Author: Texas Mattress Makers

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Bad Mattress Symptoms: 7 Signs You May Have a Bad Mattress

Bad Mattress Symptoms

If you’re not sure whether your sleep issues are caused by your bed or another issue, it can be helpful to be able to identify bad mattress symptoms. After all, sleeping on a bad mattress can affect your overall health by weakening your immune system, causing you to develop respiratory issues, and increasing your likelihood of developing depression or other mental health disorders.

What follows are seven bad mattress symptoms that are signs you could be sleeping on a bad mattress. If you experience any combination of these symptoms, it could be time to replace your old mattress with a new one. 

Don’t feel like reading? Check out our Snooze News on when to replace your mattress.

1. You wake up tired

Ever wondered, “How can a bad mattress affect you?” The most crucial way a bad mattress can affect your day-to-day life is by depriving you of much needed sleep. However, most people associate not getting enough sleep with problems falling asleep. The result of this understanding is that it’s easy to miss out on the fact that your mattress is depriving you of sleep. 

Most people blame waking up tired on the stresses of their day when, in reality, you may be waking up tired because you are tossing and turning during the night. In other words, even though you are falling asleep with ease, your mattress is causing you discomfort throughout the night, and you’re waking up tired as a result. All of this is why we prefer to ask our customers whether or not they wake up tired instead of whether or not they have trouble falling asleep. 

Waking up tired is one of the key indicators of a bad mattress and is one of our top bad mattress symptoms. 

A night or two of bad sleep is one thing, but sleep deprivation can cause a lot of problems to your overall health. After all, we need sleep to function. If you find that you’re constantly waking up tired even after a “full night’s sleep,” it could be a sign that you’re sleeping on a bad mattress.

2. You wake up with aches and pains 

Can a bad mattress cause body aches? Yes. Aches and pains are another one of the top bad mattress symptoms to watch for. If you’re waking up with aches and pains in places like your lower back, neck, and shoulders, it’s possible that your mattress is not providing the support you need while sleeping. 

It could be that your mattress is too soft, that you’re sleeping on a component that makes you hot, or any other variety of factors. Finding the best mattress for your body type is an essential part of getting a good night’s sleep. Texas Mattress Makers works with you to find the best fit for your body type and sleep habits and needs. 

3. Your mattress is sagging 

How comfortable you are while lying in your bed is a crucial factor in getting a good night’s sleep. If you’re experiencing discomfort, your mattress could be lumpy, sagging, or uneven in areas, causing it to not be as supportive.  

How can you tell if your mattress is sagging? If you see indentations where your body usually lies while sleeping, then it’s likely that that is a natural body impression. However, if you’re noticing sagging or dips in areas throughout your mattress where you don’t sleep, that is most likely mattress sag, and you should consider investing in a new mattress. 

To make more sense of this issue, which is admittedly one of the more confusing bad mattress symptoms, simply check out our blog regarding sagging mattresses vs. body impressions. 

4. You have trouble falling asleep

If you have trouble falling and staying asleep or find yourself tossing and turning, that is another bad mattress symptom which may indicate that your mattress isn’t right for your body type. While the average person changes their sleeping position around 50 times per night, that isn’t necessarily a good thing. All of that moving during the night can lead to aches, soreness, and sleep deprivation. A deep, good night’s sleep should not be interrupted so frequently.  

5. Your mattress is making noises

If you hear creaking or unfamiliar noises coming from your mattress, it is a likely indicator that the components of your mattress are breaking down and that you need a replacement mattress.  

Mattress noises may also be an indication of a bad box spring. And can a bad box spring ruin a mattress? Absolutely. A broken, uneven, or poorly mad box spring can allow your mattress to settle in weird positions, reducing the integrity of your mattress. Choosing the right box spring for your mattress can play a huge part in whether your mattress lasts. (Because of this issue, try to refrain from jumping on your bed, no matter how fun it looks!) 

6. Your mattress is over 8 years old

Less of a “bad mattress symptom” and more of a fact, this ubiquitous “lifespan” recommendation does bear some truth to it. Different mattresses have different lifespans depending on how they’re made, the components used in the mattress, and how it is being taken care of. High-quality components can last around 20 years while more budget-friendly options can last around 8 years. It all depends on you and what you need in a mattress. You can check out the Texas Mattress Mattress article on how often to buy a new mattress to better understand when you should replace your mattress based on the mattress you invested in originally.

7. You sleep better when you’re not sleeping on your mattress

While many of us sleep better on vacation because… well… we’re on vacation. But realizing that your vacation is also a “vacation” from your regular mattress is another one of the bad mattress symptoms that should not go overlooked. These mattress vacations don’t have to take place in a 5 star hotel either. If you notice that you sleep better on your couch, on a guest bed, or in a recliner than you do on your own mattress, then it may be high time for you to start looking at new mattresses. 

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Experiencing one or more of these bad mattress symptoms? Texas Mattress Makers is here to help. 

It’s a sad day when your couch is more comfortable than your mattress, but with the help of the sleep experts at Texas Mattress Makers, you can overcome bad mattress symptoms with ease and get back to getting a full night’s sleep in your own bed.   

Again, your mattress is an investment for your physical and mental health, so it’s important to do research and speak to the experts at Texas Mattress Makers about finding the right mattress for you. If, after reading this article, you believe your mattress is showing the signs and symptoms of being a bad mattress, it may be time to replace it. 

If you’re looking into replacing your mattress, look no further than Texas Mattress Makers. All of our mattresses are handmade in Texas with top-of-the-line components that can help you get the best quality sleep for years to come. Contact us to chat with a mattress expert today.

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How Often Should You Replace a Mattress?

How Often Should you Replace a Mattress?

When customers ask us, “How often should you replace a mattress?” they typically expect us to answer with a certain date range. For example, even the National Sleep Foundation gives a fairly blanket recommendation of replacing your mattress every 6-8 years. In reality, however, the answer is much more complicated.

