How to Select a Mattress: Master Bedroom

The quality of the mattress determines comfort and durability.

Typically the largest bedroom in the house, the master bedroom has room for a larger size bed. According to Better Sleep, most sleepers move 40 to 60 times a night, so it is wise to purchase the biggest bed you can. With the different firmness ratings, sizes and pricing shopping for a mattress can overwhelm even experienced shoppers. Once you have chosen a mattress, try your negotiation skills, many mattress retailers offer a better price.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bedding store fliers
• Tape measure

1. Select a store to purchase your mattress from. Ask friends for recommendations of reputable stores. Check sales fliers for sales.

2. Work up a budget before you head to the store. Decide on a firm figure. Bargaining often works when purchasing mattresses, so look for a mattress a little above your budget.

3. Measure the master bedroom so you have a size reference while shopping. Wear comfortable clothing because you need to lay on the store mattresses to try them.

4. Lie down and try beds at the showroom until you have narrowed down a few comfortable ones in your price range. If you have a sleep partner, lie facing away from that person and see how much the mattress moves while they get in or out of bed. Sit on the edge of the bed to determine the sturdiness of the edges.

5. Take your narrowed-down choices and evaluate for firmness. Lie on the bed and pay attention to how well supported your hips and shoulders feel. Use your room measurements to determine if the mattress will fit in your space.

6. Ask the salesperson to show you a cutaway model of the mattress you are considering so you can evaluate the quality inside. Look over the warranty so you understand the time frame and what is covered. Find out if there are delivery fees and if they will remove the old mattress.

Tips & Warnings

• If the salesman won't come down in price, ask for some free sheets or bedding to be thrown in.

• Don't pay attention to labels that rate the mattress firm. Lay down and try the mattress. Different manufacturers have different levels for a firm rating.

• Purchase a waterproof mattress cover, the smallest stain will make the warranty invalid.

• Don't judge quality by the coil number. Interlocking coil mattresses have fewer coils than an independent coil system because the interlocking coils are tied together.

• Look for a name brand, A manufacturer of a cheap substitute will have cut corners in quality.

References

• The Better Sleep Council: Mattress Shopping
• Utah State University Extension; Selecting an Innerspring Mattress; Leona Hawks

Resources

• The Better Sleep Council: Better Sleep Guide