Bode mattress store to try out the different mattress types and firmness levels firsthand. Rest easy knowing we carry the best Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Stearns & Foster, and Nectar mattresses to perfectly fit every type of sleeper and budget.

Mattress Types

Memory Foam: Memory foam mattresses are made of viscoelastic material that conforms to the shape of the body, providing pressure relief, support, and great motion isolation. They are a good option for side sleepers and couples who do not want to disturb each other with movement.

Innerspring: Innerspring mattresses are made of steel coils that provide support and are covered by foam or other materials for comfort. They tend to have a bouncier feel lacking in pressure relief and offer limited motion isolation. This style can commonly be found at affordable price points and can be a good fit for back sleepers.

Hybrid: Hybrid mattresses are a combination of memory foam and inner springs, combining the best of both worlds with the pressure relief of foam and the support of springs. Offering a mixture of both bounce and contouring, this mattress can be a good fit for multiple sleeping positions because of its versatility. Whether you are a side, stomach, or back sleeper, hybrid mattresses can be a great fit.

Latex: Latex mattresses are made of natural or synthetic latex, which provides a bouncy and supportive feel, and can also be conforming to some extent. This can be a good option if you are a side sleeper, a stomach sleeper, or looking for an eco-friendly option. Make sure to ask if the latex material is made with natural and organic latex before purchasing if you are an eco-conscious shopper.

Firmness Levels

In order for you to get a better understanding of the firmness levels, we’ve broken them down for you to use as a general guide. One being the softest feel available and ten being the firmest feel available.

Soft: This feel is typically a 2-3 on the firmness level and is great for side sleepers who are under 130 pounds.

Medium: This feel is typically a 4-5 on the firmness level and is great for side and back sleepers who are under or at 130-230 pounds.

Medium-Firm: This feel is typically a 6 on the firmness level and is great for anyone between 130-230 pounds or side sleepers over 230 pounds.

Firm: This feel is typically a 7-8 on the firmness level and is great for sleepers over 230 pounds as well as back and stomach sleepers over 130 pounds.

Extra Firm: This feel is typically a 9-10 on the firmness level and is great for stomach and back sleepers over 230 pounds.

Find The Mattress Of Your Dreams

Now that you have a better idea of what to look for in a mattress, feel free to stop by any of our store locations in Bellingham or Burlington, Washington. Browse through our wide selection of top mattress brands like Nectar, Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, and Stearns & Foster, or ask any of our in-store mattress experts for professional help. We are here to aid you in finding the right mattress in any way we can, from start to finish. At DeWaard & Bode, finding the mattress of your dreams is within reach. Take the time to research, try out different options, ask our mattress experts questions, and trust your instincts to ensure a good night's sleep for years to come.