Here are our top tips for how to tell when you need a new mattress without relying on a standard that may not apply to your mattress.

What is the Average Life Expectancy of a Mattress? 

The average life expectancy of a typical mattress is around 8 years. This average is based both upon how long the typical mattress lasts and upon the duration of the financing and warranty deals made by “big box” mattress stores. But the idea that all mattresses should be replaced after 8 years is one of the industry’s biggest mattress myths. 

Can a mattress last 20 years? Yes! 

In fact, some of the mattresses we create at Texas Mattress Makers are built to last even longer than that — to the point you’ll get tired of the mattress (i.e. start hankering for a new one “just because”) before the mattress gets tired of you. Many of our hybrid mattresses, and pretty much any mattress that we sell for $1,500 or more have a life expectancy of 10+ years. 

Why do some mattresses last longer than others? 

The life expectancy of your mattress is highly dependent upon the type of components used when making it. Higher-quality components are simply going to last longer. 

And even two of the exact same mattresses can last different lengths of time depending on the different types of wear and tear they are subject to, the body types of the people who sleep on them, the quality of the box spring they rest upon, and more. 

For more information, check out our Snooze News video! 

How Do I Know if My Mattress is Worn Out? 

If the answer to the question, “How often should you replace your mattress?” isn’t straightforward, then how can you tell if your mattress is worn out? Fortunately, there are several surefire signs that you might want to start saving up for a new sleeping surface. 

1. Your mattress is sagging or displaying other signs of wear and tear 

One of the most common signs that your mattress is on its way out is that it starts sagging. Sagging occurs when the components of your mattress begin to break down over time. Unfortunately, there is often a lot of confusion regarding how sagging mattresses (bad) are different from mattresses with body impressions (good), as well as the difference between mattress components that are breaking down (bad) instead of breaking in (good). For more information, please see our article: Sagging Mattress vs. Body Impression

Other physical signs of wear and tear include lumps in your mattress and mattresses that make noises when you get into them or when you move around in them. 

2. You wake up tired and in pain 

A lot of people will point to tossing and turning as one of the more common bad mattress symptoms, but the truer indicator of a bad mattress is whether or not you wake up feeling well and rested. Not everyone is aware that they are tossing and turning as they sleep; some people have no problem at all falling and staying asleep on a mattress that doesn’t suit them. 

Instead, the best way to measure how your mattress is performing in terms of your sleep is by checking in with how you feel when you wake up. Do you have recurring pain points on your body? Do you feel worn out even though you’ve been consistently getting your full eight hours of beauty rest? 

3. You have kept your mattress on a bad box spring 

Can a bad box spring ruin a mattress? Yes, your bed’s box spring plays an important role in lengthening the lifespan of your mattress. On top of keeping your mattress off of the floor and further away from dust and allergens, box springs also help keep your mattress on a level surface. Even if you have invested in a higher-quality mattress, a bad box spring can take years off of that mattress’s lifespan. 

4. Your allergies or asthma get worse after you sleep 

Unfortunately, you may not be the only thing that “comes to rest” on your mattress. Dust mites and other allergens can easily make their way into your mattress and settle there for the long term. The likelihood of this occurring is especially high if you don’t use and regularly wash your mattress cover, if you sleep with your pets, or if you keep your mattress on the floor. Over time, all that dust and allergens build up and can make your allergies much worse. 

Pro tip: If you’re shopping for a new mattress because your previous mattress is making your allergies act up, you may wish to look into mattresses that use latex components. Latex is naturally allergen-resistant. Simply ask one of our sales associates (either in-store or online) about our all-latex mattresses or about our hybrid mattresses that use latex in the comfort layer! 

5. It wasn’t the right mattress to begin with 

One of the most overlooked answers to the question, “How often should you replace your mattress?” is the simplest answer: As soon as you recognize that your mattress isn’t working for you. 

If you made a mistake and purchased a mattress that wasn’t the best mattress for your body type, then that may be a lot sooner than you anticipated. Even so, getting a good night’s sleep is so important to your overall health that we simply cannot recommend delaying the purchase of a new mattress to make your old mattress feel “worth it.” 

Maybe your mattress is old, or maybe your mattress is too soft or too firm for your liking. No matter the reason, you can rest assured that we keep our mattresses affordable year-round. That way, you don’t have to start looking into when is the best time to buy a mattress; at Texas Mattress Makers, we are budget-friendly every day of the year.   

Still Not Sure How Often You Should Replace Your Mattress? The Experts at Texas Mattress Makers Can Help. 

Knowing how often you should replace your mattress isn’t easy. If you aren’t sure whether or not your mattress is on its last legs, come speak with the mattress experts at Texas Mattress Makers. We can help give you an honest assessment of whether or not you should replace your mattress. Should you decide that it’s time to invest in a new sleeping surface, we will work hard to help find you the best mattress for your sleeping needs. 

Visit any of our mattress stores in Katy, Downtown Houston, The Woodlands, Rosenberg, Humble, or Baybrook, TX, or shop online.

Questions? Contact us to chat with a mattress expert today! 

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What is the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers?

What is the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers?

If you sleep on your side and are on the lookout for a new mattress, chances are you’ve asked the question, “What is the best mattress for side sleepers?” Unfortunately, while many online sources will point you to specific brands or different variations of a bed-in-a-box, there is no single answer to this question. 

While side sleeping is certainly a category of its own, there are many other factors to take into consideration. Height, weight, weight placement, and preference for a soft vs firm mattress all play a  role in determining what is the best mattress for a side sleeper. 

Texas Mattress Makers is here to help clarify how to take all of these different elements into account when searching for your next new mattress. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about finding the best mattress for the side sleepers in your life. 

