How to buy the perfect mattress: 5+ little-known insider tips from Levin’s
“You’re going to spend, ideally, at least one-third of your day sleeping. You want to be comfortable while making that decision. Don’t come in straight from work or wearing jeans because nobody sleeps in those clothes,“ explained John Kline, a 20-year sleep specialist and trainer for Levin Furniture and Mattress – your local mattress store for the past 99 years.
Levin’s mattress associates are trained to guide customers toward a mattress that meets their needs and offers the best sleep possible. “We’re not just shuffling you from mattress to mattress and asking you which one feels best,” explains Kline. “Comfort is relative. Proper support and materials should be your deciding elements.”
A good night’s rest ensures you’ll be refreshed and alert as you start your day. According to the National Sleep Foundation, a poor quality of sleep can negatively impact energy, health and relationships.
While the mattress is the most crucial part of the equation, people need to be aware that lifestyle habits affect how well they sleep. A balanced diet, regular exercise and limited use of alcohol, caffeine and blue screen devices before bed are important.
Equally important is your bedtime routine, which should begin at approximately the same time every night, as well as your surrounding environment. Kline suggests preparing a space that adheres to his “3 Cs” of sleep: cool, cozy and clean. Room temperature, comfort level and tidy space all aid in falling- and staying- asleep.
Limiting day time naps to 15 to 20 minutes helps avoid oversleeping and internal clock confusion. No matter how good your mattress, if you’re stressed, tense or distracted, sleep will be hard to come by. You could try meditation, yoga or deep breathing exercises to clear your mind.
Clearly, Levin’s mattress shopping experience is different than others’. “Our focus isn’t to convince you to buy from only us or spend more than you were planning,” commented Kline. The primary goal of mattress shopping at Levin’s is discovering the right combination of comfort, support and price for each person. “We do that by educating ourselves AND customers about all things sleep related. Mattresses look relatively the same, but they’re not created equal.”
- Bring your sleep partner: if you’re sharing a bed, it’s critical to have your sleep partner with you to shop. You may have different sleeping styles or comfort preferences requiring a happy medium or XL twin mattresses side by side to accommodate you both.
- Ask for a pillow fitting: A properly fitting pillow complements your sleep position and aligns your head, neck and shoulders. Side, back and stomach sleepers have different needs. Kline says your pillow can account for nearly one-third of your comfort. Some customer have never considered a pillow could be behind their poor sleep patterns.
- Talk about your health: Certain types of health conditions, such as back pain, arthritis or poor circulation, can be improved with the proper mattress. Trained sleep professionals should talk to you about these to help hone in on what will work best for you.
- Lie down and relax: Spend at least 10 minutes in your natural sleep position on each mattress. You may feel awkward, but you never should feel rushed. It should be the number one goal of any associate to make sure you’re happy with and confident in your purchase.
- Try an adjustable base: The game-changing trend in mattress purchasing is the popularity of adjustable bases with options to raise your upper torso and head, your feet or both. Some nighttime afflictions like snoring or heartburn can be eased or eliminated this way.
“At Levin’s, we care about your total sleep experience,” Kline said. “We know the right bed will improve your sleep, and that’s what we’re here to do.”
To learn more about mattress shopping and the sleep-saving advice Kline has to offer, visit a Levin Furniture and Mattress showroom near you.