Tip: 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing the Right Mattress

This is a crucial purchase that will determine the quality of our sleep. And it obligates us for several years, since it is recommended to replace bedding accessories every 8–10 years. Is it worth taking some precautions? Here are three mistakes to avoid, according to professionals when choosing a mattress that best suits your body type and sleep style.

Mistake 1: Not Testing the Mattress Before Purchase

There is no magic formula. A comfortable bed guarantees a good night's sleep. But comfort is subjective. The only way to find a mattress designed for you is to test several models under real conditions, that is, lying on them. First, you will assess its 'acceptability', i.e., the degree of penetration. Everyone has their preferences, but to test firmness, jam your fist into the mattress: it should compress gradually. Then check its support by moving your body—sometimes lying on your back, side, or stomach as we naturally do during sleep: on average a person changes position around 60 times per night! Do not rely on a specific mattress technology, but only on the comfort feeling you get. The mattress should follow and accompany your movements without forcing muscles to exert effort that causes micro-awakenings, thus reducing sleep quality. It should also be ergonomic to avoid pressure points—main cause of back pain. To ensure it perfectly matches your curves, perform a very simple test: lie on your back and try to slide your hand under the lower part of your waist. The harder it is—better.

Mistake 2: Not Choosing a Queen Size if You Sleep Together

If we sleep as a couple, we test the mattress together and move around during testing to check if it suits us in terms of comfort level, as mentioned above, and also provides independent sleep. That is, it should absorb pressure from each body without transferring vibrations, otherwise one person's movements can disturb or even wake the other. Obviously, bed size plays a role. According to clinical research conducted by Acticouple using sensors during sleep, it's better to choose a Queen size (160 x 200 cm) rather than the standard bed size (140 x 190 cm): thanks to this width, effective sleep time exceeds 90% of the time spent in bed and the number of nighttime awakenings drops by more than 25%. All couples report a nearly 50% increase in comfort at night. If you don't have space for a Queen-sized bed, you can improve independent sleep by setting up one mattress on two separate beds.

Mistake 3: Following Other People's Opinions When Choosing a Mattress

As we already mentioned, no technology is better than another. Each has its own features. For example, latex mattresses do not retain more heat. Just like you won't feel springs in models with them in the back. Height of mattress is not an absolute criterion. Spring mattresses are usually taller because they consist of more materials; plan for at least 25 cm. But don't rely on the number of springs: focus instead on quality, with pocketed coils rather than quantity. For foam mattresses, pay attention to density: it should be no less than 30 kg/m³ for durability and resistance to sagging. Don't buy a mattress just because it has anti-dust mite or antimicrobial coating: substances used for this purpose are now under scrutiny, and much more effective is applying proper measures against bacteria and mites: ventilate the room without bedding, protect your mattress with a cover, and regularly change pillowcases. Finally, don't judge a mattress by how it feels when sitting on the edge—whether it seems too soft or not, nobody sleeps on the edge!