Ever lie awake counting sheep and wishing for a better mattress? You're not alone! A good night's sleep is crucial for your health and well-being, but navigating the mattress world can feel overwhelming. Let us do the work for you. This guide will equip you with the knowledge to find your perfect mattress match.
Understanding Your Sleep Style
Before you start the hunt for a quality mattress, it's vital to know how you sleep. Do you sleep on your back or side? Maybe you find yourself waking up too warm for comfort. Do you struggle with allergies or share a bed? Thankfully, there are excellent mattress options that check all the boxes. Let's see how the latest sleep technology satisfies those needs.
Sleep Positions
Side Sleepers: Softer mattresses cradle your pressure points like shoulders and hips, relieving pressure and mitigating aches and pains.
Back Sleepers: Medium to firm mattresses offer better support for your spine’s natural curve.
Stomach Sleepers: Like back sleepers, a firm mattress keeps your spine aligned and supported all night long.
Combination Sleepers: Hybrid mattresses with solid support and comfort layers give you the support you need while adjusting to your pressure points.
Temperature
The goal is to wake up refreshed and comfortable. For those who sleep hot, cooling technology has come a long way in dissipating heat. Gel-infused memory foam or gel beads absorb heat while open airflow channels or open-cell foam allow for better ventilation to keep you cool all night long.
Allergies
If you are sensitive to allergens, your mattress choice will make a difference in your sleep quality. Some mattresses can be a haven for allergens like dust mites, mold, and dander. Consider hypoallergenic materials such as latex, or look for moisture wicking or antimicrobial features in your bed search.
Materials Matter
Now that you’ve identified your sleep needs, let’s break down the most popular materials in the mattress industry and the benefits they supply.
Memory Foam
Made from a polyurethane foam, memory foam conforms to your body shape. It is what provides cloud-like comfort for your shoulders, hips, and back, making it perfect for the side sleeper. If your partner tosses and turns, memory foam is also great at reducing the feel of motion.
Gel-Infused Memory Foam
We love gel-infused mattresses and mattress toppers because of their unique ability to absorb and dissipate heat. This advanced technology incorporates cooling gel particles directly into the memory foam. The result? Unmatched heat dissipation and temperature regulation. Like regular memory foam, gel-infused foam conforms to your body shape to relieve pressure points, but has a springier feel. In short, while regular memory foam priorities body contouring, gel-infused memory foam prioritizes temperature control, making it a great choice for hot sleepers.
Latex
Both natural and synthetic latex layers are often used to provide a softer feel like memory foam, but they also prevent sagging. Known for being durable, latex is also hypoallergenic, resistant to mold and mildew, and a great option for those with allergies or asthma.
Innerspring and Pocket Coil
A traditional and budget-friendly choice, innerspring mattresses offer lasting durability and shape retention. They tend to be firmer, making them ideal for back sleepers. The firmness level adjusts based on the number and thickness of the coils. While innerspring mattresses are generally more affordable than memory foam, gel-infused, or pocket coil options, an upgrade to a pocket coil mattress offers independent coil movement for reduced motion transfer, improved contouring, and personalized support.
Hybrid
Can't decide between comfort and support? Hybrid mattresses offer the best of both worlds! These innovative mattresses combine innerspring or pocket coil cores for firm, lasting support with memory foam or gel-infused memory foam layers that provide pressure relief. The cooling technology in gel-infused memory foam makes hybrid mattresses a great choice for hot sleepers. Hybrid mattresses are a fantastic solution for couples with different sleep needs, offering a built-in compromise that ensures both partners get a comfortable night's rest.
Find a Reputable Retailer
In-Home Trials:
At the end of the day, how do you truly know you’ve found the right mattress? The best way to know is to test out your mattress in the comfort of your own home. A good mattress retailer will have an in-home trial period which allows you to test out your purchase with the ability to exchange your mattress within a certain timeframe.
At Northeast Factory Direct, we want nothing more than for you to be 100% satisfied with your mattress selection. We offer a 120-day* Mattress Comfort Guarantee! If you find your mattress doesn’t quite suit your unique needs, we allow a one-time mattress swap of equal or greater value.
Online Search:
Let the web work for you! Instead of looking through every single mattress available, head over to our online Mattress Department, where you can narrow your search down by size, firmness, material type, and brand to get a list of recommended mattresses. We pride ourselves in having quality mattresses from trusted brands for any budget.
Consider Brands and Reviews
With countless brands and models, do your research to narrow down your options. Online reviews can offer valuable insights, but remember, comfort is subjective. Here are the brands we trust to provide exceptional quality and affordability:
Ashley Sleep & Sierra Sleep by Ashley
The easiest on your wallet, Ashley mattresses are well known for their variety and affordability. With options like a mattress in a box, memory foam, hybrid, pillow top, plush, gel-infused, latex, kid’s mattresses, and more, you are guaranteed to find a mattress option for every bedroom.
Sleep EZzz
Alex Nemet, Founder and CEO of Northeast Factory Direct, saw a need for affordable luxury mattresses that utilize the cutting-edge technology of the mattress industry. So, Sleep EZzz was born.
“We use the same quality materials in our mattresses that the high-end brands use. So our mattresses are as good, if not better, but we offer them for a lot less. Because we make our own mattresses, we have sourced the highest quality materials- there’s no middleman, there’s no gimmicks, you just get an awesome product at half the price,” Alex explains.
To top it off, Sleep EZzz mattresses are made right here in the USA and come with a 20-year guarantee. The selection is also unmatched, with a variety of mattress types that rival any of the big names in the mattress industry.
Malouf
Malouf is well known in the bedding market for their luxurious pillow technology, quality bedding, and adjustable bases. And now, they’ve applied their high standards to a new line of hybrid mattresses. Malouf mattresses focus on cooling technology with gel-infusions, cooling foam, and ventilated layers over pocket coils.
Malouf is also a Certified B Corporation, meaning they meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact.
Pair Your Mattress with the Right Base
Mattress Type
The type of base you choose for your mattress can make all the difference. A memory foam mattress does best on a solid, flat base, while an innerspring mattress pairs well with a box spring or slatted foundation.
Many mattresses are designed to work perfectly with an adjustable base, which allows you to raise or lower the head and/or foot of the bed for customizable comfort. For those with digestive issues or head and neck pain, raising the head of the bed even a few inches can provide significant relief.
Manufacturer Recommendations:
Ask a sales associate in-store or visit the manufacturer’s website for foundation recommendations for your mattress model. If you have a warranty, be sure you pair your mattress with the appropriate base to ensure your warranty remains valid.
At the end of the day, your search for the perfect mattress doesn’t have to be a difficult task! By considering your sleep preferences, the most suitable materials, reputable retailers, brand, and model reviews, you’ll be well-prepared to make a mattress purchase that will have you sleeping easy all night long.
*Read more here or see the store for details.