Mattress Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Mattress

June 14, 2022

How can you choose the best mattress in Singapore? Read this ultimate guide for first-time buyers.

Sleep is vital to your overall health. While many factors affect your sleep quality, your mattress is certainly one of the things you must carefully consider. Overlooking its importance may result in compromising your rest.

But how will you bring the perfect mattress home? Where do you start? Where should you buy your new mattress? What should you look for? How much will it cost?

Yay! Who would have thought this could be this overwhelming?

If you're going through the bed shopping dilemma, this comprehensive guide is at your service.

A mattress is a huge investment that you will make only once every 8-10 years, so it's very important to get it right. If you are a first time buyer or looking into improving your current mattress, read on to this ultimate new mattress buying guide.

Questions to Ask When Buying a Mattress

1. How much is my budget?

2. How big is my room?

3. Is this type of mattress comfortable for me?

4. Is it too firm or too soft for my liking?

5. Does it support my sleeping position?

6. Is it big enough for me to sleep comfortably?

7. Do I want a "sleeping in your mattress" or a "sleeping on your mattress" feel?

8. Is this mattress cool or warm enough to keep me comfortable?

9. Do the edges provide me with the right pressure relief?

10. Does the mattress feel sturdy enough?

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Mattress

1. Mattress Types

When looking for the right mattress, you will be faced with many options. You can find various mattress types with their own similarities, unique features, advantages, and drawbacks. Mattresses can be identified as foam, latex, hybrid, or innerspring mattresses. These major types have more specific categories. Let's understand what these types are:

Before you go through an existential crisis trying to figure out what a foam or innerspring mattress is, take a look at this list for a quick overview.

A. Foam Mattress

Foam mattresses are loved many mattress shoppers due to the unique comfort that they provide. These mattresses are made of pure foam layers with no springs or coils involved. Foam mattresses are made of polyurethane foam or polyfoam.

• Polyfoam Mattress

Many cheap mattress varieties are made of polyfoam (PU) material. This material is also usually found in innerspring and hybrid comfort layers, but can also be found in the form of pure polyfoam mattresses.

Polyfoam mattresses come in different grades:

• Regular Grade Foam

• High-Density Foam

• High-Resiliency Foam

A regular polyfoam mattress is the most affordable but least supportive of the three. High-density foam provides more support but is mostly used for constructing mattress layers and other cushioned furniture pieces. High resiliency poly foam is a good grade for pressure relieving. This foam grade comes with outstanding support that many sleepers can enjoy. However, it is not as available as other foam varieties.

• Memory Foam Mattress

Although a highly popular material for many furniture pieces and sleep products, memory foam was initially used for another purpose. In the 1970s, NASA developed memory foam to help astronauts counteract pressure when entering the earth's atmosphere. Aside from its optimum resiliency, other uses for memory foam were later discovered. Thus, the material is now used in manufacturing memory foam mattresses, bedding accessories, seats, and other products.

Memory foam is also made from polyurethane but with additional chemicals that increase its density and viscoelasticity. This is why memory foam is also called a viscoelastic polyfoam mattress.

Due to this, memory foam is able to provide both conforming comfort and spinal support during sleep. Memory foam uses body heat to adapt to the shape of your curves when you lie down, providing more pressure relief. Once you wake up and the weight is lifted, the mattress will bounce back to its original shape, thus the name memory foam.

If you regularly experience joint pain and want a cradling feeling, memory foam mattress is a good choice.

B. Gel Memory Foam

A gel-infused foam is made of visco-elastic foam materials and gel beads. The presence of the gel beads helps in preventing heat retention while maintaining the contouring comfort and pressure relief of memory foam.

Compared to memory foam, a gel foam mattress bounces back quickly to its original shape during sleep. This makes it easier for combination sleepers to shift positions without the stuck feeling.

C. Latex Mattress

A latex mattress is also popular due to the support it offers. But aside from the high-quality support a latex mattress gives, it is also chosen by many shoppers because of its natural composition and optimum durability. Compared to a conforming memory foam mattress, a latex mattress provides a bouncy feel with less body contour.

