Does size really matter? It sure does.
When it comes to picking the perfect mattress, size is one of the most important factors that you need to consider. Some of the popular mattress brands right now include Eve, Casper, and Leesa.
Of course you also need to look at material, firmness, thickness, and other factors, but you also really need to get the size right.
Now size can also be one of the most confusing decision points, and when faced with so many options, you sometimes reach a point when you just don’t want to think about it. How do you determine the right size then? You can start by asking these questions:
1. How much space do I have?
The first thing you need to consider is how much space you have in the room you’re planning to put the mattress in.
It wouldn’t really make sense to buy a king-sized mattress if your room is tiny, because that means your mattress will take 90% of the available space and you’ll have no room left to do anything else.
Your mattress or bed is only one element of your room, and together with all your other furniture, everything’s supposed to blend together perfectly to create this space of relaxation and repose.
Now you can’t really do that if you have very little room to move, and that’s why your space restriction is one of the first things you need to consider.
2. Who will sleep in the mattress?
Once you’ve figured out how much space you have, you need to consider who will actually sleep in the mattress.
Ideally, your mattress length should be at least 4-6 inches longer than the tallest person who will use it. They all vary in width, but the Twin and Full-sized mattresses are 75 inches long, while the King, Queen, Full XL, and Twin XL are all 80 inches long. The California King is the longest at 80 inches.
Paying attention to the height of the people who will use the mattress and measuring it against the length will ensure that everyone has adequate space and there are no feet hanging off the edge.
3. How much space do I need?
Height is not the only consideration. You should also consider exactly how many people are going to sleep in it. If the mattress will be used by a couple, then getting a King is the most ideal.
A King is perfect especially if you’re a couple with young children, because that would give you enough room if there are nights when they’d suddenly want to sleep in your bedroom.
A Queen would still give you enough room while being cost-effective and floor-space-friendly at the same time. For single sleepers, the Twin and Full would be adequate, but if you’re extra tall then get the XL versions.
4. What are my sleeping habits?
It’s not just the size of the people sleeping in the mattress that matters. Their sleeping habits matter as well. Say you’re a single sleeper but you’re the type that likes moving around or tossing and turning at night.
A Twin may be enough for your height, but the 38-inch width wouldn’t give you adequate space to move. For that you’d need the 53 inches of a Full or the 60 inches of a Queen. All the more if you have a sleeping partner.
If your mattress width is too narrow, you might disturb each other and that means neither of you will get a good night’s sleep.
5. What are my future plans?
When shopping for a mattress, you should take a step back and think about what your plans for that mattress are. Say you’re shopping for a mattress for a growing child or teenager.
While a Twin might be enough now, if you want that mattress to last a good 7-8 years then you should probably get something bigger because as the teenager grows taller and bigger, so will his or her need for sleeping space.
If you’re buying a mattress for a guest room, you can never predict if you’ll have a single sleeper or a couple over, so it’s best to get a mattress that will fit both. Even if you’re buying a mattress for one of your teenage children, you can never tell when they’ll have friends over, and that’s why it’s best if you get a mattress that’s ready for any future needs.
By asking these questions, you will more or less get an idea of what size you should get. You can pick among the standard sizes offered by most mattress companies: Twin (38” x 75”), Twin XL (38” x 80”), Full (53” x 75”), Full XL (53” x 80”), Queen (60” x 80”), King (76” x 80”), and California King (72” x 84”). You can also get custom-sized mattresses if you really have unique dimensions.