Want to start at the beginning? Check out our guides to How to Choose a Mattress, Finding the Right Mattress for Your Body Type, or simply take our mattress quiz.   

What You Need to Know About Sleeping on Your Side

It is estimated that over 70% of people sleep on their sides at some point during the night, making side sleeping the most popular sleeping position (as opposed to back, stomach, or combination sleeping). 

Side sleeping is also the most highly recommended sleeping position by most doctors, although it does come with some drawbacks if you are not sleeping on a good mattress.  

Benefits of sleeping on your side

If you are sleeping on a mattress that’s fitted to your needs, sleeping on your side may:

  • Help improve breathing, circulation, digestion, and brain health  
  • Help prevent snoring and sleep apnea
  • Reduce heartburn, especially for pregnant women  

Drawbacks to sleeping on your side 

If you are sleeping on a mattress that’s not fitted to your needs, sleeping on your side may: 

  • Increase pressure on certain parts of the body, including the shoulders and hips 
  • Some individuals may also feel increased pressure in their ankles, knees, neck, and ears

Why are you more likely to reap certain health benefits by sleeping on your side as opposed to other sleeping positions? Two words: spinal alignment. Spinal alignment is the key to a good night’s sleep, and sleeping on your side is, quite simply, the easiest way to achieve proper spinal alignment while sleeping. 

All of that said, sleeping on your side without a good mattress will likely cut down on these potential benefits and leave you struggling with aches and pains. The way your body lays on the mattress as you side sleep increases pressure points in certain areas, especially your shoulders. 

The key to solving this problem is to find a mattress that provides the perfect combination of cushion, contouring, and support. All side sleepers need some amount of cushioning to help prevent the creation of pressure points in the hips and shoulders. 

What is the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers? Answering FAQs. 

Texas Mattress Makers gives you the 411 on some of the top questions we receive from side sleepers, as well as some general mattress recommendations for side sleepers to help you start your search. 

What is the best mattress firmness for side sleepers?  

In the mattress industry, firmness and softness refer to the feel of a mattress, whereas support refers to the mattress’s way of providing spinal alignment. In other words, individuals of different weights need different levels of support, whereas individuals of all types of weights can have their own preferences for softness or firmness. 

That means that there is no real “best” firmness for side sleepers; you can find a mattress that provides a soft feel, medium feel, medium-firm feel, or firm feel, and, so long as it comes with appropriate corresponding level of support, make that mattress work for you.  

As a side sleeper, you will need a mattress with enough support to keep your spine aligned but also enough cushion in the comfort area to provide pressure point relief for your shoulders and your hips.  Different components, such as different foams or foam alternatives, can be used in the comfort layer to help provide pressure point relief while still giving you a variety of feels for your individual comfort preference    

The best way to find a mattress that marries these two concepts to best suit your needs is to visit a trusted mattress retailer. Since Texas Mattress Makers manufacturers each and every one of our mattresses, we know the ins and outs of how they are made. Our mattress experts can quickly help you identify what type of mattress will work best for you. 

What is the best mattress for side sleepers with back pain, neck pain, etc.? 

If you are a side sleeper struggling with shoulder pain, neck pain, hip pain, or other pain in pressure point areas, the support layer and comfort layer of your mattress have created a surface that is either too supportive, too firm, or a combination of both. Start by looking for a mattress with a softer comfort layer, especially if you are lightweight.

If you are a side sleeper struggling with back pain, the support layer and comfort layer of your mattress have likely created a surface that is either not supportive enough, too soft, or a combination of both. Start by looking at hybrid mattresses with a more supportive base layer, especially if you are a heavyweight sleeper. 

What is the best type of mattress for side sleepers? 

Just like there is no one best mattress firmness for side sleepers, there is also no one best type of mattress for side sleepers. We constantly receive questions along the lines of Is a pillow top mattress good for side sleepers? or What is the best memory foam mattress for side sleepers? While we can provide a general recommendation, it’s better to look for a mattress based on the specific needs of the buyer. 

Hybrid mattresses:

At Texas Mattress Makers, we sell more hybrid mattresses than any other types of mattresses. That’s because the makeup of hybrid mattresses — an individually wrapped coil support layer and a soft (memory foam, latex, etc.) comfort layer — naturally provides a wide variety of support and feel options. We can hand craft a mattress to meet the needs of sleepers with varying heights, weights, feel preferences, support needs, and temperature control needs. 

Pillow top/Euro top mattresses: 

Our handmade pillow top mattresses and Euro top comfort layers are crafted to help relieve aches and pains, making them particularly beneficial to side sleepers who have hip and shoulder problems due to their pressure-relieving properties. 

Please note that we do not carry Euro top mattresses in our inventory, but we can customize any mattress to feature a Euro top comfort layer.

Innerspring mattresses: 

While we would not recommend innerspring mattresses for a long-term, supportive sleeping solution, they still provide a perfect, cost-efficient option for limited-use spaces such as guest beds or for growing children and young adult side sleepers.

100% memory foam mattresses: 

All-memory foam mattresses have received a lot of hype over the past few decades. While their cushioning and contouring properties make them truly great options for some side sleepers, they are less ideal for the general population than many mattress retailers would have you believe. 

For example, 100% memory foam mattresses can be perfect for lightweight side sleepers who do not sleep hot, but will likely create comfort issues for heavier individuals (and will definitely be uncomfortable if you sleep hot.) 

This is not to say that everyone can’t enjoy the cushioning benefits of memory foam; if you love the feel of memory foam but shouldn’t sleep on an all-memory foam mattress, check out hybrid mattresses with a memory foam or foam alternative comfort layer! 

100% latex mattresses: 

All-latex mattresses are more eco-friendly, sleep cooler, and provide a more resilient (i.e. bouncy) sleeping surface than their memory foam cousins. Like 100% memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses are not ideal for all body types. If you love the feel of latex but shouldn’t sleep on an all-latex mattress, we manufacture hybrid mattress options that use latex in the comfort layer. 

