Choosing the perfect mattress for yourself is already hard. But picking one while considering the needs of someone who share it with you is even harder. Both of you may not have the same preferences when it comes to the best type of mattress you want to use while together.
The good news is that there are a lot of mattress manufacturers who understand the problems couples have in choosing the best type of mattress to use for sleeping. The bad news is that all of them are just too good. You might end up feeling overwhelmed with so many choices in front of you.
What to Consider for a Couple Mattress
If you and your spouse have the same issue, here are some factors you might have to keep in mind while choosing the type of mattress.
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Motion isolation
This factor refers to how well or how bad the bed absorbs any movement on various sides of the bed. This is not an essential consideration if you use the bed alone. But for couples, especially those who are light sleepers (those who easily wakes up from any form of outside stimuli), this is an essential factor. After all, the goal is to have a good night’s sleep even if you’re already sharing a bed with someone.
Before picking the best type of mattress, take the time to discuss each other’s sleeping habits. For example, what sleeping position do you and your partner adopt? Is he a side sleeper? Do you always toss and turn around frequently? Does anyone of you get up in the middle of the night or early morning to do an important task?
Your answers to these questions are essential when choosing the best type of mattress for you. The more motion-heavy you are, the more important this factor is.
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Firmness and overall feel
The mattress firmness refers to how well the material holds up once you rest your body on it. Does it hold its shape against your weight? Or did you feel like you’re sinking into oblivion while on it?
This is another tricky part in choosing the best type of mattress for couples. For one, the level of firmness and comfort can be different between the two of you. What may be soft to you may be too firm for your bedmate and vice versa.
It all boils down to preference on both sides. Luckily, there are mattress manufacturers that measure their product’s firmness on a scale of 1 (soft) to 10 (very firm) and informs the consumers about it.
If it turns out that you and your partner have different tastes when it comes to mattress firmness, some manufacturers customize their product depending on what their clients’ want. For example, Helix mattresses allow couples to adjust the firmness on different sides of the bed. You may go for a 5.5 on your side while your spouse can choose a 7.
Do note, however, that having your mattress customized equates to additional costs on your part. But it’s okay. An excellent mattress is worth the investment, anyway.
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Support on all sides
Who wants a mattress that sags in the middle but stays firm on the edges over continued use? No one. A sagging mattress is an indication that you need to replace it, which usually happens at around 8 to 10 years depending on the quality.
However, these years can go lower if you already have a partner in bed. The constant force brought by the weight of two full-grown adults (plus probably the kids and your large dog) can deteriorate the material more rapidly than if you use it by yourself.
Another support-related question: who wants a mattress that gives you back, neck, and joint pain after waking up because it doesn’t contour your body shape well? Nobody wants to spend a third of their lives experiencing body pain that could eventually affect sleep quality and work productivity.
That is why in choosing the best type of mattress for couples, check if it contours into your body shape and supports and hugs your back, sides, and front regions well (this depends on what your sleeping position is). If you share the bed with your spouse, try lying down and do some cuddling positions you love to do while sleeping and see if both of you are comfortable.
Unfortunately, trying out the bed for a few nights or so is the only way to assess if the mattress can provide the support you need. Lying down on the showroom mattress for a few minutes would not cut it.
Thankfully, most mattress manufacturers offer a trial period of about 30 to 120 days for potential clients who want to test out the model they are eyeing on before buying it. If you finally decide that you don’t want it, they can offer a full refund of your initial deposit! Nothing to lose there.
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Capability to handle sexual activity
There are only two things you can do in bed: sleep and sex. Now that you are sharing your bed with the love of your life, your mattress must be able to keep up with your rowdy behavior in the bedroom.
Most couples prefer a bed that is firm and bouncy enough to keep up with their sexual activities. For this one, the best type of mattress would be the innerspring mattress. It has sturdy steel support coils that keep the shape of the cushion in place no matter how hard you force your partner down.
The downside of the innerspring mattress, however, is that the coils can become noisy after absorbing rust as time goes by. This leads to a noisy, springy bed which can be a total buzzkill during sex. That is why don’t just focus on the type of mattress; look for the durability and quality of the materials the manufacturers use for it.
Having a “too firm” mattress can lead to support problems during sexual activity. Overly firm mattresses are not responsive and sensitive for movement－meaning, they don’t bounce that much. Beds made with motion isolation in mind tend to be on the firmer side. The more it can hold up, the less responsive it becomes to outside pressure.
In picking the best type of mattress for you and your spouse, find the perfect balance between motion isolation and responsiveness. You don’t want a bed that is too soft that it can wake you up at any slight movement, but not too firm that you don’t get to enjoy intimate moments with your partner.