Natural latex mattresses are made from natural latex derived from rubber trees. This material was discovered by Dunlop in the 1900s and is now used for manufacturing mattresses, pillows, and other items. It is more expensive than memory foam but is more durable and resilient.

Latex mattresses come in many varieties:

• Dunlop Latex

Dunlop is the process of pouring latex into a mould to produce a firm and bouncy mattress. This combination of firmness and bounce provides a breathable support for many sleeping positions.

• Talalay

Compared to the direct pouring of latex that the Dunlop process involves, the Talalay process comes with a few more mattress manufacturing procedures. This mattress type is softer than Dunlop latex and provides a different level of comfort. Because of its softer feel, Talalay latex has become very responsive for side sleepers.

• Blended Latex

Blended latex is a mixture of natural latex and other natural fillers or chemical additives. This natural-synthetic blend makes the latex less expensive. However, synthetic latex is different from organic latex in terms of quality and durability.

• Synthetic Latex

Synthetic latex is manufactured from petroleum compounds that mimic the feel of organic latex. This comes in a lower price range than organic latex, but is lower in quality compared to the former.

D. Innerspring Mattress

Innerspring mattresses are traditional coil-based mattresses with foam comfort layers because they offer a firmer, more breathable surface that many stomach sleepers love. Innerspring mattresses have knitted covers, providing them with a smoother surface.

Although spring mattresses are highly supportive, because of the firmer coil structure and thinner cushioning, they are not as efficient as foam mattresses in terms of pressure relief. On a positive note, innerspring mattresses are affordable and durable.

• Bonnell Spring Mattress

Bonnell coil beds feature helical-shaped springs that are thick on both edges and thin at the centre. This is to balance the support on both edges while providing a responsive middle structure.

• Offset Spring Mattress

Offset coil mattresses are durable and supportive. The offset springs are wired together and can conform to the curves of the body. This structure makes this mattress good for side sleepers.

• Continuous Spring Mattress

A continuous coil mattress is composed of a single long wire that is designed to create multiple coils. These coils are interlaced to help handle additional weight.

• Pocketed Spring Mattress

Unlike a continuous spring mattress, pocketed coils are groups of individual springs encased in fabric pockets. This mattress type provides optimum motion isolation due to specialised individual encasement of the pocketed coils. This mattress feels extremely comfortable compared to the traditional Bonnell spring.

E. Hybrid Mattress

Can't decide between a foam and an innerspring mattress? Hybrid beds combine the advantages of spring and foam layers. It is constructed with various layers to provide sleepers a more versatile comfort system, blending bounce, conformity, and optimum support.

A hybrid mattress usually consists of the following layers:

• Fabric cover

• Pillowtop

• Comfort layer

• Support core

• Base layer

2. Firmness Level

Do you prefer to shrink into your mattress or lie on top of it? Mattress firmness refers to the feel of the bed , the push back or contour. Ultimately, if your bed is labelled as a "soft mattress," it will allow your body to sink. On the other hand, a firmer mattress will give you more bounce.

Why is Mattress Firmness Important?

If your mattress is too hard for your needs, it can cause pressure on your muscles, especially the heaviest parts of your body when you lie down. A mattress that is too soft will mar your body and may not give you the proper body support, causing back pain and stiffness in the muscles.

Mattress firmness is presented on a 10-point firmness scale, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest mattress.

• Very Soft Mattress (1-2)

This mattress scale is rarely seen and offered on the market since it provides very little body support.

• Soft Mattress (3-4)

Soft mattresses provide absolute body conformity that light sleepers who love the cradle feeling can enjoy. Its cloud-like comfort is suitable for side sleepers who need a "give" to keep their shoulders and hips aligned during rest.

• Medium Firm Mattress (5-6)

Medium firm mattresses offer the perfect balance of plush comfort and firm support. Back sleepers who deal with back pain will benefit from the support and more pressure relief a medium mattress can offer.