What is the Best Mattress for Side Sleepers? Our Recommendations. 

While it’s better to pick a mattress that meets your needs across multiple factors, you have to start somewhere! Here are our top picks for certain mattresses, keeping in mind one important element of the mattress selection process. 

Our expert pick: 

Ultra Soft feel: Hotel Comfort Mattress

Medium Firm: Hybrid Plus Mattress 

Firm feel: Hybrid Plus Natural Mattress

Best memory foam mattress for side sleepers:

Soft feel: Quantum™ Mattress

Firm feel: 100% Foam Mattress

Best hybrid mattress for side sleepers: 

Soft feel: Hotel Comfort Mattress

Medium Feel: Hybrid Plus Mattress 

Firm feel: Hybrid Plus Natural Mattress

Best mattress for heavy side sleepers:

Soft and Firm feel: Quantum™ Natural Mattress 

Best mattress for light side sleepers:

Soft feel: Hotel Comfort Mattress

Firm feel: Hybrid Plus Mattress 

Best for hot sleepers:

Soft feel: Hotel Comfort Mattress

Medium Feel: Hybrid Plus Mattress 

Firm feel: Hybrid Plus Mattress 

Pro tip: Looking for the “best mattress for side sleepers with shoulder pain,” the “best mattress for side sleepers with back pain,” or something similar? If you are experiencing regular pain while sleeping, we highly recommend visiting us in person. When it comes to pain management, we cannot in good conscience make a blanket recommendation online; there are simply too many potential factors at play.  

Other Considerations for Side Sleepers 

Do you and your partner have significantly different sleeping needs? Not to worry. A custom, split king-size, or dual comfort mattress made by Texas Mattress Makers allows the two different sides of your mattress to be tailored to fit the needs of each spouse. For sleeping partners who don’t mind having a separate mattress from your spouse (or who each want the luxury of using an adjustable base on their own), there is also the option of a split king mattress. 

For more information, please explore our custom mattress options, dual comfort mattresses, split king mattresses, and our Split King vs. King Mattresses article. 

Find the Best Mattress for the Side Sleepers in Your Life 

Still unsure of what is the best mattress for side sleepers? With over four decades of experience, the mattress experts at Texas Mattress Makers can help you determine the best mattress for the side sleepers in your household. 

Your good night’s sleep is our passion. We hand make all of our mattresses with materials sourced right here in the United States, and are always here to answer any questions you may have about the mattress buying process. 

You can explore our full selection of handmade mattresses online or in-store. Visit any of our convenient Houston locations today!

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Top Signs & Reasons Your Mattress is Too Soft

Mattress is too Soft?

When one night’s bad sleep turns into multiple nights, it’s natural to wonder if your mattress is too soft or too firm. And when you get the sneaking suspicion that the softness of your mattress is to blame for your restless night, you’ll likely have questions, such as Can a soft mattress hurt your back? or Can a too-soft mattress cause hip pain? 

With over four decades of experience helping our customers find the perfect mattress for their sleeping needs, the mattress experts at Texas Mattress Makers can answer these questions and more. In this guide to the top signs and reasons your mattress is too soft, we’ll cover the difference between mattress feel and mattress support, which indicators suggest your mattress may be too soft, and the reasons why your mattress may be too soft. 

Fed up with your mattress? Ready for a fresh start? Check out our page on How to Choose a Mattress and learn how to avoid common mattress-buying pitfalls, or take our mattress quiz. 

Top signs your mattress is the culprit behind your sleep problems 

Your mattress plays a significant role in your ability to get a good night’s sleep — but it’s not the only factor at play. Before going out and spending money on a new mattress, as yourself the following questions: 

  1. Are you tossing and turning?
  2. Do you wake up tired and drowsy? 
  3. Do you wake up with aches and pains that fade over the course of the day?  
  4. Are you more comfortable on a different sleeping surface, such as your couch or guest bed? 

A “yes” answer to any one of these questions points in the direction of an issue with your sleeping surface. If you answered “yes” to all three of them, you should definitely consider investing in a new mattress. 

Top 3 reasons why a mattress is too soft

In many cases, support, not softness, is at the heart of your mattress issues. In the mattress industry, the terms “firm” and “soft” refer to the feel of a mattress, while “support” refers to a mattress’s ability to keep your spine in healthy alignment. These distinctions are important to keep in mind when reading about supportive or soft vs. firm mattresses. 

Both firm and soft-feeling mattresses can be supportive; both can also be unsupportive. You can also have a firm feeling mattress that is less supportive than a soft feeling one. And so on. So while a mattress can definitely feel too soft for someone’s liking, that’s typically a preference or comfort issue, whereas the real issue is with the mattress’s support.  

In other words, it’s more useful to talk about why a mattress isn’t supportive enough, as opposed to whether or not it’s too soft. Here are the top reasons why mattresses with less support don’t work for certain body types / sleeping positions. 

1. You sleep on your stomach or back and aren’t getting enough mattress support

If you sleep on your stomach or your back, the majority of your weight is placed on your hips. If your mattress isn’t supportive enough, your hips will sink into the surface of your mattress, throwing your spine out of alignment. For example, if you sleep on your stomach and your back looks “U-shaped,” then your mattress is either not supportive enough, or the comfort layer of your mattress is too soft. 

2. You are heavier and aren’t getting enough mattress support

If you weigh more than average for your height, your mattress needs to have a stronger support system to keep your spine in alignment. You can still find mattresses that offer a soft feel, but you will want a mattress that uses supportive base components like our individually wrapped coil or Quantum Coil mattress components. 

3. You and your partner have a significant difference in weight

If one partner is heavier while the other is lighter, you may have difficulty finding a mattress that truly fits both of your sleeping needs. A mattress that is supportive enough for a very lightweight person may be inadequate for someone with a larger build. Meanwhile, a mattress that is supportive enough for someone with a larger build may not allow a lightweight person’s body to sink into the mattress enough to get the support they need. 

