Crawling into bed at the end of a long day is one of the most blissful and relaxing feelings, and it’s an experience you get to repeat daily if you’re lucky. If hopping into bed doesn’t provide the luxurious feeling of relief that it used to, it might be time to replace your mattress.
As consumers, we often take our mattresses for granted and don’t even think about getting a new one until the old one becomes physically painful to sleep on (and even then, some people torture themselves for months or years before finally buying a new mattress). In fact, experts recommend that you replace your mattress every five to ten years, depending on your mattress type and how you use it.
If you don’t even remember the last time you bought a mattress, it’s probably well past time to head down to your local mattress store to start shopping for one. Whether you prefer to sleep on your side, back, stomach, or a mix of the three, we’ll give you tips about which comfort level will suit you best.
Choose a Mattress that Supports Your Sleep Style
If you don’t already know your preferred sleeping position, think about which position feels best in those liminal moments right before you drift off to sleep. Mattresses range in firmness from ultra plush to extra firm; you will sleep best if you choose a mattress with a firmness level that corresponds to your preferred sleeping position.
- Best for Side Sleepers: If you wake up with a crick in your neck, aching shoulders, and/or sore hips after sleeping on your side, you probably need to upgrade to a softer mattress. Look for mattresses labeled ultra plush, plush, or medium comfort.
- Best for Back Sleepers: A medium comfort mattress will provide the structural support you need to keep your spine aligned, yet it will compress as needed to accommodate your body’s curves. If you wake up with aching hips or lower back pain after sleeping on your current mattress, check out our mattresses that feature a gel foam lumbar support band that provides the supple structure you need for back sleeping, and it will help relieve painful pressure from your midsection..
- Best for Stomach Sleepers: A firm or extra-firm mattress will provide the support you need to keep your body aligned when sleeping on your stomach. Thanks to a combination of Cool Twist® Gel Memory Foam and Zoned Coils, the Serta® Perfect Sleeper® Euphoric Nights Hybrid Firm Tight Top Mattress supports your lower back and hips while cradling the rest of your body.
- Best for Combination Sleepers: If you change positions frequently throughout the night, a medium mattress will provide gentle support to maximize your comfort in most sleeping positions. The Serta® Perfect Sleeper® Delani Dreams Hybrid Medium Tight Top Mattress combines Cool Twist® Gel Memory Foam with inner coils to support you no matter how many times you change positions.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Your Local Mattress Store
Now that you know which comfort level should work best for your preferred sleeping position, head down to your local mattress store to try out a few mattresses. Even if you feel awkward lying on a mattress in public, try to spend at least 10 to 15 minutes on each mattress you’re considering. You’ll be spending at least eight hours a night lying on this mattress if you purchase it, so you might as well find out how it makes your body feel after spending 15 minutes on it.