Mattress Buying Guide

Here at Happy Beds, we aim to make choosing a mattress that suits you best and gives you a good night's sleep as easy as possible! However, it can be hard to determine what kind of mattress to buy, especially when choosing one online.
That's why we've put together this mattress buying guide, full of helpful information that will answer all the essential questions on choosing the right mattress for you. This guide includes information such as all the mattress types, the correlation between weight and mattress firmness, and helpful tips on buying a new mattress!
What types of mattresses are available?
There are many factors you should consider before making your decision about a mattress type. This is particularly important when selecting a mattress online, as you need to make sure you are buying the best mattress, as you won't have a chance to try it in person. So how do you answer the question, 'What type of mattress is best for me?'.
Some of the most popular types of mattresses that our customers buy are:
Orthopaedic mattresses
Orthopaedic mattresses are designed to contour your body to minimise pressure points and allow balanced support across your body to prevent aches and pains. Usually much firmer than other mattresses, orthopaedic mattresses are perfect for those needing extra support while sleeping.
Pocket sprung mattresses
Pocket sprung mattresses are manufactured with a clever movement-isolating system of individually nested pocket springs, which encases each spring in cushioned fabric for consistent support. Pocket-sprung mattresses offer superior spinal alignment support, providing a luxurious feel. These springs work independently, minimising rolling together and disturbances when two people share a bed and one is a restless sleeper.
Open coil spring mattresses
Sometimes called traditional spring or Bonnell spring mattresses, open coil spring mattresses are manufactured using a series of connected springs and usually come with a rod-edge border for additional structural support. This spring system is then sandwiched between foam and fabric layers, creating a comfortable sleep surface.
Memory foam mattresses
Memory foam mattresses are crafted from temperature-sensitive foam that adjusts to the sleeper's body, which helps relieve pressure points. Memory foam mattresses are usually denser than other foam mattresses and retain heat for extra comfort.
Hybrid mattresses
A hybrid mattress combines a spring and foam mattress, giving you the benefits of both mattress types in one. These mattresses can have pocket springs or open coil springs, with a layer of memory foam, reflex foam or latex foam on top.
What is an organic mattress?
An organic mattress is a mattress that has been made with materials certified as organic, such as wool, cotton, bamboo, or natural latex. They can also be called natural mattresses, as they are made from materials naturally found in the environment and don't contain artificial materials or chemicals.
What is a hypoallergenic mattress?
A hypoallergenic mattress is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. It usually prevents dust mites from penetrating the mattress, which reduces the risk of triggering allergies. Some hypoallergenic mattresses may also be called anti-allergy mattresses or allergy-free mattresses.
What mattress sizes are available to buy?
Our mattresses are available in all the common UK sizes, with a few European sizes as an extra bonus! These sizes are:
- Small single
- Single
- Small double
- Double
- King size
- Super king size
- European single
- European small double
Find out more about mattress sizes in our mattress size guide. Make sure you choose the right mattress for your bed size - you don't want one to be bigger!
What level of firmness should my mattress be?
When looking for your new mattress, you'll probably notice that each is given a firmness rating. Some are 'soft', while others are 'firm'. You may be wondering, 'Who is a firm mattress best for?' or have questions along these lines. The firmness of a mattress is how much mattress tension it has, so how much give a mattress has when you rest on it.
The most common mattress firmness ratings include:
- Soft mattresses can often feel like you're sleeping on a cloud and will give way very quickly when you lay on them, making them ideal for lighter sleepers.
- Soft/medium mattresses combine the plushness of a soft mattress whilst adding a little extra support. These are ideal for those who may not enjoy almost sinking into their mattress!
- Medium mattresses are a great neutral option that can accommodate many people's needs, as they may have a layer of soft foam or cushioning on top of a supportive spring structure.
- Medium/firm mattresses straddle the divide between our medium and firm mattress ranges. They tend to lean more towards the supportive side of spring structure but will still offer some of the comforts of a foam or pillowtop mattress.
- Firm mattresses are the perfect choice for those who want to prioritise high levels of body support as they sleep. Their firm level ensures they don't have much give and offer high levels of support.
