What You Should Know About Buying A Mattress
When should you replace a mattress?
It’s reasonable to expect a mattress to last around ten years but, rather than count the years, count how many nights you may be noticing your sleep is less than optimum. It may be that sagging or dents, lumps or damaged coils are to blame. If you’re waiting to save up for your ideal mattress, a topper can elongate its lifespan by making your sleep more comfortable.
How does your sleeping position influence the kind of mattress you should buy?
The alignment of your spine is the most important physical factor, so knowing your sleep position is key. Are you a side, back or front sleeper? As we get older, we sleep less deeply and may become more aware of discomfort in our shoulders and hips. Adam Black, co-founder of Button & Sprung, explains: "A mattress, like a piece of clothing, should fit your unique shape and weight. It should contour to the curves of your body, supporting your pressure points (shoulder and hips). Ideally, you want to be held in a ’neutral’ position when asleep – meaning your spine is supported horizontally throughout the night.”
Does that mean firm is best?
Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position but, if your mattress is too firm, you may end up putting too much pressure on other joints. “If a mattress is too firm, it will push your spine upwards and out of line, creating pressure points at your shoulders and hips,” says Adam. “Equally, if a mattress is too soft, your body will bow into it – putting pressure on your lower spine. To get the correct support at the main contact or pressure points – your neck, shoulders, lower back, bottom and hips – your body weight needs to engage the springs. A light person on a firm mattress is not heavy enough to engage the springs. Then, because the springs are not being engaged, the spine will be raised at the hips and shoulders. A heavier person will not get sufficient support on a soft mattress, dipping into it too far.”
So, more or fewer springs?
The more springs in a mattress, the more defined the support. Adam explains: “Think of it as springs per square inch of your body. Lying on 5,000 springs is more comfortable than lying on 1,000. The comfort is more refined to every part of your body.”
Sukun
Cultiver
There are lots of different fillings available – do they make a difference?
Mattress fillings make a big difference to the way a mattress feels and behaves. The more fillings a mattress contains, the more sumptuous the feel of the mattress. “The type of fillings are important. At Button & Sprung, we only use natural materials because they create a better sleeping environment and they are also much better for the environment,” says Adam. “Natural materials keep air circulating in the mattress, and they take moisture and perspiration away from your body. The wool we use is naturally elastic; it keeps its structure, so your mattress maintains its comfort. Many manmade fibres do not have this natural resilience to pressure.”
What are the benefits of a memory foam mattress?
Side sleepers and those with back pain are the most suited – because memory foam mattresses conform to your body and take the weight off pressure points, they offer the best pressure relief. And thanks to the multiple layers of foam – firmer on the bottom and softer on the top – they help isolate each person’s movements, so you’re less likely to be disturbed by your partner’s tossing and turning. But, if you’re a hot sleeper, avoid memory foam as it can trap heat more easily.
Hybrids seem to be becoming more popular – what are they?
A combination of coils on the bottom section and memory foam on the top, this style of mattress has become more and more popular, especially with online brands such as Simba, Emma, Dormeo, Eve and Hypnos. These mattresses can be very heavy, deep and tricky to manoeuvre, but thanks to the different layers, they can keep cool in warmer months and stay cosy in autumn and winter.
The Vault Stock
What’s the best size to get?
Even if you have the most comfortable mattress you’ve ever owned, if you’re sharing your bed, you need to choose the largest bed and largest mattress the room can accommodate. Being woken up by a partner rolling into you or flinging their arm across your face in the middle of the night is not going to do much for your sleep. Adam advises customers to think about the future too. “If you are starting a family, no matter how strong your resolve or firm your intentions, you often find more bodies in the bed come morning than were there when the night began. So, when buying your mattress, we highly recommend getting the biggest mattress you can to comfortably fit into your bedroom.”
Should you flip your mattress?
Ideally a new pocket sprung mattress should be rotated on the base every second week for the first 12 weeks. After this initial 12-week period, your mattresses should be rotated with the seasons and double-sided mattresses (with fillings on both) should be flipped twice a year. “Rotating your mattress is important as it means you are sleeping on different parts of the mattress, breaking it in across the surface,” says Adam.
How can you make a mattress last longer?
Prevention is better than cure, so use a mattress protector to protect it from wear and tear, dust and damage, and it’s a good idea to use a soft brush on the mattress surface every few months to remove any debris. “Stains and spillages should be absorbed using a dry cloth or paper towels,” notes Adam. “If you need to spot clean your mattress, do so only with a damp cloth and the mildest solution of soap and water – we find baby wipes work well. Do not saturate the mattress with water.”
How much should you be looking to spend for something quality?
There are mattresses priced at over £25,000 at some luxury retailers, or you can pick one up for a few hundred pounds on the high street, but ultimately a mattress should be viewed as an investment. “Buy the most comfortable mattress you can afford, and the bed frame or divan you like,” says Adam. “Our mattresses will last longer than ten years. That’s a minimum of 3,650 nights’ sleep, or if you spend £1,500 on a mattress, less than 50p per night. We think a good night’s sleep is worth every penny. When you are younger (20s) you can sleep on a park bench (literally) but as you get older (late 30s/40s) sleep becomes more elusive, and then you have to buy a better mattress with deeper fillings.”
Our Favourite Mattresses….
Best All-Rounder
Perendale Double Pillow Top Mattress, £1,400 | Button & Sprung
Best Hybrid
Hybrid® Luxe Mattress, From £1,199 | Simba
Best Entry Level
Borderdale Double Mattress, £575 | Button & Sprung
Best Mattress-In-A-Box
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