Choosing a Mattress

Getting a good night's sleep is central to our well-being and health. In fact a good mattress is probably one of the best investments you will ever make when furnishing your home.

Plenty of mattresses to choose from

We offer a total of 13 mattresses available in all bed widths – from single bed up to 8 foot bed widths. There are three basic types of construction and each is available in three grades of firmness. Here we'll describe the differences and help you to make the right choice.

Healthbeds make three different types of mattress:

• Posture Pocket
• Natural Pearl
• Memory

and each is available in Soft, Medium or Firm versions.

How to choose the perfect mattress

The most important factor when choosing a mattress is comfort. That depends on the firmness and the type of construction. Let's look at firmness first.

There are many misconceptions about firmness: we've all heard stories about people with bad backs having to sleep on wooden boards or the floor. But hard doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you. The perfect mattress needs to offer good support whether you sleep on your back or side, and also needs to take into account different body weights and whether you sleep alone or with a partner.

Here's an easy way to decide the right firmness for you

First, think of yourself as either a small, medium or large frame person, then apply one of the following.

1. Large frame people get the correct support from a medium-firm mattress – a medium mattress will feel soft and a soft mattress will give little support
2. Average frame people get the correct support from a medium mattress – a firm mattress will feel firm and a soft mattress will feel soft.
3. Small frame people will get the correct support from a medium-soft mattress – a medium mattress will feel firm and a firm mattress will feel very hard.

Deciding on the type and feel

Having decided on the firmness you can then decide on the type of construction. This is where you choose the feel that you prefer. Are you an on-top-of-the-bed sleeper who likes to stay cool, or a snuggler who likes to feel wrapped in warmth and softness? Maybe you have sore joints or suffer from pressure sores and want the most comfortable solution.

The three types of construction are as follows

Posture Pocket

This traditional form of mattress provide a high level of independent support which prevents roll-together.

Natural Pearl

For those who like a luxurious feel this type combines pocket springing with a cashmere and lambswool surface, giving you that wrapped up feeling. The natural fabrics help you to stay warm in winter and cool in summer.

Memory

Memory foam softens with body heat, so you gradually sink into the mattress. The variable support means your spine is kept in a natural alignment and your joints don't take all the pressure. Available as a combination with a pocket-sprung base or just on its own.

All of these types come with Hypoallergenic filling and anti-dust mite protection.

Balance these factors and you should be able to make the ideal choice for years of restful sleep. Our Mattress Comparison page will let you see the various individual mattresses in an easy to compare table and you can then check out the detailed description on each model.