Bed Arena's Mattress Buying Guide

Bed Arena's Guide to buying a new Mattress

When it comes to choosing a mattress, it is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all option. Comfort is a highly personal matter.

Manufacturers understand this, which is why mattresses are available in a remarkable range of firmness types.

In turn, this means that how they are designed and construction also varies.

Moreover, what’s inside a mattress can be critical to how comfortable it is and how long it will last.

Mattress types

Mattress technology has produced beds that will massage you or allow you to float on water without getting wet.

However, in most cases, mattresses come in one of four categories:

  • Orthopaedic
  • Pocket spring
  • Open Coil
  • Memory foam

Informed by the latest medical research, orthopaedic varieties are created to maximise support and comfort for sleepers who suffer from back and joint pain.

Their extra firm design evenly distributes body weight, thereby maintaining natural alignment of the spine and relieving painful pressure points.

Pocket spring options are available in various comfort grades, from soft to extra firm, and comprise thousands of tiny springs placed in their own fabric pocket. Even though the pockets are nested together, the springs work independently of each other for customised support. This means that they are the ideal choice for sleeping partners with different weights or firmness needs.

Memory foam, originally developed by NASA to provide the utmost comfort and support to astronauts on space flights, works with body heat to embrace your every curve to provide you with a personalised, luxury sleeping experience.

What else to consider

Before purchasing a mattress, even if you buy online, you should take the opportunity to lie on your preferred option in a showroom for a few minutes, along with your sleeping partner. This is probably the most reliable way to find out if the mattress meets your comfort and support needs.

You should also check the stitching along the edge, as it receives the most compression when you get in and out of your bed. To avoid wear and tear appearing sooner rather than later, make sure the stitching is of the highest quality and preferably done by hand.


Look out for mesh ventilators as well, as these will help your mattress breathe.


Last but not least, we highly recommend models with stitched handles on the side. This will make a huge difference when you need to flip and rotate your mattress in order to maintain its level of support and durability.