How Do I Choose The Right Mattress?

Location note: This archived article may reference former Nest Bedding locations. For current showroom availability and addresses, use the showroom directory before planning a visit.

Choosing the right mattress can be one of the most daunting tasks you will face as a consumer. This is true because of several factors. First, you are not a mattress expert. Most people don't buy their very own mattress until they are in their mid-20's, having slept on what they got as a kid until leaving for college, then sleeping on whatever is in the dorm or room they rent. The vast majority of people are completely inexperienced when they go out into the mattress marketplace and wouldn't know the difference between memory foam, high density foam, latex foam, or synthetic foam. 

Another factor is most mattress stores and companies know you are inexperienced, and they craft a marketing scheme to take advantage of your inexperience by creating an atmosphere of marketing terms that mean absolutely nothing to the casual buyer, changing names and fabrics from store to store and employing used car sales tactics to pressure you into buying before you are comfortably ready to make your purchase.

You could spend weeks doing research online, going to store, talking to salespeople in mattress stores throughout your area and still not be sure which bed will solve your problem. And then there is the selection! A ton of brands. Why, just in the San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose Bay Area, there are many stores advertising even more brands. Stores bragging about their huge selection, this store saying their beds are the best, another saying that stores beds are not good, only theirs are the best. Latex vs. Memory Foam, etc. It is overwhelming and confusing.

I have always tried to help educate and arm consumers I come in contact with by giving them some simple advice when choosing the right mattress. There are three factors that help you narrow down your choices:

1. Is it comfortable. Does it solve your issues and allow you to get the rest you so desperately desire.
2. Is it durable. Is it built to last and does the manufacturer back that up with a legit warranty.
3. Is it affordable, or in your price range. Makes no sense to be trying out beds you either can't or don't want to afford.