Your bed is where you spend at least eight hours of the day (in most cases, it is more than that). It is the most utilized item of furniture worldwide. Interestingly enough, the bed frame itself has little to do with your comfort. It is the mattress that you are sleeping on, so all the praise or criticism goes to it.
Most people don’t pay attention to their mattresses unless there is a problem that needs to be addressed, such as poor quality sleep. Lack of sleep is a bad thing, but poor quality sleep is even worse. It can cause concentration issues, depression, heart diseases, back problems, and the list goes on. A bad mattress is directly responsible for poor sleep quality. While a good mattress gently supports your entire body and keeps your backbone in a neutral position, a bad mattress does the complete opposite. Thus, it is important to know what you are sleeping on.
Here is a list of all that you need to know about a good mattress:
1. Firmer is better: The Greatest Myth of All Time
If someone tells you that buying a firm mattress is best, don’t listen. It is a common belief that firmness of the mattress provides better support to one’s body. Well, it does not.
To date, there isn’t any such mattress that is perfect for everybody. It is so because everyone has a different body shape, size, comfort preferences, and sleeping styles. A person who sleeps on their side might prefer a mattress that would conform to their curves while a back sleeper would prefer a firm mattress.
Hence, this belief is a mere myth. How firm and soft the mattress is, happens to be a matter of personal preference. However, the coil system has great significance. Firm and soft are comfort levels, but the coil system is what provides support to the mattress.
2. Is there any such thing as a Personalized Mattress?
As a matter of fact, yes. Personalized mattresses do exist, and honestly, they are the next big thing in the bedding industry. kingliving Mattresses have a variety of personalized mattresses that leave you in awe.
Personalized mattresses are designed to support, react, adapt to your body for a better sleeping experience. Additionally, these mattresses regulate airflow. Thus, maintaining your natural body temperature as you sleep.
If you are looking for a sleeping mattress that gives you nirvana vibes, be sure to check out Sleep+ 8000. The three types of fit covers include:
• CoolFit – It can channel heat away from your body.
• Warm Fit – It has an internal electric blanket, and is ideal for cold temperatures.
• AirFit – It has air-circulating properties
3. The messier, the merrier
While most mothers would disagree with this idea, research has proven that messy means healthy when it comes to mattresses. Now, this doesn’t mean you deliberately make it messy. The concept is not to cover the mattress with the comforter. It is so because when you cover the mattress, moisture and sweat trap inside, which provides the ideal environment for dust mites to inhabit. Whereas, leaving sheets exposed to air and sunlight aids in killing the mites.
4. Spring Density: Quality or Quantity?
One of the most hyped-up debate when it comes to mattresses is, whether to go for the quantity springs or the quality.
• Aspect 1: More springs means more comfort because they will support the mattress, and it will accurately shape your body.
• Aspect 2: The better the quality, the longer it will last and also adjust to your body.
Even though aspect one might make sense to many, it isn’t always the case. In the case of springs, it is quality that matters instead of quantity. In a test, mattresses containing springs ranging from 440- 1085 were compared. The results showed that there was a wide variation in the level of support offered.
5. Mattress Toppers
An easy way to make your mattress comfier, mattress toppers go over the top of the mattress. They offer a layer of memory foam or extra padding. At this point, it is important to understand that memory foam mattresses are never entirely made up of memory foam but are topped with a layer of it. Memory foams are designed to soften and contour when exposed to body heat, which makes it suitable for most people. Memory foams are gaining popularity, and mattress toppers with memory foams serve as a cheaper substitute. The quality and price of mattress toppers may vary.
6. What is the use of Handles?
You might have noticed that many mattresses have handles on their sides. Are they just for style, or do they serve a purpose?
Handles do have a purpose. They help in flipping, turning, and positioning the mattress. Though most mattresses don’t need to be flipped, they still are advised to turn or re-position from time to time.
7. Dust Mites and Mattresses
The sound of micro-organisms and dust mites in a mattress is gross.
Dust mites may not be much of a problem, but some people are sensitive to these. Additionally, they multiply over the years, and a large number of these tiny creatures might harm you.
Dust mites and other microbes find mattresses an excellent place to inhabit. There are various reasons why it is so. Firstly, the dead skin cells we shed over the night is what they feed on. Thus, if you regularly clean your mattress, it can help eliminate them. You can prevent these dust mites from inhabiting your bedding by taking proper care of your mattress. However, if you are just as lazy as most of us are, you should consider buying a mattress that has a mattress pad or protector, which prevents dust mites. If you are wondering where to find such mattresses, you might find websites like yelp helpful.
8. Support and Comfort: Is it the same thing?
To be precise, no. Even though support and comfort are often used interchangeably, it is important to realize that they aren’t the same thing. Both the terms are not opposites, but similar to an extent
Support refers to how well the mattress pushes back against your body to keep your spine in a neutral position and ensure a good night’s sleep. On the other hand, comfort refers to how the mattress feels regarding softness and firmness. Comfort is a term used objectively and may vary from person to person. On the contrary, support is the rigidity of the mattress and may vary from mattress to mattress.
Thus, support is the manufacturers say while comfort is your say.
Final Word
To conclude, it is better to know what you are sleeping on, and whether it’s good for you. Since your mattress is where you lie for more than 8 hours, it better be a good fit for you.