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Temperature Regulation
Now that you are sharing a bed with someone, the body heat underneath the blanket may tend to be warmer than usual. While this can be cute during cold, winter seasons－who doesn’t want a good snuggling?－this can become a problem on humid months.
Some types of mattresses such as the memory foam mattress tend to trap heat more efficiently than other types of mattresses in the market. Because it is made purely of foam, air cannot easily pass through the pores.
If you and your partner are sensitive to temperature changes, you might have to keep this factor in mind.
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Price Point
As previously mentioned, having too full-grown adults with different body weights and sleeping habits can affect how long the mattress can hold up after years and years of use. That is why in choosing the best type of mattress, you cannot scrimp on quality nor at the price point.
Remember that you will be spending about a third of your life sleeping (that doesn’t include all the time you will spend having sex). Thus, it is crucial that you get the type of mattress that has superior quality and is sure to last long. And quality does not come cheap.
These factors will be the criteria in judging if the type of mattresses below is the best type of mattress for you and your spouse.
What Type of Mattress Suits your Needs the Best?
There are four main types of mattresses you can choose from. Each one had its strengths and weaknesses which can help you in making the best decision.
Innerspring mattress
They are the most common and least expensive type of mattress available in the market today. Support coils (usually made of steel) of varying lengths is what makes up the foundation, aligned together like water molecules. Some manufacturers offer models that go as low as $100 to as high as $1,200 depending on the size.
Pros:
- The support coils are strong enough to withstand any bouncy movement and pressures brought by human weight. Perfect for sexual activity.
- Because of the distance between the coils, air circulation underneath the mattress gives it a nice cooling effect.
- Finding mattresses with varying levels of firmness is easy.
Cons:
- Over time, the coils can become squeaky and noisy through repeated use.
- Innerspring mattresses are sensitive to any form of movement, so it is not a good choice for light sleepers.
- It cannot be customized to suit you and your partner’s different needs.
Memory Foam Mattress
As the name suggests and as previously mentioned, memory foam mattresses are made entirely of foam. They are the best type of mattress for couples who want one that has body contouring and back support during sleep.
A high-quality memory foam mattress can vary from $150 to $1,400 depending on the type and quality of the foam used to create it.
Pros:
- Foam mattresses have high motion isolation. This means that you can sleep soundly no matter how unruly your bed partner is.
- They are more durable and quieter than other types of mattresses in the market today.
- Some manufacturers allow their clients to customize the mattress’ firmness on each side of the bed.
Cons:
- As mentioned earlier, a mattress that has superior motion isolation means that it is less responsive. Therefore, using it during sex may be less enjoyable.
- Because foam is too solid and less porous, it can easily trap heat. This can become a problem during the summer seasons.
- Sagging is a common issue especially in parts where continued pressure is applied over time.
Hybrid Mattress
This type of mattress offers the best of both worlds. It combines the benefits of the support coils in innerspring mattresses and the support that the foam provides. Prices range between $600 and $4,000.
Pros:
- Hybrid mattresses are firm and bouncy enough for sex thanks to the support coils, and soft enough for comfortable sleep because of the foam on top.
- Despite the memory foam at the top layer, the hybrid mattress doesn’t trap as much heat compared to the pure foam mattress.
- There are models available for those who want different firmness on both sides of the mattress.
Cons:
- The downside of the coils and the innerspring mattress in general－they can become noisy and rusty over time.
- Like memory foam mattresses, some portions of the bed can become saggy due to continuous pressure.
- In case you haven’t noticed yet, hybrid mattresses are relatively more expensive than the other two previous choices.
Air Beds
Air beds are commonly made of rubber or vinyl with a velvet foam on the top for comfort. Theyget their form by injecting gas using an electric air pump. Because of their ease of use, they can easily be transferred and brought for your business trips and outdoor activities. Prices can go from $100 to $300 and may go up depending on where you buy them.
Pros:
- You can easily adjust how soft or firm you want it to be by lessening or increasing the pumps of air you inject in it.
- As previously mentioned, it can be easily disassembled and brought to any place you want a bed on.
- Some manufacturers have a feature wherein you can adjust the firmness on different sides of the bed.
Cons:
- The vinyl which makes up the outer core can become noisy and squeaky when it comes into contact with a rough surface.
- Some air mattresses may require a specific air pump which can be very expensive.
- Manufacturers only provide short warranties for air mattresses.
Making a Final Decision as a Couple
It may not look like it, but choosing the best type of mattress for you and your spouse can foster proper communication and transparency. Picking the type of mattress you want to use for the next eight to ten years of being together is essential not just for your growth as a couple but also for your health and wellbeing. The quality of your sleep, after all, affects how you go through your day once you wake up. So listen to your partner and choose wisely.