What is the best mattress type for my sleep position?
Front sleepers
Front sleepers require plenty of support to align their spine naturally. Medium to medium-firm mattresses are the perfect choice for these sleepers as they won't allow your body to sink, which can cause pain due to causing your spine to arch. At the same time, they will provide just enough give that won't force your back into an unnatural position. Our mattresses for front sleepers have been carefully curated to give you all the best mattress options for a comfy and restful sleep.
Back sleepers
Back sleepers need to ensure that their mattress offers a high level of support to help reduce the risk of back pain. As such, we recommend a medium or firm mattress to support some of the most critical pressure points for a back sleeper, including your hips, spine and shoulders. Explore the best mattresses for back sleepers in our unique category that helps take the stress out of choosing.
Side sleepers
Side sleepers are better suited to soft or medium mattresses. These mattresses provide plenty of give and cushion the natural contours of your body as you sleep on your side. As such, they allow your spine to remain aligned and help reduce the pressure on your joints! We've got a range of mattresses that will suit this sleeping position in our mattresses for side sleepers!
What kind of mattress is best for back pain?
How do you choose the right mattress if you suffer back pain or other joint issues? Whilst we can't provide any specific medical advice, some mattresses have been designed to provide comfort and support to help alleviate problems for those who suffer nightly pain.
Figuring out what to look for in a mattress to help you relax is about researching what suits you best. An orthopaedic mattress is specifically designed to provide high support for those suffering from back pain, making it the number one choice for anyone struggling to sleep with back issues.
Another great choice is a memory foam mattress, designed to contour your body throughout the night and provide the ideal support as you sleep! Find out more about these mattresses in our memory foam mattress buying guide. We've also got a specific guide discussing the best mattresses for back pain, or if you're ready to find your perfect sleep partner, check our mattresses for back pain range.
What thickness should a mattress be?
There is no specific mattress thickness for most beds. It's purely down to what type of mattress you buy and your preferences. There are only two types of bed that we would recommend a certain thickness for:
Bunk beds
The mattress for a top bunk be no thicker than 16cm. This is because a top bunk bed has guard rails that add safety, preventing someone from rolling off the top in their sleep. Mattresses thicker than this can prevent the guard rails from doing their job efficiently. For more information on this, check out our bunk bed guide. You'll be pleased to know we have a specific range of bunk bed mattresses to meet your needs!
Ottoman beds
There's no specific rule regarding ottoman beds, but you'll want to ensure that the mattress is thick enough to have enough weight to allow you to use the ottoman mechanism. At the same time, it must not be too thick; otherwise, it might prevent the bed from opening properly and getting caught on the headboard!
How often should you buy a new mattress?
It can be hard to know when to buy a mattress, but it's recommended that you change your mattress every six to eight years to ensure you always get the proper levels of support. However, this isn't always the case; it often depends on how your mattress feels! If you take care of your mattress well, it can last longer than this.
For more information on this outside our mattress guide, check out our guide on how often you should change your mattress!
How can you increase the life of your mattress?
You can take regular steps to ensure your mattress maintains its quality, including these stages in your cleaning routine to protect further and prolong your mattress' life.
- Regularly check the quality of your bed frame, as broken or damaged slats can cause your mattress to sag and lose support.
- Wash your bedding regularly to prevent bacterial build-up for a more hygienic mattress.
- Invest in dry cleaning products, such as anti-bacterial fabric spray, to treat your mattress.
- Vacuum your mattress regularly to prevent bacteria build-up and bed bug infestation.
- Turn and/or rotate your mattress within the recommended time frames for prolonged use.
Our how-to-clean-your-mattress guide contains plenty of useful cleaning tips, including advice on preventing mould from spreading to your mattress!
Can you recycle a mattress?
Yes, you absolutely can recycle a mattress! We'd recommend checking to see if your mattress can be recycled before purchasing a new one – eligible mattresses can be taken apart and given a new lease of life. Metal springs can be melted to become building materials, whilst wadding could be recycled into insulation, bedding and more.
Find out more about the process in our mattress recycling guide. We offer a mattress recycling service that can be added to your basket to make life easier!