How to choose the perfect mattress to suit your lifestyle in 2020

With a new year and a new decade, we often look at ways to improve our lifestyle, health and wellbeing. Sleep is a large part of our overall health, so to help take the research out of your decision, we have gathered some key industry information.

When you are looking to invest in a new mattress it is important to remember that there is no one mattress that is a universally “good” mattress. There are a variety of different types that suit different needs and those that wish to provide you with your best version of a goodnight’s sleep.

At Sleepy’s we want to bring our expertise into the everyday lives of customers, delivering them one of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle – an amazing night’s sleep. We are going to delve into what you should look for in your mattress to help give you an idea of what will provide you with the best sleep solution.

Considerations for your new mattress

First and foremost, decide which size mattress you need for your bedroom. We offer a range of sizes from single, long single, king single, double, queen, king and super king. From here, you can consider what is your top sleeping preference.

According to a recent Canstar survey of Australians who have bought a new mattress, the following customer satisfaction preferences were identified:

1. Comfort: 26%
2. Quality of sleep: 23%
3. Durability: 20%
4. Support: 17%
5. Value for money: 14%

(Canstar, 2019)

The key driver of satisfaction in this survey was Comfort at 26%. When you start the process of purchasing a new mattress, it is a good idea to test and trial the best mattress based on comfort. Being comfortable, well supported and sleeping well are all significant values in a mattress. A mattress is a long-term investment into your health and happiness so it is best to be prepared to ensure you can find the best quality mattress for you.

When to update your mattress

The industry standard for a mattress upgrade is every 7 years, however this is dependant on the original quality of the mattress and how much it is used.

What are mattresses made of?

There are a number of different materials and technologies that go into a mattress. Sleepy’s team up with SleepMaker to create exclusive mattresses that provide optimum support for your spinal health. Let’s have a look at some key materials.

Pocket Springs

Pocket Springs provide support through metal coils, which can be configured in a number of ways. The most basic are the continuous and open-coil types. Continuous coils are made from a single piece of wire looped into strings, while open-coils are made of a row of individual coils connected with one wire. Pocket springs address some health issues by allowing each individual coil to respond separately to weight and movement.

Memory Foam

Made of a material called ‘visco’ foam, memory foam mattresses contour to your shape and distribute your weight evenly across the surface. The ‘memory foam’ is used in the upper layer, which is then supported by the denser non-memory foam base. Sleepy’s memory foam mattresses are inclusive of multiple layers with additional technologies such as KulKote and Graphene that work to provide air channels throughout the mattress, to reduce heat.

The key metric to look for is the foam density. Lower density foam is more prone to breakdown and may not offer the best support, while too high might be too firm. There are also sub-categories of memory foam technologies:

• Graphene: conforms to the body delivering outstanding pressure relief for the sleeper, assisting with the natural spinal alignment.
• Gel infused: combines the pressure relieving comfort of superior memory foam with the energy absorbing support of gel particles.

Latex

Derived from the rubber plant, latex has outstanding durability and rebound qualities. It conforms to the contours of the body to relieve pressure and assist with spinal alignment during sleep. Latex used in Sleepy’s mattresses are ventilated to help alleviate excess build up of moisture.

Latex mattresses rate well for back pain because of their ‘springy’ action. The spongy material contours well with the body and maximises body contact to relieve the pressure points. Memory foam mattresses can also be a good choice for bad backs, particularly high-density foam types.

Firm vs Soft

A common misconception is that the firmer the mattress, the better the support, when in actual fact it depends on how you sleep. The most important thing is to keep your spine straight and supported, therefore this is dependent on the position you usually sleep in. A different kind of mattress support is required to best protect your back.

Here is a general rule depending on how you sleep:

• On your stomach: a firm mattress will keep your spine aligned
• On your back: a medium mattress will support your spine and back while also being comfortable
• On your side: a soft mattress is best for side-sleepers, as it can contour to your body and sink in in the right places to keep your spine aligned.

The Canstar research revealed that three in five (60%) Australian’s have a medium mattress, with one in four (27%) owning a firm mattress and 10% a soft mattress (Canstar, 2019).

Adjustable Bases

To provide extra support a mattress can be paired with an adjustable base, to unlock a new level of comfort and pressure relief. With just the touch of a button you can be elevated and lifted from head to toe to experience a whole new feeling of “weightlessness.” An adjustable bed base encourages even distribution of weight across the entire sleep surface; helping to decrease strain on the heart, reduce stress points and allows for proper customised support for the entire body. In some cases, if the concern is also for the carer or family member, an adjustable base may provide a suitable solution to manage day- to-day requirements for assistance in and out of bed.

Sleepy’s have a number of adjustable bases to suit a number of different needs.

Are you ready to choose your mattress?

Ensure you conduct your own research before jumping into a mattress investment. Read online reviews, talk to your friends and family, call or visit our stores and our mattress experts will be able to conduct a needs analysis and talk you through your options that best suit your sleeping preferences.

Research all of your options, and take good care of your mattress, to ensure it takes good care of you.

Sleep healthy!