So you’ve decided you need a new mattress – now what? There are more options for buying a mattress today than ever before and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Square Deal Mattress Factory has been building beds for over 100 years, carrying our values of quality assurance and longevity through all the technological changes that arise. In this blog post we want to share our years of expertise on the bed shopping process to help you feel confident in selecting the best mattress for your needs. This starts with exploring the different possible materials used in a mattress, how to tell whether it will be good for your body, and how to get the most from your in-store testing.
When Square Deal began in 1920, most mattresses were like human-sized pillows stuffed with down, cotton, hay, and similar materials. Even newly invented innerspring beds were padded with these basic natural materials. Today, modern sleepers are used to the plush comfort of foam paddings in their mattresses. There is an endless variety of natural and synthetic foam options that fall into three main categories. Before you begin shopping, it’s helpful to understand how they function differently and the potential benefits.
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane foam is the most common material Square Deal uses in our mattresses. “Poly-foam” refers to an open-celled synthetic foam that is highly responsive to changes in pressure and bounces back quickly. This material contours around the body while maintaining a supportive feel. Different densities of poly-foam can be layered over an innerspring, used as the support layer for a foam combination mattress, or made into its own mattress.
Poly-foam is highly versatile and suitable for all types of sleepers when the right combination of densities are chosen. It is also more breathable than other synthetic foams, so you’re less likely to overheat while you sleep.
Memory Foam
Memory Foam refers to a special kind of polyurethane that has been combined with additives to increase its viscosity and elasticity. This ‘visco-elastic’ foam reacts to sustained pressure by relaxing to conform slowly around the object, and restores itself to shape when pressure is removed as the foam cools and airflow increases. When used in mattresses, it contours especially well around the pressure points and redistributes material to provide the most relief. The enhanced elasticity gives it increased contouring over standard poly-foams that is often described as a ‘hug’ for your whole body.
We recommend memory foam for side sleepers, who benefit the most from pressure relief in the shoulders and hips. However, memory foam is the least breathable foam option which may cause discomfort for those who sleep hot. Additives like gel and copper may be included to help redirect heat away from your body, but that is not always effective over time. It performs best as a mattress topper, pillow-top upgrade, or the comfort layer of a foam combination mattress. The high viscosity of the foam requires a more resilient material to support it for the best comfort and longevity.
Natural Talalay Latex
Talalay Latex foam is the longest lasting, most supportive, most breathable foam available – and it’s all natural! Talalay latex is made of sap from rubber trees, whipped with water, and baked in an injection mold. This heating process kills off the latex proteins that commonly cause allergies, making Talalay latex hypoallergenic. The enhanced breathability also helps reduce common allergens such as dust mites and mold.
Latex’s high resiliency is often described as buoyant, as though it rises to meet the contours of your body, and is very motion islating. This effect is great for back and stomach sleepers who require small corrections to maintain alignment. Though it is generally firmer than other foam options, side sleepers can enjoy the subtle contour that latex offers. This material performs well on its own as an all- natural mattress or layered over an innerspring, but is also great for toppers to refresh an older bed. We recommend exploring latex pillows if you experience neck and upper back pain for its unique balance of support and softness. Due to its resiliency and flexibility, Latex is the best option to pair with an adjustable bed base.
Now that you have a good idea of what each material can potentially offer you, let’s look at the various ways these foams can be transformed into a completed mattress.
Innersprings
Beds with a steel spring at their core tend to last the longest and offer the most diverse range of comfort options. There are several styles of spring to choose from, including designs focused on side, back, or partner sleeping. Once a spring style is chosen, the foam paddings are added that determine the bed’s final firmness. Innersprings provide a baseline for healthy orthopedic support that flexes just enough to keep the body in correct alignment. Even the most isolating innerspring has some of that classic bounce that sets this construction apart. Innerspring mattresses are especially well suited for Square Deal’s two-sided construction because of their durability.
Foam
An all-foam mattress can be made as a solid piece of one style of foam, or combined with several different types depending on the desired result. These beds can be lighter-weight and easy to transport, and tend to be very motion isolating. To guarantee proper body support, often a base layer of firm foams lie under the comfort layer and form an orthopedic baseline. However, the lack of structured support means they wear faster, especially on the edges, and can be prone to deeper body impressions. Foam beds can be natural, as with latex, synthetic, like poly-foam, or a blend of both. These beds are often sold as one-sided, but a two-sided construction can help prolong the life. For more information about the foams we use at Square Deal, check out our Foam Fabrication department.
Hybrid
A “hybrid” mattress is an up-and-coming word in the mattress industry, but it can be a little confusing. “Hybrid” can refer to anything from simply combining any foam with an innerspring, to an all-foam mattress that uses multiple types of foam. Since foam-over-innerspring and foam-combination mattresses are standard construction for Square Deal, we use the word “hybrid” to describe innerspring mattresses that are padded with something other than standard poly-foam, such as memory foam or latex. These premium materials are most popular as their own stand-alone mattresses, but by pairing them with an innerspring their unique individual benefits are combined. A hybrid mattress can be a great choice for those with complex sleep preferences by tackling multiple comfort issues at once. Adding an innerspring also raises the durability of both memory foam and latex, meaning a hybrid is a great way to get those specialized benefits without sacrificing durability.
All of this information can be great help to have in mind when mattress shopping, but everyone knows the only way to know that a mattress is right for you is to lie down on it! Testing mattresses is mostly an intuitive process of evaluating how good it feels on your body. With so many models to try though, there may be a point where they all seem to run together. In this section, we will give some tips on a few key areas to focus your attention when deciding on your new bed.
