Sleep well, live well

The mattress you sleep on plays a crucial role in that good night’s rest you crave for. But, there is no standard mattress that works best for everyone. Individual preference is what ultimately defines what the best product for you is. And the following steps are aimed at channelling your individual preferences into finding that perfect piece of heaven that supports you best.

Start at home
Before setting out to pick out a mattress, it is vital to do your research. The height of your bed along with that of the mattress should ideally sum up to a maximum of 24 inches from the floor. If your old mattress has been sagging don’t conclude right away that the product is faulty. There is a good chance that it has become a sinkhole because it has lived out its life period. So, assess the state of your old mattress and note down the problem points so you can do a quick comparison when you head out to the mattress showroom.

Sleep position
If you like to sleep on your side, go for a memory foam mattress as it will mould itself to the bumps of your body and align your spine horizontally to the ground. If you prefer the ideal, on your back position, go for a coir mattress. But if you want your mattress to yield some buoyancy when you sleep, the one to go with is a spring mattress that structures the mattress just enough to support your body while adding that bounce to your sleep.

Health risks
Consider recurring body aches, especially lower back pains, before making up your mind about the type of mattress you want. If you have back ailments, coir mattresses have proved to be the age-old answer to the same. If you are prone to allergies, ensure that you purchase a matching mattress protector along with your mattress or just go for a foam mattress that is hypoallergenic with anti-microbial properties.

Supporting role
The ideal mattress should support your back along its natural curves and shouldn’t end up giving you back sores in the morning. Find out the kind of support that each kind of mattress offers and pick the one that suits your pressure points. Remember, each person has different pressure points. So take time out to dig up the finest mattress that can fuse both support and comfort into itself.

Brand value
There are really just two reasons why you should regard the brand of a mattress: reputation and accountability. Most of the bigwigs in the industry have built up their reputation over many years and come with the benchmark standards set by international brands. But take your time to compare brands and products with each other instead of blindly choosing the “best” in the market.

Money matters
Thanks to the growing mattress industry in India, you can take your pick of the diverse range of lower to premium mattresses available across the country. But, are you getting your money’s worth? Use online portals to compare mattresses and then check for the same at the retail stores. Go for the one that’s easy on your pocket but make sure that whichever one you choose comes with a favourable return policy.

Salesperson knowledge
When you enter a mattress store, you might just be surrounded by a horde of salespeople throwing a bunch of bizarre technical terms at you with the brightest smile drawn across their faces. If they begin talking coil counts, just pass! A greater amount of coil count doesn’t mount up to greater levels of comfort. If the count in a twin-sized mattress is anything higher than 390, it won’t make much of a difference. If you can find someone who can tell you what is in each layer of the mattress and why it’s put there, just know that you’ve hit the jackpot.

Trial and error
Try and pick a mattress, which allows you to test it for some time through a trial period or at least has a 30-day return policy. Sleeping on a brand new mattress might feel different for some time and that is common. But if you feel uncomfortable even after a few weeks into it, make good on that return policy right away.

Make of the mattress
Coir, foam or spring, each of them have their own benefits. Paying big bucks doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the best product. And getting a firm coir mattress doesn’t necessarily mean your back problems will disappear. If you share your bed with your partner, pocketed spring mattresses provide the ideal amount of mobility isolation and prevent the entire mattress from shaking when your partner gets on or off the bed.

Conduct a sleep test
Never buy a mattress with the notion that you will learn to love it. Take time out to lie down on the mattress and gauge how comfortable you feel. Tip: Dress comfortably when doing the test in order to the get best results.

By: G Shankar Ram
The writer is Joint Managing Director of Peps Industries Pvt. Ltd.