You spend more hours on your mattress than on any other thing you own. Most people still pick one in about ten minutes. Here is how to slow down and get it right.
Pick the size first
| Size | Inches | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | 38 by 75 | A child, a bunk bed, a daybed |
| Full | 54 by 75 | One adult, or a small bedroom |
| Queen | 60 by 80 | Two adults; the most common choice |
| King | 76 by 80 | Two adults who want room, or a child who visits at 2 a.m. |
The mattress has to match your bed frame. If you are keeping the frame, measure the inside of it. Then check the bedroom: you want about two feet on each side you get out of.
Firm or soft
There is no best firmness, only what suits how you sleep.
- Side sleepers often like a softer top, so the shoulder and hip can sink in a little.
- Back and stomach sleepers often like a firmer surface that keeps them level.
- Two people who disagree usually do best in the middle.
Words like "plush" and "firm" are not measured the same way by every maker. Lie on it. Lie the way you sleep, for a few minutes, not a few seconds.
What goes under it
A mattress needs a flat, solid base.
- A box spring or foundation goes between the mattress and a standard metal frame.
- A platform bed with close slats may not need one.
- An old, sagging box spring will make a new mattress sag too.
Tell the store what bed you have and ask what goes under the mattress.
When to replace one
A mattress is usually ready to go when you can see a dip where you sleep, when you wake up stiff and feel better after a night somewhere else, or when you can feel the springs. Age alone does not decide it.
Getting it home
A queen or king mattress will not fit in most cars, and tying one to the roof is how mattresses end up on the highway. Ask about delivery when you buy. If you are getting a bed or a bedroom set as well, ask about having the mattress and box spring come at the same time, so the bed is ready the day it arrives.
Mattresses in Baton Rouge
We keep mattresses and box springs at our store at 2121 N Foster Dr. Which sizes are in changes from week to week, so call (225) 356-0068 first. See our mattresses page for sizes and what to ask.