• Firm Mattress (7-8 Scale)

A firm mattress is especially preferred by those who suffer from back pain as well as heavy sleepers. Instead of providing contour, a firm bed gives more pushback that helps in aligning the spine during snooze. It is also excellent at proper weight distribution.

• Very Firm Mattress (9-10 Scale)

Very firm mattresses, like very soft mattresses, are less common on the market. These units offer very little body contouring, which can be uncomfortable for some sleepers.

3. Mattress Size

Mattress sizes vary in many places. Singapore mattress sizes differ from those in America or Europe, although most mattresses have the same label as Queen or King beds. The general length here is 190 cm, while mattresses vary in width to cater to different shared mattress needs. In Singapore, standard mattress sizes are single, super single, queen, and king.

• Single Mattress

A single bed in Singapore measures 90 cm wide and 190 cm long. This dimension is enough to cater to a child or a single adult. This mattress is preferred for children's rooms, some guest rooms, small flats, or home offices.

• Super Single Mattress

A super single mattress has a dimension of 107 cm x 190 cm, which is slightly wider than a single bed. This size is suitable for single adult use. If you live in a compact space but want more area to sprawl on, a super single mattress is a great option.

• Queen Size Mattress

A queen size mattress, measuring 152cm x 190cm, is the most popular mattress size in Singapore for a great reason. This mattress is good for sharing but does not take up as much space as a king size mattress. As for a single sleeper, it's good to consider your room's space and budget before opting for a sizable queen mattress. But if you toss and turn often, a queen bed is a good choice.

• King Size Mattress

The biggest standard mattress size is a king mattress, with 183cm x 190cm dimensions. It provides enough sleeping space for mattress sharing. It is also ideal for family use.

In terms of design, a king mattress can balance the look of a large room but makes a small space feel cramped, especially when surrounded by many other bedroom furniture pieces. It also has a higher price range than other mattress sizes. This is also true for king bedding accessories. If opting for a king size bed, assess your room space first and decide whether your bedroom will be focused as a sleeping area or if you want to add other functions as well.

4. Construction Features

• Motion Isolation

If you share your mattress or if you toss and turn often, it's crucial to choose a mattress type that will help you isolate individual movements to prevent disturbance. Memory foam mattresses, because of their contouring ability, offer efficient motion isolation and spinal support. A pocketed spring mattress is also a champion in this category.

• Edge Support

Although you mainly use the middle of the mattress for sleeping, mattress edge support is also important to maintaining the overall comfort of the bed, especially for mattress sharers who have the tendency to sleep farther into the bed. A hybrid mattress is designed to provide optimum edge support. Budget mattresses, on the other hand, offer less edge support.

• Modular Firmness

Are you sharing a mattress with someone with a different comfort preference? Many mattress companies offer split mattresses with different firmness rates. This means that if you require a firmer mattress, you can select one while your partner remains on a softer mattress.

• Loftiness

Do you want a tall mattress or a slim one? Aside from firmness, mattresses can also have different levels of loft. Hybrid mattresses are often lofty because of the presence of various layers. Mattresses with more than 16 inches are considered the tallest varieties. Some mattresses can be as thin as 2 to 5 inches. Shorter mattresses that stand at less than 10 inches are lighter and easier to move.

As a general rule, a mattress should be at least 8 inches tall to be supportive enough.

5. Sleeping Position

In what position do you sleep? How about when you wake up?

Sleep posture is an integral part of a healthy good night's sleep. Some instances of back pain can be caused or worsened by your chosen sleeping position. It can also have an impact on our breathing, especially when dealing with health conditions like sinusitis or sleep apnea.

While we shift between various sleeping positions, there will be one or two positions that we sleep in and wake up in. Knowing your dominant sleep position is vital to choosing the best mattress.

