How do you choose a mattress? How do you make difficult decisions?
April 4, 2023 1:15 PM Subscribe
How should I go about choosing a new mattress? I'm overwhelmed and intimidated by all the choices, and just overall struggling to make headway with this decision. Please share your strategies for how do you make decisions that seem important and are expensive. Is depression making this harder?
I want a new mattress. I willing to spend some money for something nice, but there's so many options and I don't know where to start. Every time I look at online reviews I'm overwhelmed by the huge amount of information. Going into a store to try one seems smart, but I'm a little intimidated. Any experience you can share would be helpful.
My sister has an Avocado mattress she really likes. I slept on it for a couple nights while dog sitting. It was fine. Maybe not worth the premium price? I guess I'm worried I'll be disappointed with whatever I choose. Please share recommendations on specific brands or features I should be considering.
Extra: I've been struggling with some mild depression lately, and I really feel it with my decision making. Easy choices seem more difficult. Hard choices feel impossible. Sometimes this puts me into an unproductive frustration spiral. Please share your strategies for productive decision making.
I want a new mattress. I willing to spend some money for something nice, but there's so many options and I don't know where to start. Every time I look at online reviews I'm overwhelmed by the huge amount of information. Going into a store to try one seems smart, but I'm a little intimidated. Any experience you can share would be helpful.
My sister has an Avocado mattress she really likes. I slept on it for a couple nights while dog sitting. It was fine. Maybe not worth the premium price? I guess I'm worried I'll be disappointed with whatever I choose. Please share recommendations on specific brands or features I should be considering.
Extra: I've been struggling with some mild depression lately, and I really feel it with my decision making. Easy choices seem more difficult. Hard choices feel impossible. Sometimes this puts me into an unproductive frustration spiral. Please share your strategies for productive decision making.
Another limitation you can add:
- Calculate how much time you're willing to spend on making this decision.
posted by aniola at 1:21 PM on April 4, 2023 [7 favorites]
- Calculate how much time you're willing to spend on making this decision.
posted by aniola at 1:21 PM on April 4, 2023 [7 favorites]
If you're struggling I would stop trying to make the best decision and satisfice. The way I would do this is that I would look at all the mattresses acceptable to me (right size, acceptable material, reasonable delivery time and warranty, feels comfortable when I try it out, likely to be durable) and then I would pick from among those by buying the cheapest.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:24 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 1:24 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I read an article a few years back, by a guy who sold mattresses. He said, get the cheapest decent one. Don't get corner protectors or fancy material, because they can make a $500 onto a $2500 one and it's the same mattress. There are a lot of options and they're entirely there to take your money. I can't imagine paying extra for a special fabric, because it's going to have sheets on it.
I'm probably out of date on prices.
Last time I bought a mattress, from a local place that actually makes them, I asked about memory foam. The owner said, "We have a loaner mattress with a memory foam top. We'll rent it to you for a week - it was a nominal sum - and we'll take that off the one you buy."
"Do people like it?"
"Nobody has ever tried it and bought one."
So I didn't get memory foam.
My current bed is a mattress on a frame I built. There's no box spring. They make a bed nice for children to bounce on, but I'm not sure what else they're good for.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 1:27 PM on April 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm probably out of date on prices.
Last time I bought a mattress, from a local place that actually makes them, I asked about memory foam. The owner said, "We have a loaner mattress with a memory foam top. We'll rent it to you for a week - it was a nominal sum - and we'll take that off the one you buy."
"Do people like it?"
"Nobody has ever tried it and bought one."
So I didn't get memory foam.
My current bed is a mattress on a frame I built. There's no box spring. They make a bed nice for children to bounce on, but I'm not sure what else they're good for.
posted by AugustusCrunch at 1:27 PM on April 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Get a friend, partner, anyone really, along to a shop with you to try them in person. I've never understood people buying mattresses online because you just have to feel them beneath you to know if they're to your taste.
Having a buddy there cuts down on the intimidation factor of trying them out. You can laugh together at how preposterous it feels to be lying on a random bed in your socks in the middle of a shop, in the middle of the day. Also may help keeps the saleperson at bay for a bit to give you long enough to actually pay attention to the mattress.
