Choosing A New Mattress

Recently I changed my mattress on my bed, I have had the same mattress for 14 years and it was giving me no support anymore.  I was shocked to find out that it is recommended by The Sleep Council that you change your mattress every seven years,

You would think buying a mattress would be easy but I have to admit, it was far more complicated than I initially thought it would be. 


Image copywrite Marital - Shutterstock

Points To Consider When Choosing A New Mattress

Type of Mattress

With sprung mattresses, there are three types, open coil, continuous spring and pocket spring

With open coil, single springs are fixed together by one wire. With this type of mattress, one of the main benefits is the price as these can be bought cheaply or are in the mid-range bracket.

Continuous spring mattresses are made from a single looped wire, this gives a higher spring count from much smaller coils and more responsive touch.

Pocket Sprung mattresses are made up of much smaller individual springs that are encased in fabric. These are much more luxurious in feel and this type of mattress will prevent roll together.

Other types of mattresses include foam, flotation, gel and futon

Foam mattresses, in particular memory foam mattresses, are popular at the moment. These respond to your body shape and weight and are supremely comfortable. You can also buy memory foam toppers to fit on top of your mattress for a cost-effective solution.

Flotation mattresses are filled with water and are good to relieve pressure on areas on the body, making them especially good for the elderly and immobile.

Gel mattresses are a newer type of mattress and help regulate your body's temperature giving enhanced pressure relief on the body.

Futon Mattresses are made from layers of wadding and are often seen on day beds or sofa mattresses mostly for occasional use.

Firmness Rating


Image copywrite Geo-grafika Shutterstock

Most mattresses are rated from 1 to 5 with 1 being a soft mattress and 5 extra firm. 

Most people choose a mattress somewhere in the middle. The best way to find out what is right for you is to try the mattress in-store. If you sleep in a bed with your partner, take him or her along to try it too. Nothing is worse than a mattress both of you cannot agree on. 

The mattress that I choose recently had a rating of 4 which is firm, and I honestly thought I would pick a mattress which was in the middle range, but after trying out mattresses in store I found many too soft.

If you are thinking of buying online go to your local mattress specialist and try a similar mattress from the same brand and firmness rating and then compare prices on the Internet for the best deals. 

MyNextMattress stock the new Sealy Mattress Range for example which boasts incredible support for your whole body. Their collections are backed by orthopaedic science to provide support where you need it most.

Looking After Your Mattress

Look after your mattress and it will prolong its life. 

Most mattresses these days come with a guarantee, check what this covers and the care guide that comes with it when you first buy the mattress. Wear and tear will not be covered but a manufacturer's fault will typically be.

To keep the mattress in the best condition when you awake, give the bed an airing by turning back the sheets and duvet. This will let any sweat evaporate.

It is important to protect your mattress with a cover, so it does not get marked, wash this regularly and vacuum the base and mattress every time it is changed.

Many mattresses should be turned every 2-3 months, but this depends on the type of mattress, so be sure to check the care guide when you buy your mattress.

Let me know, how old is your mattress and what type did you get? 


18 comments

  1. Ours is well overdue for a change, but we have been putting it off because we need to have one that does different things for us both and I guess that will be expensive.

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    1. Those mattresses can be expensive. I was wondering can you get a double mattress and put a single mattress topper on one side to alter the firmness?

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  2. Its a amazing something we use on such a regular bases can be over looked. My last mattress was 7 year old, I could feel the springs in places, it was horrible to sleep on. Thankfully I have a beautiful mattress now, its perfect great firmness, molds me when i sleep. You've made some excellent pones, reminds I need to change the direction of my mattress. Thank you

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    1. It is easy to over look your mattress, I must agree.

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  3. I've always found it really complicated too. The only way really is to go into the store and try them out. Shame they don't let you sleep the night on it first before buying really!

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  4. I always choose a mattress via the bounce test. Just sit and bounce on all of them till I find one that's just right :D

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  5. Choosing a mattress is so hard, when I purchased mine last year had no idea what I was doing!

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  6. i think the hardest part of choosing one is not finding one but finding one affordable

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    1. It can be useful to use the Internet to compare prices.

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  7. I had a new bed and mattress at Christmas , makes all the difference to get a good nights sleep

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  8. Oh mummy SO needs a new mattress! She has a memory foam one and it is awful! x

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    1. I hope my guide will help your mum pick a new one.

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  9. having the right mattress really does make a massive difference .. we need to invest for one of our beds

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    1. I hope my tips will help you choose a new one Jaime.

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