Alright, you’ve decided your old mattress isn’t cutting it anymore. It sags, it creaks, and it makes you want to sleep on the sofa. It’s clearly time to take the plunge into a new comfy mattress! Before you head to the store, it’s important to know what you need in a new mattress.

You want the mattress to hold you in proper alignment from head to toe so you don’t wake up with a backache. You need the mattress to push up on your body to counteract your body weight. Now, that does not mean getting a super hard or firm mattress. Your body isn’t a straight line; it has curves. A mattress must contour to the curves and arches of your body. The Serta is designed for gentle yet firm support and will hug the curves of your body.

A supportive mattress will dip down around your shoulders and hips, yet keep your spine in proper alignment. If a mattress is too firm, your hips and shoulders will be pushed up, and you will be stiff when you wake up. The same issues can occur if a mattress is too soft. You want a mattress to contour to the shape of your body to hold it in its natural alignment.

You don’t want the mattress to cause pressure to your body resulting in tossing and turning. If a mattress is too hard, the pressure to your body could cut off circulation, and pinch nerves, and will cause you to change positions throughout the night. Some American Bedding mattresses feature a medium-firm feel with a quilted foam cover and 2 inches of gel-infused layering. It’s designed for comfort for those looking for a firmer feel and still offers a quilted foam layer for good circulation.

When you’re trying out the mattress, you should be able to lie in one position without moving around for at least a few minutes. If you can do that, you’ve found a good mattress.

Motion: If you share your bed, you want to minimize motion transfer. Try the mattress in the store with your partner, and have your partner switch positions and get up and down from the bed.

Temperature: Most good mattresses have features to help cool your body. A cheaper memory foam mattress is a bad buy if you are easily overheated. Many of our top name brands offer mattresses with multiple layers of foam that allow airflow through the mattress.

Beyond these features, it’s really just a matter of preference. Some people like the bounce and feel of an innerspring mattress, while others prefer the extra pressure relief of a foam mattress. Whichever you choose, it’s important to try the mattress out in the store before making the purchase. Don’t be afraid to stretch out and experiment. It’s a big purchase, and the right mattress can be life- changing.