I honestly think that when you just lie on a few really different mattresses, you'll know what you want. Or at least what's OK for you.
posted by penguin pie at 1:34 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Having a buddy there cuts down on the intimidation factor of trying them out. You can laugh together at how preposterous it feels to be lying on a random bed in your socks in the middle of a shop, in the middle of the day. Also may help keeps the saleperson at bay for a bit to give you long enough to actually pay attention to the mattress.
I honestly think that when you just lie on a few really different mattresses, you'll know what you want. Or at least what's OK for you.
posted by penguin pie at 1:34 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I bought my mattress from Costco.
This worked for me for several reasons:
1) Costco's mattress options are extremely limited. They eliminate a major part of choice paralysis already.
2) Costco's mattress options are good quality and reasonably priced. Since they only have a few to select from they make sure they're all decent, and they don't do any crazy markup games for marketing buzzwords.
3) Costco will deliver the mattress for free right into your bedroom if you want them to and ask nicely.
4) Costco's return policy is superb. I bought my mattress 10 years ago and I'm pretty sure I could return it today for a full refund. Eliminates the concern of making the wrong choice.
I'm due to buy a new mattress soon, and you know where I'm going to go to get it without any concern or hesitation? Costco.
posted by phunniemee at 1:38 PM on April 4, 2023 [21 favorites]
This worked for me for several reasons:
1) Costco's mattress options are extremely limited. They eliminate a major part of choice paralysis already.
2) Costco's mattress options are good quality and reasonably priced. Since they only have a few to select from they make sure they're all decent, and they don't do any crazy markup games for marketing buzzwords.
3) Costco will deliver the mattress for free right into your bedroom if you want them to and ask nicely.
4) Costco's return policy is superb. I bought my mattress 10 years ago and I'm pretty sure I could return it today for a full refund. Eliminates the concern of making the wrong choice.
I'm due to buy a new mattress soon, and you know where I'm going to go to get it without any concern or hesitation? Costco.
posted by phunniemee at 1:38 PM on April 4, 2023 [21 favorites]
I think it's important to let go of the idea that you need to buy the perfect mattress. In my experience, it's pretty rare to go to a hotel or another person's house and end up feeling like the mattress you're using is terrible. Most mattresses are going to be fine. After you've had the mattress for a week, it will just feel like your mattress.
(The one time I slept at someone else's house and really hated the mattress, it was memory foam. So I wouldn't get memory foam unless you know you like it.)
posted by FencingGal at 1:41 PM on April 4, 2023
(The one time I slept at someone else's house and really hated the mattress, it was memory foam. So I wouldn't get memory foam unless you know you like it.)
posted by FencingGal at 1:41 PM on April 4, 2023
Get a mattress with a good return policy - and one that is not just one return and then you're stuck with the new mattress. We went through a horrible year of buying mattresses and hating and returning them. Remember that if you go to a store to try them, they will be *much softer* than the brand new one you will receive because they've been broken in.
In the end, we ended up going with Ikea mattresses because they had a great return policy and were more comfortable than any of the fancier mattress we tried and hated. Costco has a similar return policy.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:47 PM on April 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
In the end, we ended up going with Ikea mattresses because they had a great return policy and were more comfortable than any of the fancier mattress we tried and hated. Costco has a similar return policy.
posted by urbanlenny at 1:47 PM on April 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
I just agree with try a bunch of them out. Lots of people like different things in mattresses. It used to be the case that mattress sales were essentially a racket, with extremely minor differences sold between the major stores. With the advent of the memory foam rollup and other types of mattresses meant for online packaging and sale, that is no longer true.
Unfortunately you will have to try quite a few different ones. Or if you like the one you have, try to replicate as best as you can.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:02 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately you will have to try quite a few different ones. Or if you like the one you have, try to replicate as best as you can.
posted by The_Vegetables at 2:02 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Even if it is just you, you can invent a partner that you have to check with to get out of pushy sales tactics, if that is what you find intimidating. IKEA will let you lay on mattresses all day without putting a big sale on you and I agree having someone come with you makes escapes easier. Return policies are your friend.
posted by soelo at 2:11 PM on April 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by soelo at 2:11 PM on April 4, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Yes, depression is making this harder and if you're not sleeping well because of your mattress, that's making it harder, too (life got so much easier when I got a better mattress - not even a great one, just one that wasn't old). Give yourself permission not to have to make a perfect choice - very likely just about any mattress will be an improvement.