• Back Sleepers

According to medical professionals, sleeping on your back is the most effective way to maintain proper spine health as it gives your spine a neutral alignment during snooze.

Back sleepers exert the most pressure on their backs, shoulders, and hips when sleeping. Because of this, back sleepers need a combination of support and a cradle. In terms of firmness, back sleepers do not require a too soft or too hard mattress. A mattress that is too soft will shrink the heaviest part of the body during sleep, namely the hips, and will shift the weight to the back, which can cause lumbar pain. A mattress that is too firm will not only not support the natural shape of the mattress.

A good firmness rate for back sleepers is a medium firm mattress range.

Although many sleep professionals state the benefits of back sleeping, people who have snoring problems, are pregnant, or have acid reflux or GERD are not advised to sleep in this position.

• Side Sleepers

The most popular sleeping position is side sleeping, at nearly 75%. This is also the safest sleeping position during pregnancy as it supports healthy blood circulation for both the parent and the child.

The pressure points for side sleepers lie on the widest parts of the body, including the hips and shoulders. Sleeping on a too firm bed might cause misalignments and may worsen shoulder pain or injuries. The fetal position is also notorious for straining the spine, especially if you're suffering from back pain. With this, a softer mattress can give side sleepers the right contour to let their hips and shoulders shrink, helping them maintain the right body posture.

An additional pillow between the legs or a body pillow can also help side sleepers snooze better in this position.

• Stomach Sleepers

Sleep experts do not promote sleeping on the stomach as it doesn't support the proper alignment of the spine compared to back sleeping. Stomach sleepers are prone to experiencing back and neck pain since it's hard to maintain a neutral spinal alignment in this position.

If you're comfortable sleeping on your stomach, there are some things you can do to create a safer sleep surface for your spine. First, choose a firmer mattress that will give your stomach a little pushback to prevent your hips from sinking or your spine from being strained. Second, you may position a pillow under your stomach to neutralise your spine alignment. It's also good to keep both of your legs at an even height when sleeping.

• Combination Sleepers

Combination sleepers are those who switch into multiple sleeping positions at night. While it can be challenging to look for a mattress that can cater to both your side and stomach sleeping needs, a medium firm mattress can be a good middle ground. Of course, this depends on other factors like your body weight or if your mattress is shared or not.

• Multiple Sleepers

When sharing a mattress, taking into account both of your sleeping needs is important. This is to make sure that no one ends up compromising their comfort to cater to the other.

If you sleep with your partner, look for a mattress with great motion isolation to prevent disturbance when one of you tosses and turns. When shopping for a mattress, we highly recommend testing out different types together to gauge what's comfortable for both of your needs. You should also look out for the size. A good mattress size should give you enough space to move without overcrowding your bedroom.

6. Body Type and Weight

Aside from your sleeping position, your body type and weight also play a significant role in deciding whether a mattress type is comfortable or not.

• Heavy Sleeper

Higher body weight means that more pressure will be exerted on the mattress. To make sure you get the right support, you will need a mattress that is firm enough for pressure relieving. With this, you are also ensuring better mattress longevity.

• Lightweight Sleeper

In contrast, sleepers with lighter body types do not exert much effort on the mattress and thus may find a firmer bed uncomfortable. If you're a light sleeper, a firm mattress might not give you proper contour and pressure relief.

Note: Edge support is important, especially for shared mattresses. For beds shared by people of varying weights, make sure you choose a mattress that works with your size and sleep positions. A hybrid mattress provides great contour comfort and edge support that can cater to both light and heavy sleepers.

7. Sleeping Situation

Besides the major mattress materials, firmness, and sizes, your sleeping situation must also be taken into account when shopping for a bed. Do you sleep alone? Are you a hot sleeper? Do you toss and turn often? These factors must be considered before making your mattress purchase.

• Mattress Sharing

Sleeping with a partner can make mattress shopping more complex. The goal is to find the best mattress with efficient motion isolation, an ideal size, and a middle ground for your sleeping needs, especially when one has a higher body weight.

