Sleep impacts every aspect of your life, so it’s super important to find a mattress that helps you feel well rested. Which mattress you should choose is mostly down to personal preference, but our mattress buying guide should give you all of the information you need to make your decision.

There are multiple types of mattresses, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We’ve put together some brief descriptions of the main ones to get you started.

What is an open coil mattress?

An open coil mattress features a simple construction of springs inside. These springs are connected, which is fine for single sleepers, but may cause disruption to partners if one of you tends to toss and turn a lot. Open coil mattresses do tend to be a cheaper option, so might be a good choice for your spare bedroom.

What is a pocket sprung mattress?

A pocket sprung mattress has springs which are sewn into their own pockets. This allows the springs to work independently of one another and reduce the impact of movement that’s felt throughout the mattress. A good choice for couples, but perhaps not for those with joint pains who required more targeted support.

What is a memory foam mattress?

A memory foam mattress replaces the traditional spring interior with layers of foam, which is designed to mould itself to fit the unique shape of your body. Some people find that foam makes them overheat, while others love the unique cushioning feel of it. Foam mattresses work best when they’re warm, so may not be suitable for bedrooms kept on the cooler side..

What is a hybrid mattress?

A hybrid mattress incorporates a combination of fillings, for example a spring base topped with foam and finished with a cooling gel layer. These mattresses allow you to get the best of both worlds and more, so if you haven’t found your perfect match in a spring or foam mattress then a hybrid could be the one you’ve been waiting for.

The prospect of choosing the right mattress might seem daunting, given the number of options on the market these days, but there are some key areas to consider that will help narrow down your choices.

If you don’t know what to look for when buying a mattress, or if you haven’t figured out your preferences yet, why not pop into one of our stores for some advice? Our specially trained sales advisors will guide you in the right direction while you test out our quality mattresses for yourself.

If you’d like to do some research first, you should begin by looking into:

Mattress types

Mattress tensions

Mattress feels

Mattress tensions generally range from soft to firm, but there may be exceptions such as very soft or very firm. Although it’s not commonly known, tension is less about the feel of the mattress itself, but more about the strength required to support your bodyweight correctly.

Here are some rough guidelines to help you decide:

Not to be confused with mattress tension, when it comes to the feel or “comfort level” of a mattress you’ll usually find a rating between 1-10 or soft to firm. The question is – which one is most comfortable for you?

This is perhaps one of the most important decisions when buying a mattress. Most people assume a soft mattress will be most comfortable, but a mattress that’s too soft can fail to provide the support you need.

One way to determine the ideal softness of your mattress is to consider your usual sleeping position. Whether you sleep on your side, back or front, there are particular pressure points to be mindful of.

This is only a guide, and we recommend testing out our mattresses in-store to get a real feel for what you like.

Side sleeper

If you generally sleep on your side, a soft mattress is best as it will be gentler on your hips and shoulders, particularly if you suffer from joint pain.

Front sleeper

A front sleeper would benefit from a firm mattress, so the hips are supported and the body doesn’t sink in so far as to cause incorrect spinal alignment.

Back sleeper

Someone who prefers to sleep on their back should look for a medium firm mattress, which offers enough give to be comfortable, but still supports the spine properly.

SINGLE MATTRESS SIZE

A single mattress measures 3ft – approximately 90cm wide and 190cm long)

SMALL DOUBLE MATTRESS SIZE

A small double mattress measures 4ft – approximately 120cm wide and 190cm long)

DOUBLE MATTRESS SIZE

A double mattress measures 4ft6 – approximately 135cm wide and 190cm long)

KING MATTRESS SIZE

A king size mattress measures 5ft – approximately 150cm wide and 200cm long)

SUPER KING MATTRESS SIZE

A super king mattress measures 6ft – approximately 180cm wide and 200cm long)

SPECIALITY MATTRESS SIZES

If you’re looking for something that doesn’t fit any of these measurements, we also offer the following speciality mattress sizes…

Most of the Tempur range is available in:

Small single mattress size (75cm wide by 200cm long

Long single mattress size (90cm wide and 200cm long

Some children’s mattresses are available in:

High bed mattress size (90cm wide, 191cm long, 15cm high)

Day bed or trundle mattress size (76cm wide, 183cm long, 15cm high)

Perhaps you’ve heard great things about a certain mattress brand, or you’ve bought from the same brand for years and have never been let down. Either way, this is another good method of focusing your options.

We’re proud to stock a number of world-leading mattress brands here at Barker and Stonehouse. These are just a few of them…

TURN AND ROTATE YOUR MATTRES

Certain mattresses need to be turned or rotated regularly, whereas others are designed to avoid this. Make sure you know this information before you purchase, and keep up with any recommended actions to ensure you get the most out of your mattress.

USE A MATTRESS PROTECTOR

Some mattresses come with handy removable covers, like the Tempur range, which can be washed at 60 degrees. For others, your best bet is to purchase a high-quality mattress protector which provides an additional layer of protection and helps keep your mattress clean and fresh

HOW TO CLEAN A MATTRESS

One of the best ways to freshen up a mattress is with baking soda, which is known for its ability to absorb odours. Simply sprinkle all over your mattress and leave for a few hours before vacuuming. Regular vacuuming also helps to rid your mattress of dust mites, which can cause allergies. Stain remover can be used sparingly when required, but do be careful with memory foam mattresses as these hold onto moisture

As discussed, mattresses usually last somewhere between 6 and 10 years, but it’s important that you know how to tell when yours needs replacing. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that you’re losing out on quality sleep. You might not even realise how badly you’ve been sleeping until you spend the night on a new mattress.

So, if any of these signs sound familiar then we’d recommend you start shopping.