That said, my old one was an IKEA mattress that did just fine for around 10 years and I agree with soelo that it was a very easy purchasing experience. I would've been happy to go back to IKEA but they weren't selling super low-profile mattresses at the time.
posted by EvaDestruction at 2:28 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
That said, my old one was an IKEA mattress that did just fine for around 10 years and I agree with soelo that it was a very easy purchasing experience. I would've been happy to go back to IKEA but they weren't selling super low-profile mattresses at the time.
posted by EvaDestruction at 2:28 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
If depression is making this harder and your main concern is regret, I don't think adding more categories is going to help--any mattress is going to end up failing at least one category and then you're even further from a decision than you were when you started.
If it were me (it was, a few years ago!) I would decide on a single source for your recommendations instead of one billion probably faked product reviews on individual websites. For years mine has been Wirecutter (formerly the Sweethome). Their reviews are systematic and comprehensive and they have yet to steer me wrong.
Then, I would pick the one that has the best and most seamless return policy. Will you return it? Almost certainly not, but having the option may lift your paralysis.
(For what it's worth I bought the Leesa Legend off a Wirecutter rec three years ago and every single day I am delighted that I did so. When I have to sleep in beds that aren't mine I am so sad.)
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:44 PM on April 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
If it were me (it was, a few years ago!) I would decide on a single source for your recommendations instead of one billion probably faked product reviews on individual websites. For years mine has been Wirecutter (formerly the Sweethome). Their reviews are systematic and comprehensive and they have yet to steer me wrong.
Then, I would pick the one that has the best and most seamless return policy. Will you return it? Almost certainly not, but having the option may lift your paralysis.
(For what it's worth I bought the Leesa Legend off a Wirecutter rec three years ago and every single day I am delighted that I did so. When I have to sleep in beds that aren't mine I am so sad.)
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:44 PM on April 4, 2023 [3 favorites]
I can't help with decision-making skills, but I highly recommend Tuft and Needle original mattresses. I've purchased 4 over the past several years—for myself and my children. We are all very happy with them.
posted by Scout405 at 2:53 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Scout405 at 2:53 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I can add my $.02
1) Memory foam is too hot!
2) Look specifically for reviews where people have had the mattress for a year or two. Ignore everything else.
3) Choose a firmness based on how much you weigh, and also how firm your current mattress is.
4) For what it's worth, I think that if you can get a latex foam mattress that lasts a long time and has the right firmness, that is economical and likely to be fine. A lot of the complicated add ons are just completely unnecessary in my opinion.
posted by melamakarona at 3:00 PM on April 4, 2023
1) Memory foam is too hot!
2) Look specifically for reviews where people have had the mattress for a year or two. Ignore everything else.
3) Choose a firmness based on how much you weigh, and also how firm your current mattress is.
4) For what it's worth, I think that if you can get a latex foam mattress that lasts a long time and has the right firmness, that is economical and likely to be fine. A lot of the complicated add ons are just completely unnecessary in my opinion.
posted by melamakarona at 3:00 PM on April 4, 2023
So my husband and I need a new mattress too and we're both struggling like you with how to go about doing this. We both hate pushy sales tactics and how scammy the mattress industry feels, and we don't want to get something that ends up hurting our backs or whatever. Also, we seem to not be sure how to know how soft or firm the mattress should be or how to really know if it's right until we've slept on it for at least a few nights. And before you're all like "Well that's what the return policy is for," well to me returning a mattress is a giant pain in the ass.
All I know is I'm tired of our current mattress. It's an internet foam mattress, and I think I want something made with at least some amount of coils.
While we aren't the most jolly and carefree people in the world, we aren't what I would describe as depressed. I think mattress shopping just sucks and feels like one of the most difficult things to shop for outside of a new car or house. I've slept on some really uncomfortable mattresses over the years that result in back pain or just general difficulty sleeping, so it feels like a high stakes decision to me.
