Quality sleep is essential for a fit body and a calm mind. Extensive research and surveys have shown that poor sleep quality or a disruption in the sleep cycle can lead to many ailments that could become chronic over time.
While leading a stress-free life is essential, certain environmental factors are also responsible for getting good sleep. And one of the ways to create a good environment for sleeping is to ensure you have a comfortable mattress.
Mattresses come in all shapes and sizes, and unfortunately, many still think that any standard mattress from a reputed brand will help them with their sleep. While that is true in some cases, variations in the standard mattresses can make them suitable for one buyer but very unsuitable for another.
While you can go to a store and buy a traditional mattress, there are options available nowadays to order a bed-in-a-box online. However, if you have never bought a mattress, having mostly stayed in your parent’s home or the student dorms, it can be a little overwhelming when you think of buying one.
Knowing the buying procedures can make it easier for you.
Traditional Mattress: A Brief Buying Guide
The only option to buy a traditional mattress is sometimes your local store. You can go to the local Home Depot or the supermarket and head for the mattress section. You will see multiple mattresses by various brands lined up and some laid on the bed for the customers to try out.
Usually, you will find these types of mattresses in the local store.
- Innerspring mattresses: They are made of a layer of coils and surrounded by extensive padding material for comfort.
- Foam mattresses: They are made of memory foam, polyfoam, or even latex or cotton. They are good for pressure relief.
- Hybrid mattresses: They have a combination of coils and foam and are known for regulating temperature and balance.
- Latex mattresses are made entirely of latex, with a latex core. They are known to make less noise and can be quite bouncy.
- Airbed: A pump is used to pump in the air and release it at will, making it as hard or soft as required.
It is often impossible to discern the differences between these mattresses at a glance because they tend to look the same from the outside in most cases. However, the salesperson will help you differentiate between them and tell you their various price points. They will also tell you the various features of the mattress.
Choosing a Traditional Mattress
Once you have satisfied your queries about the different features, here comes the tricky part. You must try out the mattress to ensure which one seems most comfortable for you.
While some people can simply sit and lie on one of the mattresses laid out on the makeshift bed on display and conclude which one is the most suitable for them, it can be very difficult for others.
For example, you may be easily overwhelmed by the number of other customers talking and discussing among themselves around you, and their snippets may leave you confused. You may feel that two or three mattresses feel the same, but you cannot determine the difference.
You may also feel uncomfortable lying down in front of other people in your bulky outdoor clothes and shoes, and you may be unable to arrive at a decision. In addition, you may also be pressured by the sales representatives of the various brands, all trying to make a sale, and their pitches will leave you even more confused rather than offering clarity.
How Do You Buy a Traditional Mattress?
Remembering these points can help you make your mattress purchase without undue stress.
- Do not buy a mattress under any kind of pressure. If you are unsure about the mattresses, choose three or four types that you find comfortable, and come back the next day to try them out again and make the final purchase.
- Do not be afraid to ask questions. Refrain from buying the mattress unless you are absolutely sure about the features and the brand’s after-sales services.
- Choose from mattresses that have a trial period. And make sure the brand will deliver it to your home, and make arrangements for pick-up at the end of the trial period if you do not like it. Sometimes, the brand makes the arrangements, and sometimes, it is the store.
- Most importantly, inquire about the delivery system for the traditional mattress. Will the store deliver it to your address, or will you take it with you or arrange your pick-up and drop-off? Traditional mattresses can be bulky and very difficult to carry and set up on your own. So make sure you have some help carrying it and laying it out before buying it.
Bed-in-a-Box: A Brief Buying Guide
A bed-in-a-box is a type of mattress that can be easily fitted into a box and is delivered right to your doorstep.
The bed-in-a-box is also made of the same materials used for making traditional mattresses, namely latex, foam, and polyester. In fact, some brands have also found a way of fitting spring mattresses into a box.
Many people are apprehensive about buying a mattress this way because they feel they would not have the option of trying it out before purchasing it. This is true to a great extent.
1. Trial Nights
Many brands today have overcome this issue by offering trial nights as they do not want to miss out on the customer base simply because they do not have the option of trying out their mattress. They offer trial periods of 70 to 100 days, and a few of them also offer trial periods of up to a year.
Once the trial period is over and the customer does not feel content with the mattress, they can return it and get a full refund.
2. Convenience
The bed-in-a-box is ideal for those who live alone and have issues carrying and laying out a traditional mattress independently. You can simply unbox the mattress, unroll it, and lay it on your bed frame. The bed-in-a-box will slowly expand, and you hardly have to go through any pulling and tugging.
The bed-in-a-box is also available in king-size, queen-size, and single-bed options, which is convenient for small families and singles alike. The shipping cost is also quite reasonable, and considering it is delivered right to your doorstep, it can be a good bargain.
Verdict: Is a Traditional Mattress Better or the Bed-in-a-Box?
Whether you want to buy a traditional mattress or a bed-in-a-box will depend entirely on your circumstances.
1. Trying Out
For example, if you want to try out a mattress extensively before buying it and the short period in the local store is not enough for you, then you may opt for the bed-in-a-box that offers a three-month trial period.
On the other hand, if you want to ensure that you have the best mattress material, then you may opt for the traditional mattress. In addition, you would want to ensure the measurements and thickness of the mattress before the purchase and whether carrying the mattress would be a problem for you.
2. Budget
If you are on a budget, then bed-in-a-box can be cheaper than traditional ones. On the other hand, if you find the shipping costs expensive and you have a local store nearby, you may opt for the traditional ones.
3. Specific Needs
On the other hand, since bed-in-a-box mattresses are mostly of a generalized make and model, you won’t find what you are looking for if you have some specific recommendations from the doctor for your sleep conditions. You will have to go through the specific features of a traditional mattress to find exactly what you are looking for.
FAQ’s
Here are some frequently asked questions that may help you with your purchase:
Is the cost of shipping mattresses very high?
Are all mattresses the same, even if they are from various brands?
Yet, the brands do try to put in their signature touch, either through the weave or the quality of the materials, and some research will show you how they are similar or different from each other.
How to know if you are paying the right price for your mattress?
Conclusion
It is not just essential to go through the pros and cons of the various mattresses but also to determine your own needs and your lifestyle before you invest in the mattress. Once you have looked into all areas, only then should you choose.
Research both varieties extensively and the extra time and effort you spend on it will be worth it because of the excellent sleep quality you will enjoy after that.
