Skip to main content

How to Choose the Right Mattress: Tips to Find Your Ideal Bed


 

How to Choose the Right Mattress: Tips to Find Your Ideal Bed

Buying a new mattress can be a tedious process. You enter a retail store and find yourself in a sea of options, each one bearing a confusing name and a complex set of specs to match. Do you go for a memory foam mattress, a pocket spring mattress? You wonder if mattress size and firmness even make a difference.

Learning the truth about how to pick the right mattress really doesn’t have to be a difficult process. The fact of the matter is that the mattress you sleep on influences a number of things in your life, from how well you sleep to how your back feels in the morning. You actually spend a third of your life in this manner.

This guide will take you through the process of what you need to know to find the best mattress that suits you and your personal preferences.

Begin With the Right Size

Before you fall in love with a mattress, make sure to measure the space first. Below is the standard mattress size chart in the UK:

Size

Dimensions

Best For

Single

90cm x 190cm

Children or guest rooms

Small Double

120cm x 190cm

One adult or cosy couples

Double

135cm x 190cm

Traditional couple's size

King Size

150cm x 200cm

Couples who want proper space

Super King

180cm x 200cm

Maximum space and luxury

King size bed size dimensions are quite an ideal middle ground for most people. You get to stretch out some but not take up the whole room in the bedroom. Ensure that there is space of at least 60cm between the bed and the path way on each side.

Different Mattress Types

The comparison of mattress types can be confusing, but each has its own sensation and advantages.

Type

Pros

Cons

Best For

Pocket Sprung

Breathable, supportive, minimal partner disturbance

Can be heavy

Hot sleepers, couples

Memory Foam

Pressure relief, conforms to body

Can sleep hot

Side sleepers, joint pain

Hybrid

Balanced support and comfort

Higher price

Those wanting both benefits

Latex

Durable, hypoallergenic

Expensive

Allergy sufferers

Pocket Sprung Mattresses: These have individual springs packed into special pockets made from fabric. The springs in the pockets work independently when you move around, meaning that if you sleep with a partner, this design disturbs you less in the night. The pocket sprung mattress is quite supportive and well-ventilated too. The higher the number of springs in a mattress (between 1,000 and 2,000 in a double), the more supportive it will be. We offer a variety of pocket sprung mattresses and beds.

Memory Foam: Memory foam contours to the shape of your body through the use of your body heat. It alleviates pressure points and distributes the weight evenly, making it a favorite in the case of people experiencing back pain.

Hybrid Mattresses: Do springs and foam clash in your mind? Hybrid mattresses solve this dilemma because they feature the spring system along with foam layers on top of the mattress. They’re gaining popularity because they offer the best of both options.

Luxury Options: Luxury options include Tempur mattress and Vispring mattress. Tempur mattresses began the development of memory foam that was first created by NASA, while Vispring mattresses are hand-made with natural elements. Luxury options will last users for a period of 10 to 15 years if well maintained.

How to Choose the Right Mattress Based on Your Sleeping Position

The way you sleep has a much more important role than most people think in terms of deciding the right mattress to buy. You might wake up with a sore neck and aching back if the mattress is too hard or too soft.

Sleeping Position

Recommended Firmness

Why

Side Sleeper

Medium-Soft to Medium

Cushions shoulders and hips

Back Sleeper

Medium-Firm

Supports natural spine curve

Front Sleeper

Firm

Prevents hip sinkage

Combination Sleeper

Medium-Firm

Works in multiple positions

Side sleepers need a mattress that has a way to cushion the shoulders and hips because these are the points where the most pressure will be concentrated in a side sleep position. A medium to medium soft mattress will be ideal because the shoulders and hips will sink into the mattress a little bit while keeping the spine in alignment.

For back sleepers, the lower back area needs to be properly supported. If the mattress is too soft, the lower back will droop, and if it’s too firm, it will put pressure points." A medium-firm mattress is ideal in this case.

Front sleepers will require a mattress that is a bit firmer to avoid the hips sinking too low, resulting in an uncomfortable spinal arch when in that sleeping position.

Combination sleepers tend to be active in the sleep process and will require a mattress that responds well in more than one sleeping position. This mattress should be medium-firm and made of latex.

Consider Your Body Weight and Temperature

Your weight has a great influence upon the sensation of the mattress:

  • Under 10 stone: Softer mattresses work better because firmer ones don't compress enough
  • 10-15 stone: Medium or medium-firm typically feels ideal
  • Over 15 stone: Firmer support prevents excessive sinking

The issue of temperature regulation should also be taken into account. Pocket sprung mattresses tend to sleep cooler because air has a chance to circulate between the springs. Natural materials, such as latex, also tend to be good temperature regulators. Memory foam has long been known to sleep hot, but the latest models with cooling gel perform much better.

 

Mattress Care and Longevity

Even the best mattress will not last if it is not maintained properly. How to prolong the life of the mattress is listed below:

Essential maintenance tasks:

  • Rotate the mattress every three months for the first year, then every six months
  • Start with a mattress protector to protect against any spillages and dust mites from day one
  • You should periodically vacuum the mattress to remove the dust
  • Air out the mattress by pulling back the mattress cover every morning
  • Follow manufacturer's cleaning guidelines for any spills

The average lifetime of a quality mattress is approximately 7 to 10 years. When you experience discomfort in the form of aches in the morning, notice the sagging, or recognize that you sleep better in another mattress, it is a clear indication to replace the mattress.

Questions to Ask Before Buying

Ensure that you know the full picture before making the purchase:

  • What is the warranty, and how long is it valid for?
  • Are there any return fees?
  • How is the mattress delivered?
  • Do you provide disposal services for old mattresses?
  • What's the spring count or foam density?

What We Learned

The skill of learning how to make the right choice regarding a mattress involves identifying one’s own needs and not following the trends and hype that are sometimes associated with the marketing and sale of the product in the marketplace.

Just remember, a costly mattress will not be comfortable in the first instance. The human body requires a certain period of adjustment to the new mattress if it is to sleep on a new surface. This is an investment that you should take the time to consider carefully.

The best mattress will work to enhance your health and well-being with each and every night’s sleep that you experience. It will make a difference that you will be able to feel in the years to come with each new day that arrives.

 


20th January 2026

Back to news