This probably isn't very helpful for finally knowing exactly how to choose a mattress, but hopefully it makes you feel less like something's wrong with you for finding this particular decision paralyzing.
posted by wondermouse at 3:19 PM on April 4, 2023
All I know is I'm tired of our current mattress. It's an internet foam mattress, and I think I want something made with at least some amount of coils.
While we aren't the most jolly and carefree people in the world, we aren't what I would describe as depressed. I think mattress shopping just sucks and feels like one of the most difficult things to shop for outside of a new car or house. I've slept on some really uncomfortable mattresses over the years that result in back pain or just general difficulty sleeping, so it feels like a high stakes decision to me.
This probably isn't very helpful for finally knowing exactly how to choose a mattress, but hopefully it makes you feel less like something's wrong with you for finding this particular decision paralyzing.
posted by wondermouse at 3:19 PM on April 4, 2023
Best answer: I have depression and when it comes to analysis paralysis about choices in home goods, I circumvent all of it by buying whatever the recommendation is from Wirecutter.
Here is Wirecutter’s page on the best mattresses.
posted by sevensnowflakes at 3:43 PM on April 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
Here is Wirecutter’s page on the best mattresses.
posted by sevensnowflakes at 3:43 PM on April 4, 2023 [4 favorites]
IMO, the solution in most bed-related questions is to see what Zinus has, and then just buy that.
posted by aramaic at 3:47 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by aramaic at 3:47 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
I bought a Costco mattress. Seconding that recommendation. We looked at the four, picked the best one, got it delivered, never thought about it again other than I like my bed.
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:58 PM on April 4, 2023
posted by AlexiaSky at 3:58 PM on April 4, 2023
Best answer: Something I've repeatedly wished I'd remembered far sooner than after I'd found myself down the depression rabbit hole: Depression is a fucking liar. Depression thinks it has a magic crystal ball than can tell your future; that it can predict if you make Decision A then things will be really shitty, and if you make Decision B then you'll be stuck feeling meh and disappointed for years, etc. It's hard not to listen to what Depression is saying because it's working REALLY hard to keep you there with it, and the more you buy into the predictions that your future state is going to be worse off than the present, then the more Depression gets to stick around. But the thing is, the predictions it's giving you are just arbitrary constructs that don't represent any current or future reality. They're just shit made up by the fucking asshole known as Depression who's trying to keep you from having a better life, without it. And another thing that's for certain: Depression doesn't know shit about mattress shopping. Trust your breath. Trust your body. Trust the simple things it tells you when you lie down on a mattress. Trust that you might feel different things about mattresses on different days, and that's OK too because you're human, your body feels different things at different times, and you're just in the process of taking in information to inform your decision. Trust that if you make a decision and it's not perfect, it's not the end of the world (shop e.g. the 100-day mattress challenge and return policies etc.) And there's a ton of good guidance above.
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 4:12 PM on April 4, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by jerome powell buys his sweatbands in bulk only at 4:12 PM on April 4, 2023 [7 favorites]
+1 for Costco. We in fact did buy a memory-foam mattress-in-a-box, the name of which I forget; it may well have been the Novaform that the Wirecutter link above recommends? In any case, it's been great; way better than the more traditionally-constructed mattress from Macy's that it replaced.
The huge plusses here were (a) a small selection and can assume they're all at least decent, so much less agony of choice; and (b) no dealing with pushy salespeople.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:24 PM on April 4, 2023
The huge plusses here were (a) a small selection and can assume they're all at least decent, so much less agony of choice; and (b) no dealing with pushy salespeople.
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:24 PM on April 4, 2023
I can relate to this (and also want a new mattress!). I've been housesitting a lot and have noticed that while most mattresses are fine, there are a few that I found super uncomfortable. One was memory foam. Honestly, if you've already tried the Avocado and had no problems with it, maybe just get that rather than spending more time agonizing.
