When furnishing a home, there are many factors to consider, from essential pieces like kitchen cabinets and wardrobes to decorative touches such as chandeliers and carpets. Among these, one of the most crucial items to carefully select is the mattress. Unlike other furniture or home appliances, the mattress stands out as something you’ll use daily to recharge after a long day. Whether you’re furnishing your home for your own comfort or preparing an investment property for potential renters, choosing the right mattress is vital. A well-chosen mattress can significantly improve your quality of sleep, ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready to face the day. Thus, it’s important to make a thoughtful decision, as the right mattress can enhance not just your sleep experience but also the overall appeal of your space.
Mattress Sizes
When it comes to mattress sizes, there are a variety of options, and the choice depends on factors such as bed frame size, room layout, available space, and personal preferences. Mattress sizing also varies by region, so you may notice slight differences between mattress dimensions in Malaysia compared to those in the United States or the United Kingdom. In the U.S. and U.K., you’ll find a wide range of sizes, including Small Single, Single or Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Double, Queen, Olympic Queen, King, and California King. However, in Malaysia, the most commonly used sizes are Single, Super Single, Queen, and King.
Single Mattress (W90 x H190 cm)
A Single mattress (W90 x H190 cm) is, as the name suggests, designed for individual sleepers. It’s often chosen for children’s rooms because it saves space while still providing ample comfort as the child grows into a young adult. Once they reach that stage, upgrading to a larger mattress size may be a more suitable option.
Super Single Mattress (W107 x H190 cm)
The Super Single mattress offers slightly more width than a Single mattress, making it a popular choice for teenagers and young adults who appreciate the added space. It’s also an ideal fit for compact living spaces, like studio apartments.
Queen Mattress (W152 x H190cm)
The Queen mattress is well-suited for couples living in smaller apartments with limited space. It also provides generous room for single adults who enjoy extra space to move around comfortably.
King Mattress (W183 x H190cm)
The King mattress provides significantly more space than a Queen, making it ideal for couples with children or pets. It’s often chosen for larger bedrooms, allowing families to sleep comfortably together. Widely considered the luxury option, a King mattress is a preferred choice for those with the space and budget to accommodate it.
Types of Mattress
Many brands offer mattresses crafted from various materials, each providing different levels of firmness and benefits for sleepers. The right choice depends on your sleeping style, so it’s worth exploring which materials best suit your needs.
Innerspring Mattress
Remember when every movement on your bed caused an annoying creaking sound? That’s often the case with innerspring mattresses. These traditional mattresses are known for their sturdy support and durability, making them a popular choice worldwide for years. Innerspring mattresses are constructed with multiple layers of coils, surrounded by comfort materials like foam, latex, or natural fibers.
The quality and lifespan of these mattresses depend on factors like coil quantity, shape, thickness, arrangement, and the number of coil turns. Older innerspring models typically only had coils without added comfort layers, but today, hybrid mattresses with enhanced cushioning are increasingly popular.
Innerspring mattresses remain popular because they provide excellent back support and come in a range of firmness levels. They’re also budget-friendly, making them a great option for first-time buyers. However, springs may get noisy over time and tend to wear out more quickly than foam.
Memory Foam Mattress
Memory foam, originally developed by NASA in the 1970s, has remained popular for its unique benefits. Made from various densities of foam, such as polyurethane, memory foam mattresses offer enhanced comfort and excellent motion isolation.
This soft mattress contours to the sleeper’s body, providing a custom fit that offers deep pressure relief, which can be particularly helpful for those with hip, shoulder, lower back, or neck pain. Memory foam is also ideal for side sleepers, as it distributes body weight evenly, and its motion isolation feature makes it a great choice for partners, reducing disturbances from movement.
However, memory foam does come with a few drawbacks. It tends to trap body heat, which can be uncomfortable in warmer climates. Some may also find the “hugging” sensation less enjoyable, and the softness may not provide the firm support that some sleepers need. Additionally, memory foam mattresses are generally more expensive than traditional innerspring options.
Hybrid Mattress
As the name suggests, a hybrid mattress combines two types of materials to offer the best of both worlds. For instance, pairing inner coils with foam creates a mattress that provides firm support along with a softer feel for pressure relief, making it ideal for combination sleepers. Hybrid mattresses are typically medium-firm, offering a balanced level of softness and support.
There is a wide range of hybrid mattresses available, and their performance varies based on the materials combined, so it’s best to test them in-store before making a decision. Since hybrid mattresses require more materials, they tend to be more expensive and can be a costly choice if not carefully considered.
Latex Mattress
If you’re in the market for an organic mattress, latex might be the perfect choice. Latex mattresses are crafted from pure latex foam or a combination of latex foam with reflex foam or inner coils. Made from the sap of rubber trees, latex mattresses offer a light bounce when getting in and out of bed, along with contouring and cushioning without the “sinking hug” sensation associated with memory foam. Additionally, latex mattresses retain minimal heat, making them an excellent option for those in warmer climates. Combination sleepers will also find them comfortable.
The popularity of latex mattresses is on the rise due to their durability and comfort. There are three main types of latex foams used in these mattresses: synthetic, blended, and natural latex. Synthetic latex is primarily made from rubber-like plastics, making it the most affordable option among the three. While generally deemed safe, it may cause irritation for individuals with respiratory issues.