For more information on finding a mattress that fits your body’s needs, please see our guide to finding the right mattress for your body type. 

Our best soft-feeling mattresses that offer support

Mattress manufacturers are able to create many different types of mattresses, including soft-but-supportive mattresses, by using different component combinations. For example, in hybrid mattresses, a supportive individually wrapped coil component is typically used in the bottom layer (or support layer), while a softer layer (such as memory foam) is used in the top layer (or comfort layer).

Our Top Soft Mattress Picks 

General solutions for when your mattress is too soft 

If you like the feel of a soft mattress but need extra support, a hybrid mattress can provide this for you. Alternatively, if your mattress is actually supportive enough but you prefer the feeling of a firmer surface, you can also find hybrid mattresses that offer the same level of support as your soft mattress but with a firmer feel. 

There are also options for when you and your spouse have radically different sleeping needs. A custom, king-size, dual comfort mattress made by Texas Mattress Makers allows you and your partner to have two different mattress feels and support systems integrated into one mattress. Each side of the mattress is tailored to the needs of each spouse and is as big as a twin XL mattress, but from the outside the dual comfort mattresses look like one mattress. 

For sleeping partners who don’t mind having a separate mattress from your spouse (or who each want the luxury of using an adjustable base on their own), a split king mattress is another alternative. Split king bed frames hold two separate twin-XL mattresses which can each be of their own specifications. Split king mattresses are also ideal for couples who struggle with motion transfer during the night. 

Is My Mattress Too Soft or Firm? Or is it Something Else? Texas Mattress Makers Can Help. 

It’s not always easy to tell if your mattress is too soft, if it isn’t supportive enough, or if another issue is keeping you up at night. With over four decades of experience, the mattress experts at Texas Mattress Makers can help you determine what issues you’re having with your current mattress, as well as help you find a replacement that will suit your needs. 

Your good night’s sleep is our passion. You can explore our full selection of handmade mattresses online or in-store. Simply choose to shop by either comfort level, mattress type, mattress size, or budget or come and visit any of our convenient Houston locations today!

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Firm vs. Soft Mattress: Is One Better Than the Other?

Couple touching mattress

When choosing a new mattress, most individuals have an opinion as to whether they prefer a firm vs. soft mattress. From firm to medium-firm, and from soft to ultra-soft, almost everyone has a favorite mattress comfort level.

However, most individuals also know that they should get a supportive mattress — and since firmness is often equated with supportiveness, this can lead to confusion. Is a soft mattress bad for you? Are all firm mattresses good for you?

Frankly, the answers to these questions depend on your preferred sleeping position, weight, and body type. Ultimately, though, it’s almost always possible to find either a soft or firm mattress that can satisfy your sleeping needs and preferences when you work with a mattress manufacturer you can trust. 

Learn how Texas Mattress Makers makes this possible and get answers to your top questions about investing in a firm vs. soft mattress. 

The Difference Between “Firm” and “Supportive” 

Before we get any further into the discussion of firm vs. soft mattresses, there’s one point that we need to address: the difference between a firm mattress and a supportive one. 

In the mattress world, a supportive mattress is one that promotes proper spinal alignment. Your spine has natural curves in it that should stay in their natural position when you lay down. A supportive mattress helps keep your spine neutral; it doesn’t “flatten” these curves, exacerbate them, or add additional curvatures. 

Meanwhile, firmness, along with softness, plushness, etc., are terms that apply to the feel or comfort of a mattress. In other words, a mattress can feel soft and be supportive, and not all firm-feeling mattresses are naturally supportive. So long as they are properly manufactured, a supportive mattress can be made to accommodate almost all preferences for feel.

So, Is a Softer or Firmer Mattress Better? 

To this question we must reply with another: Better for whom? The feel of a mattress (firm vs. soft) is a personal preference. The important thing to keep in mind is that, soft or firm, your mattress must have the right support to give you a truly good night’s sleep. Supportive mattresses can be created in various ways. For example, imagine one of our hybrid mattresses, perhaps one that uses our Quantum mattress component as a support (i.e. base) layer to your mattress. 

All individually wrapped coil components are composed of individually wrapped coils that move independently of one another, allowing each spring to compress to the exact curvature of your body. In the case of the quantum coil, which uses micro coils and has about 200% more coils than your normal hybrid mattress, this creates a very supportive and firm-feeling sleeping surface for certain body types. 

The addition of a comfort layer on top of this supportive base layer can be a gamechanger. Depending on the material used in the comfort layer (latex, memory foam, etc.), a variety of firm to soft mattress feels can be achieved without sacrificing support. 

The same effect can be achieved in our other hybrid mattresses, not just ones using the quantum coil component. Mattresses of different feels and support levels can be made by placing mattress components like these into various combinations until you get the exact mattress that meets both your sleeping needs and preferences. 

Concerned that a soft mattress may start sagging on you? See our article on Body Indentations vs. Sagging.

Firm vs. Soft Mattresses for Each Sleep Position 

Trying to decide between a firm vs. soft mattress for side sleepers? Or a firm vs. soft mattress for back sleepers? Even though a supportive mattress can be made to accommodate almost all preferences for feel, a person should still consider their sleeping position when considering their preferred mattress feel. 

People who sleep in certain positions or who have certain body types are more naturally suited to particular types and feels of mattresses.

Side sleepers

If you sleep on your side or like to switch your sleeping position during the night, you may consider purchasing a mattress with a soft or medium feel. When you sleep on your side, naturally wider areas of your body like your hips and shoulders tend to sink deeper in the mattress. The soft top layers of a mattress can provide these areas with extra cushion and contouring, alleviating pressure points while still keeping your spine aligned.

