How to avoid the 6 most common mistakes when buying a mattress or bed.

Is it almost time for a new bed? If so, you'll want to sleep well on your new addition. The best guarantee of a good night's sleep is a sleep combination that is tailored to your sleeping position and your physique. How do you choose the right mattress? Or the right bed? By avoiding these mistakes and heeding my tips!

TIP 1: PAY ADEQUATE ATTENTION TO THE CORRECT FIRMNESS OF YOUR MATTRESS IN COMBINATION WITH YOUR PREFERRED POSTURE

Many people think you can "choose" the firmness of your mattress based on personal preference. This is only partially true. Of course your preference plays a role, but more important in choosing the right firmness of your mattress is your preferred posture. Doesn't your mattress have the right firmness? Then you're not going to sleep well at night. You can read why here.

• The role of your lying position:

Regardless of the position in which you sleep, your mattress should be able to provide perfect support and relaxation for your body everywhere. For example, are you a side sleeper? Then your hip must be able to stay in the correct position and your shoulder must be able to sink sufficiently into your mattress. So your mattress will have to be slightly softer than, for example, for a stomach sleeper who should not sink in precisely to prevent a hollow back. During the night, your spine should lie nicely relaxed and your intervertebral discs well hydrated. This is the best guarantee of avoiding back and neck pain.

• The relationship between your mattress and your body:

The relationship between your mattress and your body should be well taken care of. This is because your skin - as your largest organ - is very closely related to your blood circulation and nerve pathways. This means that you will toss more in bed the more pressure your skin experiences. Because that stimulates your nerves and is pernicious for good circulation. Do you get up in the morning with stiff muscles for no apparent reason? Or do you already wake up with a sleeping hand? Then your mattress causes too many pressure points on your skin and you should choose a different firmness.

TIP 2: MAKE SURE YOUR BED TEXTILES DO NOT NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE FUNCTION AND LYING COMFORT OF YOUR MATTRESS

As if sheets have an impact on how my mattress works, I hear you thinking... Yet they do. Your bed textiles play a more important role than you might think in how your mattress works. In itself that is understandable, compare it to that nice, nice resilient decorative pillow from on your sofa. Suppose you stuff it as much as possible with a wonderfully soft material. The result is a cushion that barely springs anymore, because the cover is too small for the filling and compresses all that soft material into a hard mass. The same thing happens to the action of your mattress if your bed textiles are insufficiently elastic or do not have the same corner height as your mattress. Quality bed textiles that are elastic and not too tight ensure that your mattress and pillow are able to work optimally and follow the contours of your body. This way, you enjoy maximum lying comfort and prolong the life of your mattress and pillow.

TIP 3: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD PILLOW

Didn't we talk about mattresses and beds here? Indeed we did! But your sleeping comfort is a total package. Your pillow should fit you, your sleeping position and your mattress perfectly. It is literally the extension of your mattress for a good night's sleep. A good pillow keeps the upper part of your spine straight and in a natural position while sleeping. And you can only determine such a thing if you lie on it on the right mattress. A pillow needs replacement after about 3 to 4 years and is often a solution to neck or back pain. Even if you pay €100 for your ideal pillow, that is a negligible amount to wake up rested and pain-free.

TIP 4: LOOK BEYOND PRICE; TAKE THE TROUBLE TO EFFECTIVELY COMPARE QUALITY

It is sometimes to be despondent. A banging slogan and a seemingly gigantic discount is sometimes enough to tempt you into a mis-buy. You don't buy quality beds and mattresses for next to nothing. You don't have to. It's an investment that will last you 10 to 12 years and buy you energetic days. A good night's sleep determines your health. That's worth something, right? The problem is that you can't always see why a bed or mattress is more expensive. Many of the elements that determine the quality of your bed are inside. Just ask yourself if you can see what quality wood was used in your slatted base? And whether you know whether your box spring is glued, screwed or dovetailed together. Or what the difference is between a mattress with Bonell springs or real high-quality thermally hardened pocket springs? Chances are, you'll have to hold the answer. Yet these are elements that will determine the quality - and thus the price. Get informed about them. A good independent sleep specialist makes it a point of honor to provide customers with the best possible sleep.

TIP 5: KNOW WHAT TO DO TO CREATE AN OPTIMAL SLEEP ENVIRONMENT IN BED

Do you quickly feel too hot or too cold in bed? Then take this into account during your search for a new mattress or bed. What you need to know first and foremost is that your mattress - contrary to popular belief - is only 20% responsible for feeling warm in bed. 80% of the feeling of warmth comes from your comforter. Choose a comforter with temperature regulation, such as one made of cashmere or camel hair. Or if you prefer a synthetic alternative that is easier to wash, opt for Thinsulate. Additionally, you can also use climate regulating bed textiles. Either way, it's best to mention something like this to your sleep consultant.

TIP 6: DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTION OF A SLATTED BASE OR BED BASE

Your slatted base or bed base is more than "the surface on which you can place your mattress. In addition to a ventilating function, your slatted base has a major influence on your sleep quality, as do the rest of the components of your bed. Whereas a plate base or box spring with thermally hardened pocket springs supports you perfectly in every position, this is much less the case with a classic slatted base. Why? A classic base is not point-elastic and thus cannot move in any direction. Because a classic slatted base only moves vertically, it does not follow the contours of your body as well. You have the same problem with a box spring with Bonell springs.

MORAL OF THE STORY?

Look at your sleep combination as a whole. Are you looking for a new mattress or bed? If so, chances are your slatted base is also in need of renewal. Ideally, you should replace it about every 10 years. Look at the whole picture and combine the right elements based on sound sleep advice from a specialist. When you consider that you spend 1/3 of your life in bed and a good, long deep sleep strengthens your immunity, you understand that sleep comfort is not a luxury. It is an investment in your health.

Source: E-book: How to avoid the 6 most common mistakes when buying a mattress or bed.