What to look for when you’re shopping for a mattress.
Contributed By Yong Yung Shin
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEMPUR
At first glance, this may sound like a trivial lifestyle feature. But considering that we spend up to a third of our lives in bed, purchasing a mattress is not such a trifling concern after all. It helps that the advancement of technology has afforded us so many choices so as to render the whole mattress-buying process a less than straightforward affair.
At the launch of Tempur’s new Cloud collection of visco-elastic or memory foam mattresses (which provide additional softness to the current collection of NASA-standard snooze pads), country manager Oey Mei Dee said, “Besides the back-sleeper, side-sleeper, or what I term tummy-sleeper, tempur offers different mattress feels, from firm, to the traditional springy, and soft, thus there is definitely one ideal model each of us can find.”
Here are four main factors to consider when buying a mattress.
BREATHABILITY
For those who sleep without air-conditioning, “breathability” and “air flow” are important terms to pay attention to. Mattresses made from natural materials and fiber such as cotton are the best option, as opposed to those made from polyester, because they are more “breathable.” Alternatively, go for cooling mattress pads.
TYPE OF MATTRESS
The latest hype in bedding is the “visco-elastic/memory-foam” type of mattresses. With its body weight redistribution properties, Tempur’s mattresses, according to lab tests, are able to relieve pressure points thus reduce tossing and turning by almost five times less than conventional mattresses. This in turn means a deeper, rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage of sleep that plays an important role in retuning a person’s higher cognitive functions.
Sounds like a dream slumber, but some may not take to the “damp dough” feeling of Tempur’s visco-elastic material which “molds” itself to the sleeper’s body—thanks to its temperature-sensitive characteristic. It is, however, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial-treated and does not require flipping.
FIRMNESS/SUFFICIENT SUPPORT
When it comes to support and firmness, there is no one-size-fits-all. It varies from person to person, so the best way to find out is to lie on one and find out for yourself. A mattress that is too hard will force the spine into an unnatural position, while one that is too soft will cause the body to slump from inadequate support.
If you usually wake up with numbness, back pains or pins and needles, chances are that your current mattress is either not providing enough support or creating unwanted pressure leading to poor blood circulation.
NO PARTNER DISTURBANCE
If you’re sharing the bed with your partner, it’s important that both parties be present when shopping for a mattress—for obvious reasons. Equally as important is a mattress’ shock-absorbing properties; a simple test to ensure that a mattress allows for minimal partner disturbance (a pertinent concern for light sleepers, especially) is to sleep facing away from the center of the bed and have your partner get up or get in on the other side. If you can sense his or her movement, the mattress is probably not able to satisfy your requirements.
Prices for the Tempur Cloud collection start from S$2,599 for single bed sizes. Log on to www.tempur.com.sg for more information.