Back and stomach sleepers

If you sleep on your back or stomach, you will likely be better off with a medium to a firmer-feeling mattress. When sleeping in these positions, the heaviest part of your body, your hips, tend to sink further in your mattress. A firm mattress helps keep your hips elevated, preventing aches and pains in your back. 

Combination sleepers

True combination sleepers are more likely to fare better with a medium-soft or medium-firm mattress, as these options provide the most versatility for your varied positions while also making it easier for you to switch from one position to another. 

That said, we encourage you to pay attention to the sleeping position that you tend to gravitate toward when you get into bed. This sleeping position may actually be your preferred sleeping position, and you may simply be tossing and turning due to discomfort from a mattress that doesn’t suit your needs.

Firm vs. Soft Mattress Back Pain

Whether your back pain is caused by your mattress or from other activities or injuries, a bad mattress will only make things worse. Generally, those who suffer from back pain need to look for a very supportive mattress that is also on the firmer side. If you suffer from chronic pain, we highly recommend speaking to one of our mattress experts to find a mattress that can help alleviate your symptoms. 

If you have questions now, you can also chat with a Texas Mattress Makers expert online.

What if Me and My Partner Have Different Mattress Needs?  

Many partners are able to find a mattress that suits both their needs. Should your needs differ significantly, however, you still have options. One option is a dual comfort mattress — a single mattress made so that each side caters to you and your partner’s specific preference. Our dual comfort mattresses can be made with queen-size and above. Just keep in mind that this option must be purchased at one of our locations or by talking to one of our experts online or over the phone.  Another option is a split king mattress — two separate mattresses housed within one bed frame. Both options can provide a solution to the problem of different sleeping needs. 

For more information, see our article about king vs. split king mattresses.

Don’t Know Whether you Should be Buying a Firm vs. Soft Mattress? We Can Help! 

Deciding between a firm vs. soft mattress is just one part of the process of finding a mattress that will bring your rest and comfort night after night. With so many factors to keep in mind, choosing a mattress can quickly become overwhelming. 

At Texas Mattress Makers, we have over four decades of experience manufacturing mattresses and helping our customers find the best mattress for their particular sleep needs, preferences, and budget. All of our mattresses are hand-crafted by our team, allowing us to provide our customers with high-quality products while passing on savings. 

If you already know what you’re looking for, you can browse our full selection of handmade mattresses online. Simply choose to shop by either comfort level, mattress type, mattress size, or budget and chat with an expert online if you have questions. 

Or if you would prefer to get a feel for our mattresses in-person, visit us at any of our convenient Houston locations today!

More Helpful Articles by Texas Mattress Makers: 

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Snooze News Ep. 43: The Gift of Mobility

Snooze News Ep 38

You’ve heard us talk about the importance of sleep for many years. But what if there’s a cause more important than that? A cause that will forever change the life of a family with a single gift. Well this week we’re doing something a little different because there is something more important than sleep. The cause we’re talking about is mobility and the gift is a wheelchair-accessible van that will allow a family with a child with special needs the ability to enter and exit the van with ease and efficiency. That’s a cause that we believe in. That’s a cause that we had the honor and privilege of participating in through our partners at Houston Children’s Charity.

Most of us take for granted that ability to quickly get in our car and go to the store, restaurant, doctor, movie theater or park. But what if that meant lifting a member of your family in and out of the car? A car that isn’t designed to fit them or their wheelchair. We can tell you – it’s not only difficult, but it’s unsafe…and that’s where the Greater Houston community comes together to solve that issue for as many families as possible.

This year, the team at Texas Mattress Makers joined forces with the generous young professionals of Young Houstonians for Houston Children’s Charity to donate a van and change a life.

Houston Children’s Charity’s Chariots for Children program provides safe and efficient transportation to families of disabled, wheelchair-bound children through handicapped accessible vans. Since 1996, the charity has awarded over 180 vans to local families in need.

Thank you Houston Children’s Charity and Young Houstonians for Houston Children’s Charity (YHHCC) for allowing Texas Mattress Makers to play a role in giving back to these families.

Watch the Video for the Family’s Reaction

For more information about this program visit Houston Children’s Charity.

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Snooze News Ep. 44: How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?

Snooze News Ep 38

How do you know when it’s time to replace your mattress? Every eight years – right? Not so fast! Keep reading to learn the most common signs that it’s time to come see your friends at Texas Mattress Makers for a new mattress.

6 Signs You Need A New Mattress

1. You Sleep Better Somewhere Else

If sleeping at a friend’s house or a hotel offers you a more restful night’s sleep than you get at home, it may be time. Your mattress at home may have broken down and is now offering you less support. Which leads into…

2. Deep Indentation or Sagging

If your mattress has a body impression of less than two inches where you sleep, that’s not an issue. It’s like getting a new pair of shoes and breaking them in over the first week – totally normal. But, if your mattress has more than a two-inch sag (or dip) where you sleep, it is likely that the components of your mattress have fully broken down and are not supportive. It’s time to come see us.

3. You Consistently Wake Up in Pain

If you consistently go to sleep feeling good and then wake up in pain or achy in your mid or lower back, hips or arms, you’re sleeping either on a mattress that is past its prime or you are sleeping on the wrong mattress. Come see us and we’ll custom fit you in the proper mattress for your sleep position, gender and body type.

4. You Toss and Turn

If you go to sleep in your preferred sleep position (back, side, stomach) and wake up multiple times a night to shift position, that’s a key sign that your body is experiencing discomfort throughout the night. A deep, restful night’s sleep shouldn’t be interrupted – stop the tossing and turning today!

5. Your Mattress is Making a Noise

If your mattress is creaking or making a noise that it didn’t a few months ago, something has gone wrong on the inside. Watch the video to learn how to isolate the noise to make sure it’s not your box spring that’s the issue.

