With so many direct-shippable mattresses-in-a-box on the market these days, it can be more tempting than ever to jump right in and make a buying decision without a visit to a physical mattress store. But what if we told you that shoppers who try their new mattresses in person before making a buying decision are much more likely to be satisfied with their purchase?
Don’t get us wrong, shopping for a mattress online is a great way to narrow down your options. For that reason, we list our own broad mattress selection online for anyone to browse. In fact, you can even buy mattresses right there on our website. However, there is still no substitute for lying on a mattress yourself before making a decision.
Mattress specs, reviews, video breakdowns, lists of features, and lengthy product descriptions can all be extremely helpful — but they cannot tell you exactly how a mattress will feel to your body. That’s because every person is different. Different body shapes and sizes, different sleep positions, and different sleep preferences all factor into why sleepers may love (or loathe) a particular mattress.
That is why testing mattresses in person is such an important part of the buying process. A mattress that sounds perfect on paper may feel too soft, too firm, too bouncy, or simply not right once you lie down on it. On the other hand, trying a number of different mattresses in a showroom can help you quickly identify what feels comfortable, supportive, and worth considering further.
So, what should that process look like? We’re glad you asked. Let’s take it step by step.
Why You Should Always Test a Mattress In Person
Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, we’re never surprised to meet folks who walk through our doors looking for one thing, but discover midway through their visit that they actually need something different. For instance, we’ll have shoppers come in looking specifically at medium feel mattresses only to discover that "medium" feels much firmer or softer than they like. These sorts of occurrences are quite literally a daily event at our stores.
The truth is that comfort is personal. What feels supportive to one shopper may feel too firm or too soft to someone else. That is especially true when you are comparing different mattress types, firmness levels, and comfort materials.
Testing a mattress in person gives you the chance to feel how it supports your body in real time. It also helps you notice things that are difficult to judge online, like how much pressure you feel at common pressure points like the shoulders and hips, how easy it is to move around on the mattress, and whether it feels supportive in your usual sleep position.
If you are shopping because of back pain, pressure points, or other comfort concerns, this step becomes even more important. The truth is, a half an hour in a mattress showroom can tell you so much more than a long list of product features ever could.
1) Start Fact-Finding Before Your Visit
It helps to do a little homework before you walk into the showroom. You don’t need to know exactly which mattress brand or model you want, or even what mattress type, but it is smart to have a general idea of the following:
- Your preferred sleep position (and that of your partner)
- What is driving your dissatisfaction with your current mattress
- Whether you generally like a softer, firmer, or more balanced feel
- Whether you generally prefer memory foam, innerspring, or hybrid mattresses
- Any specific comfort concerns or pain-points, such as back pain, sleeping hot, motion transfer, etc.
Going in with just a few of these things in mind can make the in-store testing process much more productive.
2) Come Dressed to Test (Mattresses, That Is)
This one is simple and straightforward. When the time comes to go mattress shopping in person, always make a point to wear something casual and comfortable to sit, bend and move around in.
Depending on your own unique sense of style, this could vary from athletic shorts and hoodies, to joggers, to loose-fitting jeans and t-shirts. That’s because anything too stiff, restrictive, or uncomfortable can absolutely impact your feel for the mattress.
While you certainly don’t need to show up to the mattress store wearing your PJs, we’d also recommend you leave your suit jackets and ties, pencil skirts, or any other style-over-function clothing at home. After all, you’re test driving a new mattress, not a new luxury car.
3) Make Pillows a Priority
Speaking of things to bring, if you have a favorite pillow that you will want to use in conjunction with your new mattress, feel free to bring it with you in a clean pillow case. Otherwise, the mattress retailer should have a number of pillows of various feels and thicknesses available to try.
Just remember that your pillow supports approximately 1/3rd of your spine and makes up 1/4th of your bed's sleeping surface, making your pillow choice an important contributing factor to your overall comfort and support. By bringing your favorite pillow along (or being properly fitted for a new pillow by one of our sleep experts), you’ll be in a better position to figure out which mattress feels right.
