There are several factors to take into consideration when you purchase a new mattress. How much do I want to spend? What is the difference between this brand and that one? How soft or firm do I want my mattress to be?
Although these are all important questions to answer, one that is often given less consideration is also one of the most important: what size mattress is best for me?
This oversight has the ability to lead to buyer's remorse from new mattress owners; here are ways to help pick the mattress that is best for you:
Who is ultimately using this mattress?
The obvious answer to this question is that you, the buyer, are the person that is going to be using the mattress, however this answer is rarely that simple.
It may be “your bed," but do you have a significant other that is going to be using the bed as well? What about pets? Do you have a dog or cat that likes to snuggle up next to you at night? How big are they? Will they take up much space? What about children? Do you have little ones that like to come in and snuggle early in the morning?
Finally, what kind of sleeper are you? Do you curl up into a ball when you sleep or are you spread out all over the place? All of these are questions that will help shape your decision on choosing a mattress size.
What sizes are available?
Now that you've figured out who all is going to be using your new mattress, we need to decide how big said mattress needs to be. When it comes to mattress sizes, there are four traditional mattress sizes: twin, full, queen and king.
Twin mattresses run 39"x75" and will usually accommodate either one child or one adult sleeper, although twin beds are often too short for an adult sleeper, leaving their feet hanging off the edge.
A full bed is 54"x75", provides more width than a twin bed and is usually considered the ideal mattress for an adult. While a second person can fit onto a full size mattress, it is a pretty snug fit for both parties.
The queen mattress is the first of the four sizes that offers extra room for an additional sleeper, measuring 60”x80”. It is also great for the sleeper who likes to “spread out" in the middle of the night or for kids who are about to hit their growth spurt years.
The last of the traditional sizes is the king, which measures at 76"x80". This size allows for two to sleep comfortably with extra room for pets and children who like to snuggle up as well.
For those looking for something in-between the above mention sizes, we've also got the twin XL, which is about 5 inches longer than a traditional twin, and the California king, which clocks in at a 72"x84".
Other factors to consider
Bed size and the individual sleeper are the most important factors in determining the right bed size for you, there are also other items to take into consideration. You may have your mind set on a king size mattress, but is your bedroom large enough to handle such a bed? Lots of sleeping space is fantastic, but not at the expense of having little to no room left in the bedroom after your mattress is set up.
Also, mattresses tend to have a life span of eight years, but quite a lot can happen in someone's life in that time period. Are there any upcoming life events that are sure to impact the amount of bed space you need? If so, it is important to plan accordingly when it comes to your mattress purchase. Mattress Firm doesn't want you to have used a mattress for only a few years, to then need to buy another one because your needs have changed.
Buying a mattress is not a process that should be taken lightly, and there are many factors that come into play when choosing the perfect one. Luckily, Mattress Firm and The Daily Doze are fantastic resources when it comes to finding that mattress, and representatives both online and in-store are ready to help you. Come into a Mattress Firm location today and one of our employees will help you find the best mattress for you.