A logical way to know if a mattress will be comfortable over time is to be certain it promotes a healthy spinal alignment for your body. To test this, you will want to pay attention to your shoulders, waist, and hips. These three areas should form a straight but slightly diagonal line from your legs to your neck resting on a pillow. If you feel as though there is a noticeable up- or downward curve between any of these points, the bed may be too firm, or not supportive enough.
To determine if this is happening, it is common to ask your shopping partner or salesperson to look at your back as you lie down in your normal position to confirm that there are no significant variations. While lying on your back, gently slide your hand under your lower back. The gap should feel snug; too easy to slide in means it’s not supportive enough, while too tight means it is being over-corrected.
Body size can play a role in how well a mattress supports you. Generally speaking, petite bodies benefit from softer support layers that respond better to the pressure they can apply. Whereas larger bodies may benefit from a firmer or more resilient support layer to be sure that they are being adequately supported. If you sleep with a partner and you feel like your body sizes give you different needs, a more dynamic support layer can give both of you healthy support on the same mattress. Once you’re properly supported, the comfort layers add the final touches to your preferred level of firmness.
Pressure Points
Even though you may have achieved healthy spine alignment, that is not all your body needs to stay comfortable through the night. Ensuring that your key pressure points are being properly treated by the mattress is the other half of the equation. Hips and shoulders are usually the most sensitive pressure points, especially when sleeping on your side. Back sleepers might be more sensitive to their neck and lower back. While the support layer is a factor, most of the pressure relieving action happens in the comfort layer. You may be able to see within just a few moments whether you’re supported, but considering your pressure points requires more time.
To test how well a mattress will give you pressure relief and comfort, lie down in your preferred sleeping position for at least two minutes, but preferably around 15 minutes if it is a bed you’re seriously considering. During that period, try to focus on the areas of your body that press most heavily on the bed surface. Consider whether you can truly relax on this surface, or if there is a feeling of resistance, such as a jammed shoulder. At this stage it can be helpful to compare different materials in the comfort layer to find which one performs best to you.
If you feel there is too much resistance from a standard mattress, a pillow-top may be the solution. A pillowtop is an extra gusset sewn into the bed that contains a small amount of additional padding. The gusset allows the padding more freedom to contour around the body, and it provides a small separation between yourself and direct pressure on the support layer. Pillow-tops are often preferred by side sleepers because of this gentle buffer.
Preference
Focusing on your body’s health helps you be confident about the quality of sleep you’ll get, but you will always know your body better than anyone else. Your first impression of the mattress is very important. Some people can lie down and instantly love or dislike a particular model. If you have strong initial feelings about a bed, it is best that you trust them. Talking yourself into a mattress you do not feel strongly about just because it checks the health boxes is less likely to create long-term satisfaction with your purchase.
We recommend trying a few mattress models with different features and letting your salesperson know what qualities you are enjoying the most. This can narrow the focus of your shopping and hone in on the combination of support and comfort that is ideal for you. Once you feel like you’ve tried enough variety, revisit your favorites for a longer period of time and make your observations about spine alignment and pressure relief. If you are struggling to choose between mattresses that feel similar, deferring to the health standards can be a helpful deciding factor. It is important to remember that a new mattress is an investment in your quality of life.
Now that you have all that knowledge floating around in the back of your head, it’s time to head to the mattress store and start trying beds! While this may seem like the most straightforward step so far, we have a few tips to make sure you enjoy the experience.
Wear comfortable clothing
Though it may seem like a simple place to start, wearing comfortable clothes can improve your mattress shopping experience. Since you will be lying down and standing up repeatedly, it is best to avoid short dresses and skirts. Tight fitting clothes like skinny jeans can also affect your perception of comfort. We recommend choosing an outfit that has a loose fit and will allow you to move comfortably. While visitors to Square Deal are more than welcome to arrive in their pajamas, athletic wear or a simple top and pants are also good choices if you have other plans for the day. You may also want to wear socks with slip-off shoes for better comfort when you lie down. As long as you feel like you have a complete natural range of motion, you’ll be prepared to put your potential new bed to the test.
Give yourself plenty of time
You are the master of your schedule, and it’s important that you do not feel rushed into your final decision on a mattress investment. Many people make a shorter initial visit to get an idea of their options and prices, especially if they just happen to be in the area. Others prefer to set aside several hours and make their decision in one day. We recommend setting aside 30-45 minutes for a ‘research’ visit, and a minimum of 1-2 hours if you plan on purchasing a mattress. We also want to encourage you that it is ok to make as many or few visits as you need, for as long or short as you need to to feel confident that the mattress you choose is the right fit for you.
Square Deal’s Dreamologist sales team embraces an old-fashioned customer-first sales method, but through experience and customer anecdotes we know that mattress sales has the potential to be a high-pressure environment. Though you may be tempted by a flash-sale or fast-talking salesperson, being firm about your intentions, needs, and limits is always your right. We hope your visit to the Square Deal showroom is exceptionally accommodating and stress-free so you can shop in whatever way fits your lifestyle.
Ask questions
Whether you gather a list of questions about materials and performance beforehand or simply get curious in the store, talking to your salesperson about the models you try can be genuinely helpful. At Square Deal, our Dreamologists strive to help you feel educated about your choices and have working experience with every part of our process. Details directly from your salesperson can be combined with the knowledge you came prepared with to give you a more complete picture of the individual models you are considering. There’s no wrong way to ask a question, and you can never ask too many!
Now that you know about what could be inside a mattress, what makes a bed good for your body, and what to expect in the showroom, you’re all ready to start your journey to the perfect new mattress! We hope to see you soon in the Square Deal showroom, but no matter where you shop, we hope treating yourself to a new, well-fitted mattress improves your health and helps you sleep soundly.
And of course…prioritize your sleep! A good night’s sleep is the best gift you can give for a happier and more productive life, so we hope you continue to make this the Year of Good Sleep for you and your family!
