How to Choose a Memory Foam Mattress

Are you in the market looking for a memory foam mattress? We can help you decide how to pick the perfect one for you by reading the steps in this article.

What to look for in a good mattress 

This mattress guide is meant to help you in selecting a good bed for a good night’s sleep. A good mattress is perfect for your personal preferences, sleeping needs, and habits. 

Keep in mind that it should also be high in quality, durable, and comfortable, but that does not necessarily mean that you need to break the bank for one. There are tons of good beds out there that you can buy even if you are on a budget. 

How to select a mattress

In this section, we’ll guide you on how to pick a good memory foam mattress. There are a few general factors that should tell you what to look for in a mattress. This is comfortability, desired firmness level, type and material, and size. 

Other minor factors should still be considered, such as your and your sleeping partner’s unique needs. Are you sensitive to allergens? Do you or your partner frequently twist and turn at night? Do you need edge-to-edge support? 

How to choose the right mattress firmness 

You should keep the firmness level in mind when choosing a bed. The quality of your sleep will be significantly affected by selecting a mattress with a firmness level that is suitable for your sleeping habits, needs, and preferences. Four terms describe firmness in the market. 

  1. Firm 

Firm mattresses are best suited for stomach or front sleepers. This prevents the midsection from sinking too much, which may cause a dip in the spine. In turn, a dip in the spine while sleeping will misalign the head, neck, and spinal cord, which will then lead to pains and soreness. 

A firm bed is recommended for people weighing over 16-stone because the extra firmness provides substantial support without aggravating the current situation. 

  1. Medium-firm

If you are a back sleeper and find the firm beds too hard for you, look into a medium-firm bed. These provide proper support and spinal alignment, especially for the lower back, which might be the cause of aches. 

  1. Medium-soft 

These are beds that are not too soft and still lean towards the firm side for a bit. If soft-rated beds are too soft for you, a medium-soft bed might be the golden mean. It is recommended for mixed sleepers who change sleeping positions throughout the night. 

Aside from mixed sleepers, it’s suggested for sleepers weighing under 10 stone.

  1. Soft 

These are the softest beds in the market and are recommended for side sleepers. It is meant to sink enough so that your body weight is not entirely on your arm, causing it to become sore in the morning. 

Moreover, the softness conforms and mould your body, providing support in the areas you need it. 

What type of mattress should I get? 

If you’re confused and still asking yourself, “What sort of mattress should I buy?” this section will provide you with comprehensive answers. 

Like choosing firmness levels, you want to get a compatible type with your sleeping habits, needs, and preferences. 

There are multiple kinds of beds suitable for certain types of sleepers, so it is a matter of weighing the pros and cons according to your tastes. 

Which type of mattress is best for sleeping 

We’ll discuss different sleeping positions and the perfect mattress types for each one. 

  1. Back sleepers 

If you sleep on your back, the consensus is that you’ll appreciate memory foam and gel beds the best. 

This is because memory foam contours to the body well and provides proper support. The same goes for gel beds, as they flex under the body to promote proper neck and spine alignment. 

As for those suffering from back pain, memory foam is also great as it relieves the joints from pressures, thus, lessening the back pain while your body is recovering. 

  1. Side sleepers 

Side sleepers need softer beds that conform to bodyweight to prevent a numb arm in the morning. This is why they will find the most joy in memory foam, gel, and beds filled with natural fillings. 

Gel and memory foam provide a sufficient amount of sinkage, sinking the arm and the body slightly, promoting proper spinal alignment. Likewise, beds with natural fillings are softer, so they provide the same effect. 

  1. Front sleepers 

Front or stomach sleepers are likely to enjoy spring beds and latex the most. These are firmer materials and will hold to the stomach properly, preventing it from sinking, which is what causes pain due to a misaligned spine. 

Which type of mattress is best for me 

We’ll look into the different types of beds commonly sold in the market and their advantages and disadvantages to help you weigh your options. 

  1. Memory foam 

Memory foam is a temperature-sensitive viscoelastic material that moulds and flexes under your body because of your body temperature. This means that it will hug your body, relieve your joints from pressure, and provide a sufficient amount of support. 

Because memory foam reacts to body temperature, it is suitable for all kinds of sleepers. Memory foam is incredibly insulating, making it perfect for Winter nights or colder climates. 

But that’s also what makes them unsuitable for hotter climates. 

  1. Pocket sprung 

Pocket sprung beds incorporate a layer of individually wrapped pocket springs. Because they are individually wrapped, each pocket spring works independently of the other, which allows the bed to conform under the weight of your body. 

