How to Test a Mattress in the Store: What to Look For

Shopping for a mattress in person is a huge advantage over buying online, but only if you know what to pay attention to. Don't just sit on the edge of a mattress for 30 seconds and call it good. Spend some time lying on multiple mattresses as you would in your typical sleep positions, e.g., your back, side, or stomach.  If you lie on a mattress, and your initial reaction is "this is too firm", "this is too soft", or "this mattress hurts my...", then get off the mattress and move on to the next one.  Ideally, you'll narrow it down to 3-5 mattresses that have ample support and the amount of cushion that feels good to your body.  Once you've narrowed it down to a few mattresses that feel good, take into account other factors that are important to you, like your budget, mattress warranty, whether the mattress sleeps hot, what materials are in the mattress, etc.

When visiting a mattress store, you should be prepared to spend 30 to 90 minutes learning about the mattresses, what's in them, and what feels good to your body.  If possible, bring your partner if you share a bed. Wear comfortable clothes.  This isn't the time to be shy; you're about to spend thousands of dollars and 8 hours a night on this new purchase.

Pay attention to pressure points first: Do your hips and shoulders feel supported, or does it feel like they're sinking too far? Does your lower back have a gap between the mattress and your body, or does it feel compressed? For organic and natural latex mattresses, remember they feel different than memory foam.  Latex is more responsive and won't have that slow "sinking" feeling, but it should help to relieve pressure.

If the store you're visiting has adjustable bases, test them out - there may be features that you can't live without like "anti snore", "under bed lighting", or "massage". Many of our customers find that the right base makes a great mattress perfect.

Also in Organic Bedroom's Mattress Tips