Blended latex mattresses consist of 70% synthetic latex and 30% natural latex. They contain fewer irritants than purely synthetic options and tend to last longer, though they are not as durable as natural latex.
Natural latex is the most durable of the three and is favored by eco-conscious sleepers. It’s known for offering numerous health benefits, thanks to its gentle cushioning, natural antimicrobial properties, and breathability from its open-cell structure, which allows for airflow. Additionally, natural latex mattresses typically have an average lifespan of 12 to 20 years.
Coconut Fibre Mattress
Often regarded as an economical option, the coconut fiber mattress, also known as a coconut coir mattress, is primarily popular in Asia. This organic mattress is constructed from natural materials, specifically the husks of coconuts, which are bound together with natural latex.
The coconut fiber mattress boasts natural antimicrobial properties, making it an excellent choice for individuals with allergies. Its cooling properties also make it a favorite among hot sleepers and those living in warmer climates. However, one downside of this mattress is its firm sleeping surface, which may be too rigid for those who prefer a softer feel. Overall, this type of mattress is one of the most affordable options available on the market.
Comparison of Mattress Types
| Innerspring | Memory Foam | Hybrid | Latex | Coconut Fibre | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durability | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| Support | Good | Low | Moderate | Good | Good |
| Softness | Moderate | Soft | Moderate | Moderate | Firm |
| Motion Isolation | Bad | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate |
| Heat Retention | Moderate | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| Price | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Low |
Selecting the Ideal Mattress for Yourself
With the knowledge you have gained about mattress types and sizes, it is time to make a decision and choose what is best for you. To assist you in making that choice, here are some tips.
Measurement
To start things off, identify the size of the room to know the mattress size that you will be buying. A smaller-sized bed would be the better choice for compact-sized rooms, such as a single bed. For couples who don’t have much space to work around with, a queen-sized mattress would be the better choice.
Next, measure the bed frame that you will be using for the mattress. Most times, the mattress will match the bed frame so long as you stick to the specific size, for example, a king-sized mattress would fit onto a king-sized bed frame. However, not all bed frames adhere to this sizing standard, so it is better to be safe by measuring it than to be sorry.
Firmness
Comfort is subjective to every individual, so the correct level of firmness for yourself is important. There are general guidelines to whether picking a softer or firmer mattress is better for you. For example, foam and latex are often perceived as being better options for those who are lighter in weight, while those who are heavier may benefit more from firmer mattresses such as innerspring or coconut fibre. Those who are in between may also choose a medium-firm mattress which is mostly hybrid or innerspring mattresses.
Another thing to consider when determining the firmness of your mattress is whether you are a back, side, or stomach sleeper. Side sleepers would prefer softer materials as they will contour and balance the body weight to provide better support. Those with back and stomach sleep style would tend to prefer something firmer for support.
Sweating at Night
The firmness or softness of a mattress is essential, but all of it doesn’t matter when you get wet and sticky due to sweating at night. If you experience excessive sweating while sleeping, it is recommended to choose materials such as innerspring, coconut fibre, or gel-memory foam mattress for a more comfortable sleep.
Budget
Like it or not, making the ideal mattress purchase also depends on your budget and mattress prices from different consumer brands in the market. Branded mattresses are usually expensive as they are known to be of the best quality and feature-rich, but this does not mean that a cheap mattress is bad. There are a growing number of online mattress sellers today who are able to offer quality mattresses at more affordable prices by eliminating middleman prices, so you may want to check them out as well.
Material choice of mattresses could also be affected by your budget. Innerspring and coconut fibre are more affordable, while latex and hybrids tend to be pricier. There are many financing options offered by mattress manufacturers today, so consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting a quality mattress.
Warranty Period & Lifespan
Similar to electronics or furniture purchases, make sure to check the warranty period and return policies of your mattress. Getting a mattress with a long warranty period ensures that you have peace of mind.
The lifespan of the mattress is also important and is affected by the type of material it is made with. Latex mattresses averagely last the longest, followed by memory foam, hybrid, and inner coil, however, this is not a given, and how you take care of the mattress will affect its lifespan as well. For example, using a mattress topper or a mattress protector helps to protect the mattress for better wear and tear.
Sleep Trials
Many consumer brands nowadays offer generous night trials up to 30 to 120 days for you to try before confirming your purchase. This means that you will get a full refund if you return the mattress within the trial period. Online mattress brands tend to offer these trial periods compared to retail brands so you make good use of this offer to determine the better choice for yourself. Prior to signing up for the sleep trial period, make sure you understand the return policy.
Test the Mattress
The rule of thumb in determining the most suitable mattress is to try it out yourself at a brick-and-mortar store. A majority, if not all, retail stores allow customers to try the mattresses available and also provide mattress recommendations, so take the time to try the mattresses out before making a decision, so that you can be fully satisfied with your purchase.
Here are some tips on how you can try them during your mattress shopping. Lay down properly in a relaxed sleeping position for 5 to 10 mins and feel out whether the mattress supports your weight. Ensure your body is on the mattress without any gaps in between to better feel the support it gives you in different sleep positions. If you are planning to share the mattress with a partner, bring them along to try it out together to test out the motion isolation.
Ensuring that you buy a quality mattress is the ultimate goal in your mattress buying journey as it will determine your sleep quality and sufficient rest night after night. In spite of all the specifications and guidelines, what’s most comfortable for you is still the best choice, so be sure to do your preliminary research and give them a try before you make your final decision.