4) Lie Down in Your Normal Sleep Position
One of the biggest mistakes shoppers make is sitting on the edge of a mattress, or lying down for a few seconds and deciding from there. Except that the way a mattress feels when you press on it with your hand is not the same as how it feels when your full body weight is resting on it. The same goes for sitting on the edge. Those few moments spent in non-sleeping positions do not tell you nearly enough about how the mattress will feel after a full night of sleep.
Instead, lie down in the position you actually sleep in most often. If you are a side sleeper, test it on your side. If you sleep on your back or stomach, make sure you spend time in those positions too.
This is the best way to get a feel for whether the mattress supports your body properly and whether it creates pressure in areas like the shoulders, hips, or lower back. Not sure how to describe how you sleep? Read our guide to sleep positions here.
5) Spend More Than a Few Seconds on Each Mattress
Just as it is important to actually try the mattress in your usual sleep position, it’s equally important to lie there long enough to make an accurate assessment about its comfort and support. For instance, a mattress can feel fine for the first few seconds and then start to feel very different once your body settles into it. That is why it helps to give each mattress a little time.
If you are seriously considering a model, make sure to spend at least several minutes lying on it. This gives the comfort materials time to respond and gives your body time to notice whether the mattress actually feels supportive and comfortable.
Please don’t rush. Remember that a mattress is an investment, and that at 8 hours of sleep per night, you’ll be spending 1/3rd of your life sleeping on it for as long as you have it. Taking your time can make it much easier to notice the difference between a mattress that feels “pretty good” and one that actually feels like a strong fit.
6) Pay Attention to Key Pressure Points
As you test a mattress in your preferred sleep position(s), be sure to take notice how your body feels in the areas that tend to carry the most pressure. For most shoppers, that means paying attention to:
- Your lower back
- Your shoulders
- Your hips
- Your neck
Does the mattress feel supportive without feeling too hard? Does it cushion pressure points without letting your body sink too deeply? These are the kinds of questions that matter more than a marketing slogan or firmness label alone.
7) Compare Different Feels Back to Back
Testing mattresses in person is especially helpful because it lets you compare different mattress constructions, firmness levels, brands and models side by side. This is especially valuable as you begin to narrow the field down to your top two or three choices.
For example, you may find that one mattress contours far more than the others, that another feels firmer or bouncier than you realized, or that a third one has noticeably better edge support than your other choices. Or you might simply notice a trend that all the mattresses that feel best to you are hybrids and medium firm. Those differences become much easier to understand when you feel them one after another instead of trying to imagine them from product descriptions alone.
None of these sorts of observations would be possible without trying your different mattress options side-by-side.
8) Bring Your Questions With You
Lastly, a showroom visit is your best chance to ask practical questions while you test out mattresses. For example:
- What type of sleeper is this mattress usually best for?
- How would you describe the firmness?
- Does this model work with an adjustable base?
- What are the sleep trial, return, or warranty policies?
- How does this mattress compare with another one I liked?
A helpful mattress expert and a great in-store experience should help you feel more informed, not pressured.
Have Mattress Questions? We Have Mattress Answers.
Testing a mattress in store before you buy can help you make a much more confident decision. It gives you the chance to compare comfort levels, feel how different mattress types support your body, and notice things that are difficult to judge window shopping online.
The best approach is simple — come prepared, lie down in your normal sleep position, spend a few minutes on each mattress you’re considering, and pay close attention to how your body feels. That extra time in the showroom can go a long way toward helping you choose a mattress that truly fits the way you sleep.
Looking to get started on your mattress shopping journey? Here at Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet, our team is here to help you compare mattresses in a relaxed, educational environment so you can take your time, ask questions, and find the option that feels right to you. Come see us and our extensive selection of mattresses and mattress brands today at any of our Metro Atlanta and North Georgia furniture and mattress stores.