6. Life Stage Change

If you’re moving, getting married or your body has significantly changed for any reason, it’s the right time to consider a new mattress. Whether you need a new size mattress for a new home or apartment, or there’s a significant other joining you in bed, we’re here to make sure everyone’s happy.

 

Remember, your mattress is an investment in your health (physically, mentally and emotionally). For less than $2 a day you can transform the way you sleep, boost your energy and focus, and live an overall more productive life.

Check out the full episode to learn more!

If you’re concerned about shopping in store, we do offer online purchasing as well as an online sleep quiz to help find the best mattress for you. Our experts have spent 40 years perfecting your best night’s sleep. This quiz was made by those same experts with our customers in mind to provide you with your best mattress. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 713-341-6252.
[cta url=”https://www.texasmattressmakers.com/#tmm-quiz” class=”btn btn-darkblue”]Take Our Quiz[/cta]

Ready to make the change to a Texas Mattress Maker’s mattress? We’re here for you – or – visit us online 24/7 at texasmattressmakers.com.

Houston – (713) 341-6252; Katy – (832) 437-5646; The Woodlands – (832) 219-9698

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Top 9 Mattresses For A Cooler Sleep

Top 9 Mattresses for a Cooler Sleep

Trying to get a good night’s rest as a hot sleeper can be difficult.  As the months heat up, you might find it harder to get a quality night’s rest. Overheating can be a big problem, especially for us Houstonians, once summer arrives. The good news is you don’t have to suffer.  We offer mattresses with the latest cooling technology that can help you sleep through the night and wake up feeling refreshed!  In this article, we will go over our top mattress recommendations to help you sleep cooler through the night.

Top Mattresses for Hot Sleepers

Do you sleep hot? Rest easy, the experts at Texas Mattress Makers have curated a list specifically for our hot sleepers or those who share a bed with a hot sleeper.

Cool Sleep Sale

Mid-Level Mattresses

The first 6 mattress recommendations are great, mid-level mattresses for budget-conscience buyers.

River Oaks 

Feel: Soft feel ideal for all sleeping positions
Height: 15″

Featured Components: Softech™ Micro Coil Topper, individually wrapped coil system, and stabilizing base foam.

Why Our Experts Like It: The River Oaks Mattress is a soft mattress ideal for any sleep position. The featured components are two types of individually wrapped coils in both the support and comfort layer that allow optimal airflow and a night of cooler sleep.

London Plush Top mattress front view

London

Feel: Medium feel ideal for all sleeping positions
Height: 14″

Featured Components:  Gel memory foam layer, graphite-infused latex, individually wrapped coils with a stabilizing foam support.

Why Our Experts Like It: The London features a universal medium feel with both gel memory foam and graphite-infused latex. The natural graphite mineral infused within the latex helps absorb moisture — keeping you cool while providing optimal plush support.

Geneva DLX mattress side view

Oslo Plush

Feel: Medium-soft feel ideal for all sleeping positions
Height: 15″

Featured Components: Celsion Latex, individually wrapped coils, and stabilizing base foam.

Why Our Experts Like It: The Oslo Plush Mattress is a luxury mattress with 3″ of latex which helps alleviate pressure in your shoulders, hips, and lower back. Latex is a natural, clean component that features an open, rubber cell structure that allows air to flow through creating an escape path for your body heat and helps you sleep cooler.

Oslo Plush mattress

Oslo Plush

Feel: Medium-firm feel ideal for all sleeping positions
Height: 15″

Featured Components: Individually wrapped coils, 3” Graphite Infused Latex and stabilizing foam support.

Why our Experts Like It:  The Oslo Plush Mattress features individually wrapped coils in the support layer which helps keep your spine aligned and promotes airflow making you sleep cooler at night.  The comfort layer features 3″ of Graphite Latex which helps wick away body heat and provides a plush experience to help keep you cool at night.

Cannes Plush DLX mattress side view

Cannes Firm

Feel: Medium-firm feel ideal for back and stomach sleepers
Height: 12″

Featured Components: Individually wrapped coils, extra-firm stabilizing base foam layer, and Ice Blue Cooling Technology Quilt

Why Our Experts Like It: The Cannes Mattress line features brand-new technology infused directly into the quilt of the mattress. This temperature-neutral technology helps regulate your body temperature as you sleep at night ultimately providing you with a cooler sleep. This technology is also featured in two other options on our Nice Plush and Cannes Plush mattresses for those looking for a softer or more plush feel.

Monte Carlo mattress front view

Santa Barbara

Feel: Medium feel ideal for any sleeping position
Height: 14.5″

Featured Components: Individually wrapped coils, extra-firm stabilizing base foam layer, and high-resilience foam comfort layer

Why Our Experts Like It: The Santa Barbara Mattress features two high-performance materials for superior quality — an individually wrapped coil system and a high-resilient comfort foam layer. The high-resiliency foam offers a breathable and plush solution for hot sleepers compared to traditional foams and memory foam. The Active Support Technology® enables each coil to adjust to your sleep movements.

Luxury Mattresses With Unrivaled Support

The last 3 recommendations on our list feature the ultimate in support and stability with the Quantum® Micro Coil System. These mattresses offer luxurious support combined with high-end components that will also keep you cool.

Geneva DLX mattress side view

Geneva Copper Latex

Feel: Medium feel ideal for any sleeping position
Height: 15″

Featured Components: Copper latex, Quantum® Micro Coil System, and extra firm stabilizing base foam layer.

Why Our Experts Like It: The Geneva Mattress features luxurious components for unparalleled support that both cools and provides pain relief. The quantum coil system boasts 200% more coils than a standard mattress which provides better spine alignment for any sleep position. The Copper Latex promotes natural anti-inflammatory properties to soothe aches and keep you cool.

Esteem DLX Plush mattress front view

Athens Graphite Latex

Feel: Firm feel ideal for back and stomach sleepers
Height: 15″

Featured Components: Graphite Latex, Quantum® Micro Coil System, and extra firm stabilizing base foam layer.