If you have a ton of money to spend, though, get a Tempur-Pedic.
posted by pinochiette at 4:28 PM on April 4, 2023
If you have a ton of money to spend, though, get a Tempur-Pedic.
posted by pinochiette at 4:28 PM on April 4, 2023
Are you sure what level of firmness/softness you want? When I was mattress shopping a few years ago, I went to the Sleep Number store and was surprised to find that my sleep number is 35 -- quite soft. When I left the store I knew, at least, that I wanted a softer, or "plush" mattress. I bought a hybrid, a plush Serta iComfort, and have been very pleased with it.
posted by Dolley at 4:45 PM on April 4, 2023
posted by Dolley at 4:45 PM on April 4, 2023
You can break this down to a few individual decisions:
1) What size of bed frame do you need, I know you are asking about mattresses but make sure you are happy with the size before going any further.
2) Do you like Memory foam? it conforms to the body which makes it hotter which you will either love or hate. Testing one is really the only way to find this out.
3) Do you want natural fibres? avoiding petrochemical products is better for the environment in both a general sense and also for the air quality in your home, but typically this costs $$$ and is no guarantee of a better nights sleep. I would never go back to a mattress filled with plastic, but that's me.
4) How much do you want to pay? This is a hard one to judge, but think about the cheapest you would ever consider and then the most expensive you might contemplate. Split the difference of those 2 numbers and aim for that price.
5) Think about your body shape, if you/your partner are short and heavy, you will need a stiff mattress. If you are tall and lightweight then that weight will be spread over a large area and you may need a soft mattress. The majority of people (80%) are fine with a medium stiffness, so if in doubt just get one of those. [Do not try to judge this by lying on them for 10 minutes in a shop] A mattress which is too soft can start to sag after a few weeks of use and become increasingly uncomfortable.
If you need a hard mattress then do consider a Japanese tatami /futon style they can be very good value but they are not soft.
When you have answers to those questions you can start to make a shortlist, ask about what is inside the mattress, how many springs/what materials/what layers.
Pick the one with the best combination of price and build /materials. If you buy in a store expect to pay around 20% more than online.
Lastly, try to find a mattress brand which is actually made near to you (at least in the same state) if you buy something that's been shipped half way around the planet a lot of that cost is just the delivery.
posted by Lanark at 5:15 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
1) What size of bed frame do you need, I know you are asking about mattresses but make sure you are happy with the size before going any further.
2) Do you like Memory foam? it conforms to the body which makes it hotter which you will either love or hate. Testing one is really the only way to find this out.
3) Do you want natural fibres? avoiding petrochemical products is better for the environment in both a general sense and also for the air quality in your home, but typically this costs $$$ and is no guarantee of a better nights sleep. I would never go back to a mattress filled with plastic, but that's me.
4) How much do you want to pay? This is a hard one to judge, but think about the cheapest you would ever consider and then the most expensive you might contemplate. Split the difference of those 2 numbers and aim for that price.
5) Think about your body shape, if you/your partner are short and heavy, you will need a stiff mattress. If you are tall and lightweight then that weight will be spread over a large area and you may need a soft mattress. The majority of people (80%) are fine with a medium stiffness, so if in doubt just get one of those. [Do not try to judge this by lying on them for 10 minutes in a shop] A mattress which is too soft can start to sag after a few weeks of use and become increasingly uncomfortable.
If you need a hard mattress then do consider a Japanese tatami /futon style they can be very good value but they are not soft.
When you have answers to those questions you can start to make a shortlist, ask about what is inside the mattress, how many springs/what materials/what layers.
Pick the one with the best combination of price and build /materials. If you buy in a store expect to pay around 20% more than online.
Lastly, try to find a mattress brand which is actually made near to you (at least in the same state) if you buy something that's been shipped half way around the planet a lot of that cost is just the delivery.
posted by Lanark at 5:15 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Depression sucks. It makes you worry about a lot of things. Here are things to not worry about. How? By not even thinking about them. Set them aside.
1) Don't worry at all about other people's reviews of mattresses. Do this by not looking at any. Everyone has different needs and wants for a mattress. You can't really know if someone else's experience applies to you or not.
