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Original poster

Can somebody talk to me about buying a mattress?

33 replies

CommanderWaterford · 21/10/2018 10:50

boring alert

Just posting for traffic as went into Big Mattress Showroom yesterday and was totally bamboozled.

Apparently firm ones are better bc they keep you back aligned- is this bollocks though? The salesman said I'd be better asking a physio.. I much preferred the squishy ones. One of the brands I was looking at was Sealys- The Regency one was really super squishy but it might be too soft?

I'm quite skinny (5'9, 125 lb) so I tend to feel any poky bits.

Also how much should I be looking to spend roughly? Is £700 OTT for a standard double?

(I'm single so it would just be me sleeping on it.)

Just posting for traffic. Thanks!

OP posts:
Jenala · 21/10/2018 10:54

I spent hours thinking about mattresses before I bought mine. I found the "understanding beds" section of the John Ryan by Design website really useful even if you don't end up ultimately buying from them. The FAQ section is useful too. Understanding what everything means really helped.

Flyingarcher · 21/10/2018 10:56

There was a chap on tv on the sleep prog on Channel 5 who said hard mattresses are not good.. i got a harder one and bought a separate memory foam topper.

KeysHairbandNotepad · 21/10/2018 10:58

We just got an Otty mattress. It's was about £450 for a double. It's actually really good as it's a hybrid and has both memory foam and springs. The 'bed in a box' ones are definitely worth a look.

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Home improvement
Original poster
CommanderWaterford · 21/10/2018 10:59

That's the thing Flying, everybody says different things! I might actually think about getting a sepperate topper, people seem divided on them.

OP posts:
flumpybear · 21/10/2018 11:00

We bought s form mattress which is too firm but excellent with a 5 inch memory foam topper -love our bed!

Original poster
CommanderWaterford · 21/10/2018 11:04

flumpy how much did you pay altogether then, roughly?

OP posts:
Haberpop · 21/10/2018 11:11

We have a Hypnos mattress that cost is £900 for a king size. This mattress is much firmer than our previous IKEA firm mattress but for the first time in years neither of us have backache any more so I am not sure we would benefit from a softer one.

tinofbeans · 21/10/2018 11:19

We've bought 2 mattresses recently... first was a cheap sprung one from Johnlewis and is not good. Can feel the springs through it and I wish I had refused delivery.

The second one is an Eve mattress in a box. It's now a month old and still smells of solvent (although getting better) it is weird... hard and comfy at the same time. I think slightly softer would be better. I have woken up with pins and needles in my hands several times. I think if I slept on my back it would be brilliant. 

OrcinusOrca · 21/10/2018 11:26

You can spend lots and lots on a mattress and some will say it's worth it but I've never spent a great deal to be honest.

I've heard firm ones are good and we got a medium - firm from IKEA (it began with an H...) and after a few weeks I was still really uncomfortable, DH loved it though. In the end we got a three inch memory foam topper for it and DH still finds it fine but I now feel like I'm sleeping on a cloud..! Definitely a fan of softer beds/foam based ones. My back isn't great though which may be why. I know lots of people who rate IKEA mattresses though, that's why we ended up with one.

crimsonlake · 21/10/2018 11:39

Orcinus, I think I have the same Ikea mattress as you. Medium firm and I feel it is too hard also, although other people tell me they love it so that is why I went ahead with the purchase. I find mine gets very warm also where I am lying, or it is just me? I have also been thinking about getting a memory foam topper, glad to hear it made a difference to you.

Gnashers · 21/10/2018 11:42

There are a few mattress providers now that let you try the mattress for 100 days at home and return it if you are unhappy.

Original poster
CommanderWaterford · 21/10/2018 11:46

Aye, I've heart good reports about that Ikea one. The man in the bed shop told me they can be a funny fit compared to uk standard bedstead sizes, did anyone find that?

OP posts:
Original poster
CommanderWaterford · 21/10/2018 12:11

heard*

OP posts:
OrcinusOrca · 21/10/2018 12:16

@CommanderWaterford you can get standard UK sizes from Ikea now. Ours is just a UK Kingsize one, no problems. I use Amazon soft non iron bed sheets and that covers the whole mattress and topper perfectly.

@crimsonlake it's completely transformed with the topper, and it was quite reasonably priced on Amazon. Our spare bed has exactly the same mattress with no topper and everyone who stays proclaims what a wonderful nights sleep they have on it..! I don't remember getting especially warm on it but am quite used to memory foam toppers so I'm probably used to overheating 

EnidButton · 21/10/2018 12:27

I was told the firm mattress being good for backs was a myth. So I'd just go with your personal preference.

I wanted a very soft mattress and struggled to find one. Went with the softest in the Hypnos range which felt soft in the shop but the one we now have is still too firm for me. It cost £££ too so can't justify another one. I've put 2 mattress toppers on it but it's not the sinking cloud I'd like.

I wish I'd gone with the Sealys one we tried too. Think it was called an orthopaedic one? It had a built in squishy topper. Could've been latex.

EnidButton · 21/10/2018 12:30

Where are people getting their very thick memory foam toppers from please?

I can only find 2-3 inch ones that flatten to nothing after 5 mind of being laid on. A very thick one could be what I need on my mattress.

Todamhottoday · 21/10/2018 12:49

I have a sealy, posture pedic bought a long time ago now used on a occasional bed, when I looked to get another sprung mattress (for another room) I thought the sealys were not made as well as the one I had, poor construction and the quality did not seem to be as good.

I bought 2 Relyon (king and a super king) sprung beds of different firmness and they are fantastic. One has a very thick topper on which is like lying on a cloud. Paid quite a lot but I think its worth it.

Did buy a Ikea single and after a couple of uses (and complaints), it went the journey.

Have tried the foam makes me hot and uncomfortable and dont like the feel of them

Todamhottoday · 21/10/2018 12:51

Also want to add, those ones you can try at home first and send back if you dont like them, well, its always bothered me to think are you getting a one someone has sent back and then sent back out again, how do you know???

OrcinusOrca · 21/10/2018 12:58

This is my topper, it's only three inches though. We've had it since August 2017 and it's as good as new, we rotate it every couple of months. We have the kingsize one. One of my friends slept in our bed when we were on holiday and said it's the comfiest bed she's ever slept in (and she's in her 50's and done lots of travelling!).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00U02Q4AI/ref=ohauiiishhino00_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Iizzyb · 21/10/2018 13:00

Chiropractor recommended coil sprung with memory foam topper (within the mattress). I also bought a very solid pillow (I think memory foam) it sorted out my bad neck/shoulder in two or three sleeps. Cost me about £700 as I recall 7 years ago my bad neck now is due to my job and carrying a handbag as heavy as 2 bricks

EnidButton · 21/10/2018 17:33

Thank you Orc

KnittingSister · 21/10/2018 17:42

I'll be getting a premier inn mattress next time. About 500 GBP for a king size.

Scienceforthewin · 21/10/2018 18:05

todamhottoday afaik most advertise they give returned mattresses to charities

ruddynorah · 21/10/2018 18:18

Returned mattresses at IKEA that are clean go to charity partners for re selling or for things like refuges/hostels/etc

EnidButton · 21/10/2018 18:32

The mattresses at premier inn are the most uncomfortable I've ever tried to sleep on. Really hard and left red marks on my hips, shoulder and ribs. I gave up in the end and slept on the floor on a pile of cushions. Totally baffled by people who love them but they're a good example of how tricky mattress buying is. They're so personal to each individual.