Why Our Experts Like It: The Athens Mattress features top-of-the-line, luxurious components for unparalleled support that both cools and wicks away moisture. Graphite infused latex provides all of the benefits of classic Latex with the added benefits of the natural graphite mineral which helps to absorb heat and create a barrier. The quantum coil system boasts 200% more coils than a standard mattress.

Geneva DLX mattress front view

Florence Dual Latex

Feel: Soft feel ideal for side and back sleepers
Height: 16″

Featured Components: 2″ Copper-infused Talalay Latex, 2″ Celsion Talalay Latex, Quantum® Micro Coil System, and extra firm stabilizing base foam layer.

Why Our Experts Like It: The Florence Dual Latex Select mattress combines two different latex layers to create unparalleled comfort. By using both a Celsion and Copper-infused latex layer, this mattress has the comfort of a memory foam, without any of the associated heat. The open cell structure lifts your body and allows for air to flow through your bed, allowing your body heat to escape and helping you to sleep cooler. Plus, the Copper-infused latex offers natural, anti-inflammatory properties designed to relieve aches and pains associated with arthritis symptoms.

Why the Design of Your Mattress Matters

At the end of the day, if you’re worried about sleeping hot, it’s important to remember that our bodies are the heat source. Ultimately we sleep hot because the heat from our bodies is absorbed into the surface of the mattress that we are laying on all night. This means that if our mattress is designed with limited airflow, chances are we’ll wake up sweaty and tired.  We have several components that help promote a cooler sleep.  To read more about components that will offer you a better sleep please view this article.

Components to Avoid:

  • Memory foam
  • Mattresses made entirely of foam

Components to Look For:

  • Individually wrapped coils
  • Latex
  • Comfort coils
  • Open-cell foam
  • High resiliency foam

Unfortunately, there’s no magic resource that keeps you cold as ice at night – at least not yet anyway. But there are multiple components you can utilize (and stay away from – looking at you 100 % memory foam beds…) to help keep you cooler at night. If you have any questions about a mattress or its components, our experts are happy to help whether you buy from us or not.

Call us at (713) 341-6252 – we’re open 7 days a week at a location near you! Or, you can email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to answer any questions you have!

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Snooze News Ep. 37: Sleep Awareness Week

Snooze News Ep. 37: Sleep Awareness Week

In Episode 37 we talk about the importance of sleep as we lead up to National Sleep Awareness week. That’s right – there’s an entire week nationally dedicated to reminding you how important sleep is to your physical and mental health, your emotional well-being and your attitude. Let’s be clear…this isn’t a sales message and we’re not giving you lots of free things (you don’t need) to make you purchase a certain mattress. We want you to sleep on the mattress that is right for you – it’s not a budget decision, it’s a comfort decision.

How Sleep Impacts Your Everyday Life

How’s your New Year’s resolution doing? Still going strong? Going to the gym 3-4 times a week to stay fit and healthy? What about the changes to your diet – those still in effect? If so – great! We are sincerely happy for you! If your New Year has taken a few twists-and-turns, consider this – it may be because you’re not sleeping on the proper bed. National Sleep Awareness Week is coming up and we’re here to remind you that sleep impacts everything you do throughout the day. Let’s talk more…

  • Diet – Your diet and the proper function of your body is directly correlated to how you rest. How your body recovers and functions while you are asleep (deep sleep) determines your diet (metabolism). If you sleep well, it is proven that cravings decrease, and you have a clear mind to make proper dietary decisions throughout the day. Your diet isn’t just about the food you consume, it’s what your body does with it afterwards. Sleep well and notice the change.
  • Emotions / Attitude – We all know the cranky person at home or at the office that stayed up too late watching TV, surfing social media, or watching Texas Mattress Makers videos on YouTube. If you don’t sleep well your emotions and attitude quickly take a turn for the worse. Don’t try to play catch-up with an extra cup of coffee, sleep well for 6-8 hours a night and let the people around you tell you about the change. Sleep well – be happy.
  • Physical Health – More important than your diet or getting in an extra spin class this week – have you considered how you’re sleeping? If you’re not exercising as much as you’d like and your body seems like it’s in a perpetual ‘slump’, it’s very likely because you’re sleeping on the wrong mattress. We all love to post on social media about the new exercise routine we’re trying out…or as Youval says ‘soft goat’…. but how often are you posting ‘slept great last night – ready for a great day’? Let’s start a revolution that celebrates sleep – good sleep that makes you feel great. You ready?

Check out the full episode to learn more!

Ready to make the change to a Texas Mattress Maker’s mattress? We’re here for you – or – visit us online 24/7 at texasmattressmakers.com.

Houston – (713) 341-6252; Katy – (832) 437-5646; The Woodlands – (832) 219-9698

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Snooze News Ep. 36: A Custom Made Mattress For Your Valentine

Ever wonder how a custom mattress is made? Well in honor of Valentines Day and all the love birds who need a different “feel” in their mattress, we’re showing you exactly that in this episode of Snooze News!

Your Mattress; Made Your Way

This dual-comfort mattress features both a high-density foam and wider diameter individually wrapped coil unit on the right and latex with a quantum coil unit, which has a smaller diameter, on the left.

At Texas Mattress Makers, your custom mattress is never over-priced. As the manufacturer we’re able to build your dream mattress at no additional cost. When you purchase a custom mattress from our experts, you can expect:

    • To pay a fair price
    • To be comfortable (come see us if you’re not!)
    • To pick it up or have it delivered within 5 business days.

Check out Episode 36 of Snooze News below to learn more!

If you’re looking for a dual comfort or even a mattress that needs to meet specific dimensions for a boat, RV or antique bed, come see our experts! You can also learn more here and fill out a form to have our experts reach out to you.