2) Don't worry about salespeople. Do this by never going somewhere where they are. There are good options without them: Ikea, Costco, online. Pick one those three based on what is convenient and comfortable for you.
3) Don't worry about finding the best mattress. You can't. You'll go crazy trying to find it, because "best" is not well-defined, and it's literally impossible to determine which is the best for you. Lots of mattresses are absolutely good enough for you, though, and it's not too hard to find one of those. Satisfice!
Now, what should you think about? Take a moment to think about what matters to you. Folks above have listed lots of different criteria and mattress characteristics to consider. If you're not sure something matters to you, just put it in the "nope" column without thinking too much more about it. Then see what's left in the "yup" column. You might find your "yup" column is pretty short!
One important point: do you often have poor experiences with normal (not obviously-horrible) mattresses? Or are most mattresses at least "fine" for you? You haven't mentioned any specific issues, so it seems likely you might not have issues with most normal mattresses. If that's right, then great, most things will work for you! Embrace satisficing, and rejoice in the mental energy it saves you! Or if you do have specific issues, you probably have an idea of what they are and can put them in your "yup, this matters" column.
Finally, with all that settled, here's the decision process:
1) List all of the mattresses at your chosen venue (Ikea, Costco, or your selection of [maybe five?] online mattress companies that appear popular/reputable).
2) Eliminate any from that list that do not have the characteristics you've decided matter to you.
3) Choose the cheapest one that remains. Then, either:
3.5 [physical store]) Go lie on it for a while in the store. If it seems fine, buy it. If not, move to the next cheapest.
3.5 [online]) Just buy it.
4) Sleep on it for a while. To be honest, you will probably find that it's good.
4.5) If it's good, you're good! Congratulations! You did it!
4.5) If it's bad, return it* and move to the next cheapest one on your list. Go to step 3.
* It looks like Ikea accepts mattresses for exchange within 90 days. Costco accepts returns, maybe with a restock fee? And a lot of online mattress companies will accept returns with a full refund within a generous period they advertise loudly. In at least one case I know of, to "return" a shipped mattress, they will actually arrange to have it donated and picked up by a local charity.
posted by whatnotever at 8:32 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
1) Don't worry at all about other people's reviews of mattresses. Do this by not looking at any. Everyone has different needs and wants for a mattress. You can't really know if someone else's experience applies to you or not.
2) Don't worry about salespeople. Do this by never going somewhere where they are. There are good options without them: Ikea, Costco, online. Pick one those three based on what is convenient and comfortable for you.
3) Don't worry about finding the best mattress. You can't. You'll go crazy trying to find it, because "best" is not well-defined, and it's literally impossible to determine which is the best for you. Lots of mattresses are absolutely good enough for you, though, and it's not too hard to find one of those. Satisfice!
Now, what should you think about? Take a moment to think about what matters to you. Folks above have listed lots of different criteria and mattress characteristics to consider. If you're not sure something matters to you, just put it in the "nope" column without thinking too much more about it. Then see what's left in the "yup" column. You might find your "yup" column is pretty short!
One important point: do you often have poor experiences with normal (not obviously-horrible) mattresses? Or are most mattresses at least "fine" for you? You haven't mentioned any specific issues, so it seems likely you might not have issues with most normal mattresses. If that's right, then great, most things will work for you! Embrace satisficing, and rejoice in the mental energy it saves you! Or if you do have specific issues, you probably have an idea of what they are and can put them in your "yup, this matters" column.
Finally, with all that settled, here's the decision process:
1) List all of the mattresses at your chosen venue (Ikea, Costco, or your selection of [maybe five?] online mattress companies that appear popular/reputable).
2) Eliminate any from that list that do not have the characteristics you've decided matter to you.
3) Choose the cheapest one that remains. Then, either:
3.5 [physical store]) Go lie on it for a while in the store. If it seems fine, buy it. If not, move to the next cheapest.
3.5 [online]) Just buy it.
4) Sleep on it for a while. To be honest, you will probably find that it's good.
4.5) If it's good, you're good! Congratulations! You did it!
4.5) If it's bad, return it* and move to the next cheapest one on your list. Go to step 3.