Many mattress specialty stores offer split type mattresses that can provide mattress sharers with individual comfort. If you're in need of more space or a snooze, a split queen or split king mattress is ideal.

• Hot Sleeping

Do you sleep hot? If so, a mattress with cooling properties is at your advantage. Aside from a cooling mattress, a bed with a breathable fabric cover and low heat retention can also help. Memory foam is known for trapping heat to contour the body, so make sure you avoid this mattress if you're a hot sleeper. If you love the conforming feel of a memory foam bed, look for a unit that comes with a cool gel layer to still provide you with the optimum breathability.

Although other factors can cause you to sweat when sleeping, the right mattress can certainly help in ensuring your comfort.

• Pregnancy

As mentioned earlier, stomach sleeping is recommended for pregnant women to preserve spine health and make sure that blood circulates in a healthy way. A soft mattress can conform to the curves and growing weight of a pregnant woman. A contouring memory foam bed can also provide more support for pregnancy side sleeping as it targets pressure points while still evening out the weight distribution.

• Back Pain

Finding the right sleeping surface can be especially challenging for those who suffer from back pain. The best mattress to promote pressure relief in this situation is a foam mattress with a medium firmness level. This supports the right spine alignment while targeting the pressure on the back. If you are suffering from back pain, we suggest you consult a specialist to find out if there are any underlying conditions that cause the back pain. The right mattress can help alleviate the discomfort.

8. Room Size

Not only are your sleeping position and shared needs important when choosing a mattress size. It's also crucial to know your exact room size to gauge what type of mattress will fit in it.

Suppose you are sharing a mattress with your partner. Can a king size mattress fit in your available room area? Will there be ample walking space once the mattress is there? How about your bed frame? These questions can help you assess if you can get the maximum bed size for your room.

9. Budget

Once you settle on the right mattress size, material, and firmness, it's time to look into your budget.

How much are you willing to spend on a quality mattress? Mattresses may look the same at a glance, but they vary in many categories and quality. Generally, latex mattresses cost more than many other mattress types. They are also the most durable, having an average lifespan of 15 years. Polyfoam and some innerspring mattresses are in the more affordable price range. However, if you look into their quality, it's fair to check if what you initially save is worth it in the long run. Many high quality mattresses are hybrid mattresses that can give you a more versatile level of comfort.

Many mattresses cost more as their quality, size, and construction quality increase. Additional features may also increase the mattress price range.

Tip: Whether shopping online or in store, always check if there is a long and clear return policy. Also, look for a shop that provides a long mattress trial period to get a first hand experience of your new mattress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Cheap Mattress Worth its Price?

Many mattress companies will advocate for their more expensive mattresses, while others may say it's worth it to settle on a more affordable mattress because it is what they offer. The truth is that buying a budget mattress can come with many pros and cons.

Many budget mattresses can be worth it when chosen properly. Factor in these things when assessing your mattress price:

• Can the mattress's quality ensure longevity?

• Will it provide enough pressure relief?

• How about motion isolation?

• How often will you use the mattress?

• How much wear and tear will the mattress go through?

There is a reason budget mattresses are cheaper. Many use synthetic or less durable materials. For others, what is most affected is the mattress construction. Budget mattresses are noticeably lighter than those with higher quality materials. This is because they lack density, which indicates how supportive a mattress can be. Mattress prices can also indicate the safety of materials used. Many high-end mattresses go through certifications to ensure that the materials and construction are safe.

What is the Most Durable Type of Mattress?

Latex foam has an average lifespan of 15 years, which can be twice as long as an innerspring mattress. When shopping for a durable latex foam, look for a natural variety. Synthetic latex may be less expensive, but it provides less quality and durability than organic latex.

What is the Most Popular Mattress Size?

The queen mattress is the most popular size in Singapore. It is ideal for mattress sharing in compact flats.

Hard or Soft Mattress: Which is Better?

