Mattress Buying Guide

Types of Mattress

• Open Spring - This is the most common type of mattress. A wired edge keeps the mattress shape. It has a wire frame containing many springs, padding over the springs and fabric covering the entire structure.
• Pocket Spring- This type is far more luxurious. It has a serious of fabric pockets, each with a smaller spring inside. Because the springs aren't connected they work separately making them more comfortable. Works well for people sharing a bed of different body weights.
• Memory Foam - Your body heat softens this type of mattress, so it moulds to the shape of your body. They provide support which helps with back and neck problems. 
• Latex - These are extremely durable, and they mould to the shape of your body. They are breathable ensuring that your body temperature doesn't rise dramatically during the night.

There are one of each of the above mattress types pictured, and they have been selected for their quality and reasonable prices.

Buying the right mattress is very important as not getting a proper night's rest can affect your health. If you don't get adequate support you can end up with back and neck problems, as well as serious sleep problems if you're not comfortable during the night. So don't compromise on quality just to save a few quid. A mattress isn't something you buy every year, so try to think of it as a long term investment, usually 5-10 years. 

It's advisable to try out the different types of mattresses in a home store before you buy anything. They are more expensive in store but there is no harm in trying them out, then going home more educated to buy online. At least that way you know what you're getting. 

Mattresses come in different tensions too. This is a measure of how soft or hard the mattress is. Although soft sounds appealing, beware that the softer the mattress, the less support, so again trying out different tensions in a store can help to decide.

Think about size. Ensure you get the size that matches your bed, whether you're keeping your old bed or getting a new one. It's worth measuring the bed frame out to check against the mattress size as 'king size' or 'double' can differ slightly depending on the manufacturer. In general though, the mattress sizes are as follows:

• Single - 90cm x 190cm
• Double - 135cm x 190cm
• King - 150cm x 200cm
• Super King - 180cm x 200cm

Don't forget to think about the mattress that you have already, and decide whether you have been comfortable. If not, what did you want to change. Did you want something harder? Something springier? More support? Asking yourself these questions might help you to come to a decision as to what it is you're looking for.