* It looks like Ikea accepts mattresses for exchange within 90 days. Costco accepts returns, maybe with a restock fee? And a lot of online mattress companies will accept returns with a full refund within a generous period they advertise loudly. In at least one case I know of, to "return" a shipped mattress, they will actually arrange to have it donated and picked up by a local charity.
posted by whatnotever at 8:32 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Just wanted to chime in that you're not alone in finding mattress shopping overwhelming. The industry has deliberately made it that way by eg tweaking something small on one model so that a store can say its "exclusive" or "the cheapest" (because it's the only place selling it!)
Re paying premium prices - sometimes it's worth it sometimes it's not. But you will spend up to a third of your life in that bed, and a good mattress should last around 10 years so it's not a place to cheap out.
Re decision making. You want to decide whether you want all foam or springs. Then restrict your search to that type. Then I'd go the cheapest one you're comfortable with which has a good returns policy. Chances are it'll be fine. Good luck!
posted by pianissimo at 10:01 PM on April 4, 2023
Re paying premium prices - sometimes it's worth it sometimes it's not. But you will spend up to a third of your life in that bed, and a good mattress should last around 10 years so it's not a place to cheap out.
Re decision making. You want to decide whether you want all foam or springs. Then restrict your search to that type. Then I'd go the cheapest one you're comfortable with which has a good returns policy. Chances are it'll be fine. Good luck!
posted by pianissimo at 10:01 PM on April 4, 2023
My two cents is, if you can afford it, get one without all the chemicals. The cheapest "natural" mattresses that aren't fake greenwashing as of my shopping a couple years ago are from My Green Mattress. Several "best natural mattress" blogs have affiliate links that'll get you like $100 off. They deliver, they're medium firm, they offer 120 day sleep trial, and they feel like normal mattresses. (A cheaper option is futon mattresses, but I don't think that's what you're looking for.)
posted by slidell at 10:07 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by slidell at 10:07 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]
Previous question about buying beds: https://ask.metafilter.com/345994/New-Mattress-Longevity#4955222 - The ones I recommended are probably not available anymore, but we recently got a similar new set and the concept (buy online bed-in-a-box) is still sound.
posted by meepmeow at 10:18 PM on April 4, 2023
posted by meepmeow at 10:18 PM on April 4, 2023
My husband and I have a Novaform from Costco. It doesn’t sleep too hot, is comfortable, fits the recommendation from the Wirecutter, and has the bonus of being returnable very, very easily if you decide it’s not for you.
posted by Night_owl at 3:22 AM on April 5, 2023
posted by Night_owl at 3:22 AM on April 5, 2023
We will need a new mattress soon. Yes, mattress shopping is completely overwhelming and the more you research, the more confused you get.
My strategy with overwhelming choices like that is to rely on a "good enough" filter to reduce the choices, then pick from that, often defaulting to the middle option (not cheapest, not most expensive). A lot of the time I use Wirecutter for this -- their suggestions are almost always solidly in the "good enough for most people's needs" -- and I also use Costco for the same, because their entire business model is to carry a small selection of items in a given category, all of which are going to be pretty ok. Ikea is somewhat similar though they tend to have a pretty wide quality range for some things, so it can still feel a bit overwhelming even if you are just limiting yourself to that one store.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:48 AM on April 5, 2023
My strategy with overwhelming choices like that is to rely on a "good enough" filter to reduce the choices, then pick from that, often defaulting to the middle option (not cheapest, not most expensive). A lot of the time I use Wirecutter for this -- their suggestions are almost always solidly in the "good enough for most people's needs" -- and I also use Costco for the same, because their entire business model is to carry a small selection of items in a given category, all of which are going to be pretty ok. Ikea is somewhat similar though they tend to have a pretty wide quality range for some things, so it can still feel a bit overwhelming even if you are just limiting yourself to that one store.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:48 AM on April 5, 2023
This thread is closed to new comments.
- is it used?
- is it cheap/ inexpensive /less than $0/ will it last n years/ could I get a cheaper thing and donate the difference in prices to something I care about more?
- is it eco? is it eco enough?
- do I like it?
posted by aniola at 1:20 PM on April 4, 2023 [1 favorite]