It depends on your sleeping position, body type, and sleeping situation. Many sleepers will benefit from a softer mattress, while others will feel more comfortable with a firmer bed.

What are the Best Mattresses for Pregnant Women?

Generally, the best mattresses for pregnant women are soft mattresses. However, to make sure that the new bed still provides the right support for the pregnant person's growing weight, they can opt for a mattress with a zoning feature where some parts are soft enough for side sleeping while still providing the right firmness to relieve pressure. Many pregnant women prefer the conformity of a memory foam bed to the versatility of a hybrid mattress to maintain their proper spinal alignment.

What Are the Best Mattresses for Back Pain?

There is no one-size-fits-all in terms of finding a mattress to alleviate back pain. Identifying the best mattress depends on your own comfort preference, the mattress construction that works well for your body type and sleeping position.

When shopping for a mattress, keep an open mind when looking at various mattress choices. When shopping in store, you can try out different mattress types. When buying a mattress online, make sure you have a sufficient trial period to test the quality and comfort of the mattress. Ultimately, the right mattress should support the proper alignment of your spine.

What are the Best Mattresses for Sharing?

Motion isolation is an important factor to consider when sleeping with a partner. Memory foam provides reliable motion isolation, which mattress sharers can take advantage of. If you're looking for a mattress with less heat retention, opt for a new bed with a gel layer or pocketed coil system.

What are the Best Mattresses for Children?

One of the main factors to consider when shopping for a kid's mattress is firmness. Although a soft, cuddly mattress looks cosy for your little ones, it's crucial to understand how much support they will need when lying down or resting on the mattress. For a growing child, the right spine support is important to make sure it is completely aligned to support their growth. Let's add the fact that kids tend to jump and play in their rooms. We recommend going from a medium firm mattress to firmer mattresses to ensure that your kids' posture is supported. Firmer mattresses can also help you ensure that your little ones won't bump directly into the bed frame while playing on the bed. Of course, it's good to make some rules and practice safety precautions when playing with your young ones.

How Do I Know If the Bed That I Chose is the Best Mattress?

This can be a bit challenging but one good indication that your mattress is giving you the right comfort is that it will help you fall asleep into a comfortable sleeping position for longer. If you often toss and turn when using a mattress, or if you experience joint pain when sleeping on the bed, it means you’re having a hard time getting into the deeper stage of sleep yet. This can make you restless and often sleep deprived.

Should I Buy a Mattress in Store or Online?

On a regular in-store mattress shopping trip, you get a first-hand feel of your new mattress, lie down and test the softness with your own hands. These are the primary benefits of shopping in store. In terms of budget and variety, brick and mortar stores do not have the same diversity as buying online. You may find a variety of options ranging from low-cost to hybrid beds, but your options may be limited to what the physical store can handle.

For online mattress shopping, the primary advantages include getting the mattress at a lower price and the convenience of choosing from a wide variety of mattresses without hopping from one store to another or dealing with a pushy sales talk.

On the other hand, since you don't get a first-hand feel of the new mattress, you don't have a gauge of how soft a bed is when you buy online. This makes it harder to confirm whether the lower price you paid for a mattress is worth it or not. The good news is that online mattress retailers provide lengthy trial periods to allow you to evaluate the quality of the mattress you purchased. Vesper offers a generous 100-day mattress trial period to provide you with ample time to test the quality of your mattress first hand.

Tip: A good rule of thumb to make your first online mattress shopping a success is to consider the density of the mattress. The higher the density, the better. Don't hesitate to ask about the materials, construction, warranty, and return policies.

All in all, if you like the convenience of searching for all possible mattress choices without leaving your home, online mattress shopping is for you. If you prefer getting a feel of the mattress before making a decision, shopping in store will give you that ease.

Summary

To find the perfect mattress, it's vital to determine your sleeping position, sleeping situation, body type, room size, price range, and material preferences. While many mattresses are advertised to be the best, what's best really depends on your own needs.

After knowing your needs, you can shortlist your choices based on your criteria.

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