How to Choose a Foam Mattress

Not all foam mattresses are created equal.

It used to be that if you wanted a mattress, you'd have to look for something in the springs-inside-of-fabric model. These days, however, you have many more options, including mattresses crafted out of foam. These mattresses have a completely different feel from the standard mattress types, and ostensibly offer more comfort and better support. There are several considerations when purchasing a foam mattress to ensure you not only get the best mattress, but the best deal as well.

Instructions

1. Identify your top-dollar price. Never leave on a shopping outing -- whether it be for a mattress or an apple -- without knowing exactly how much you're willing to spend. This makes it less likely you'll get a bad deal when you make your purchase.

2. Check the size of the mattress. It might be the cheapest, most luxurious mattress in all of Christendom, but if it won't fit in your room it's worthless to you.

3. Take your partner, if you have one. Never go bed shopping alone if you have a significant other; you need to know what your partner thinks of the bed, if you will be sharing it frequently.

4. Lay on the mattress before you buy it. Twist and turn, bounce around and just lay still to get a feel for it. If the mattress is not comfortable or has too much -- or too little -- give when you lay on it, you'll want to look somewhere else.

5. Lay on the mattress with your partner as well. Adjust positions, move while your partner lays still and vice versa, make sure that you both are comfortable with the mattress before you make the decision.

6. Look for quality. Some foam mattresses are constructed out of a single piece of foam, while the more high-quality mattresses have multiple layers of foam. More layers of foam typically means more comfort.

7. Shop around. Never buy your mattress in the first store you go to. Instead, look at other stores and compare prices and brands. You're going to be sleeping on this mattress for a long time, you want to get the best bang for your buck as you can.

Tips & Warnings

• Thin people generally sleep better on mattresses that are soft and resilient, while people with average body fat usually sleep better on a firm mattress.

• If you find foam a little hard, you can add a feather or down mattress topper to even a cheap foam mattress for luxurious softness.

• Read other eHow How To's for specific information on "memory foam."

• The cheaper and less dense the foam mattress, the shorter its lifespan is likely to be.

• Judge density by the numbers, not the label. Industry-wide standards for density designations such as "firm," "extra firm" or "super firm" don't exist.

• Foam factories that provide simple uncovered cuts of foam can save you money, but generally have only small samples of their foam options. Don't judge how a foam mattress will feel by squeezing it in your hand. The samples will always feel softer than a large piece. Try out different densities at a specialty bedding store even if you don't make your purchase there.

• Some people radiate an above-average amount of heat while they sleep. If you have a "hot" partner, foam may not be the option for you. It stores heat.

References

• Healthy Foundations; Memory Foam and Memory Foam Mattress Buyer's Guide; David Rosenberg