While it does provide personalised support and body contouring features, most sleepers prefer memory foam for this feature. However, the edge of pocket sprung beds is cooler, as they facilitate more airflow than the stuffy memory foam. 

However, a downside to it is that the pocket spring layer is often filled with natural fibres such as lambswool or cotton, which may trigger some allergies. 

  1. Open coil 

Open coil beds are relatively cheap and frequently offer less support than other types of beds. They aren’t recommended anymore and are considered remnants of the past as the sleep industry has revolutionised for better quality and more supporting materials. 

However, they are perfect for guest bedrooms and for children as those are purposes where they will be used less frequently or will be frequently replaced, anyway. 

  1. Bed in a box 

These are relatively new types of beds that just entered the sleep market in 2016 when introduced by the pioneering company Casper. 

Most beds in a box are made with different types of foam or are a hybrid, foam and spring. So their firmness levels widely vary. 

They are perfect if you are looking for a more convenient option in terms of delivery. 

How to buy the perfect mattress 

In this part, we’ll guide you on how to buy the right mattress. You want to buy one suitable to your sleeping habits, needs, and preferences, while still keeping in mind special needs that you or your partner might need.

If you are suffering from back pain and are a back sleeper, getting memory foam is the best option for you. However, if you live in hotter climates and prefer something cooler, you may look into the cooler variations of memory foam beds, such as those embedded with cooling gel beads on the surface. 

While this does translate into a more expensive bed, it’s best to keep in mind the features that you are not willing to trade in exchange for saving money. 

Mattress selection 

Here are some of the best memory foams that are worth looking into during your search. 

  1. Emma Original Memory Foam 

The Emma Original Memory Foam is a classic when talking about memory foam beds. It is award-winning, bagging 30 high-calibre awards in Europe. Experts develop this Emma bed with three unique foam layers meant to provide an incredible amount of support. 

On top of that, it features advanced zoning technology meant to redistribute your weight throughout the bed for superior pressure relief. 

Moreover, it has also been engineered to be breathable, countering most complaints about memory foam. For more information see our Emma mattress review.

  1. Noa Hybrid

The Noa mattress has a hybrid of an AirCell foam layer, matched with cooling gel memory foam and a layer of supportive pocket springs. 

It is a medium-firm in the firmness scale, making it perfect for all kinds of sleepers. The support that it provides is unparalleled, matched with superior pressure relief and personalised support, all thanks to the memory foam and pocket spring layers. 

The best part is that it is made to be cool and breathable. Additionally, it is also highly durable as it is constructed to withstand regular use and minimise body impressions and sagging compared to other beds. 

This is also a good option for shopping on a budget as it is highly affordable despite being so high in quality. Need more information? Read our Noa mattress review.

  1. Ergoflex 5G Memory Foam 

This bed has been cleverly constructed to provide the best sleep possible with the right amount of support and pressure relief. It features a 9cm substantial viscoelastic memory foam that hugs the body and promotes proper spinal alignment. 

There is also a high-resilience base foam layer meant to provide more stability and durability to the product as a whole. It also does not fall behind in cooling as it employs a unique patented cooling system that promotes airflow throughout the bed. 

I also especially appreciate this bed because it is hypoallergenic, making it friendly to those who have allergies like me. For more info read our Ergoflex review.

How to buy a memory foam mattress 

We’ll look into your options on how to purchase a mattress, especially memory foam ones. 

You can buy memory foam beds by visiting any store that offers them, from in-person retail stores where you can try them out and feel them for yourself or online stores that offer convenient and often free deliveries. 

  1. Retail stores

There are lots of retail stores all over the UK with hundreds of outlets near you. These are Ikea, Bensons for Beds, John Lewis, and Dunelm, above others. 

The advantage of in-person stores is that you get to feel the beds beforehand, albeit not to the full extent of sleeping on one. 

  1. Online stores 

You can buy memory foam beds straight from the brand’s website that offers them. If you’re worried about not getting to feel it out before it arrives at your doorstep, the good news is that most bed companies nowadays offer a free trial period so that you can decide whether or not your purchase is perfect for you. 

Best mattress for you

In conclusion, memory foam is most suitable for back sleepers who suffer from back pain. The best choice for most sleepers who are looking for a memory foam bed is the Emma mattress, with the most amount of awards. 

It provides sufficient back support, superior spinal alignment, and pressure relief. On top of that, it is also highly breathable and cooling.