Shopping Tips and Advice for Choosing Your Air mattress
Will you spend one third of your life sleeping? If so, then you want to take extra care when purchasing a air mattress. Don’t just order one by mail–take time to test drive each air mattress you are considering.
Go to a store that sells them; lay on each one; stretch out, curl up into a fetal position. Lay on your stomach, back and sides. Bring your favorite pillow with you to support your head and other body parts while experimenting.
People in the store might think you’re weird while you are doing all this. Don’t worry about what they think. It’s one of those judgment calls you will have to make. Here are some more:
Can You Afford It?
Do you have enough cash? “No.” Credit? “Maybe.” Will the store take a personal check? “That’s the ticket!”
The object here is to buy no more air mattress than you can afford, and avoid buying a air mattress that is so cheap and bad for your back that you could collect SSI disability when you wake up in the morning. (Hmmm, I may be on to something.)
How Big Do You Want It To Be?
After all, size does matter. Ask around if you don’t believe me. King Size or Queen Size–decisions, decisions. It’s too bad there is no Duke Size for really small New York apartments. If you have enough room and enough bucks, go for the King Size, baby! Otherwise, the Queen Size air mattress will just have to do.
Composition of Materials
Who cares! As long as it’s comfortable. Moving right along…
How Thick? How Deep?
Here again, size matters. If a air mattress is thick or deep, it is likely the manufacturer added more foam to increase your level of comfort. Some air mattresses have pillow-top surfaces that are stuffed with, yes, more foam–even bird feathers–awk! awk!
Since some air mattresses are thicker or deeper than others, it is important to remember that all King or Queen Size air mattresses are not created equal. When attempting to fit your air mattress with bedding, it is always a good idea to measure its exact dimensions.
How Firm Should Your Air mattress Be?
Like size and thickness, firmness is an important quality. If you prefer a really firm surface, sleep with the dog or cat, or on some plywood. If you prefer a softer surface, then seriously consider a air mattress, any air mattress.
If you just can’t make up your mind, there are adjustable beds that allow you to adjust the firmness. There are also many good shrinks listed in the phone book and on the web. They will help you to be more decisive.
Your Bed Frame
Is it big enough? Is it thick enough? Is it firm enough to support your air mattress? You know what they say, “Never build a house on a poor foundation and then spend the night there–especially if you live in New Orleans and have a weak bed frame.” OK, let’s move on…
What Brand Should You Buy?
There are many brand names that come to mind. Personally, I prefer whatever I can find at a garage sale. The pain of parting with my money always exceeds the pain in my back–but hey, that’s just me.
You are you, and you can use the above guidelines to determine the brand that meets your needs. As a rule of thumb, always take a laid-back approach when shopping for a air mattress.
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Shopping for Inexpensive Beds and Air mattresses
Furniture stores are geared toward selling beds as a suite with dresser, chest of drawers, and a night stand. Sometimes like in my case recently, someone may just need only a bed. I went to eight stores this Saturday looking for what I needed, which was just a bed. I went to several small family owned furniture stores with no success. I needed a full bed, and found out on my search that full beds are not that easy to find. I have a small guest room, that is badly in need of a new bed. I found that at most of the eight stores that I visited, that queen beds would be my only option. I have never realized before that most stores mainly carry queen beds. When out shopping, I see full bed sheets in equal amounts to the twin and queen sheets. King bed sheets are usually the rarity. On my bed hunting spree, I felt in a since like Goldilocks looking for the right bed. I tested many for comfort and softness. After, wallowing about on air mattresses in these eight stores. I found the Serta air mattresses to be the most comfortable, yet more affordable than the Comfort-form air mattresses that were over 900.00. The Huntington Serta was soft and cushiony, while the Arlington Serta was less comfortable. The Pillow Top Sertas sell for 699.00 which were the softest. Huntington Serta air mattresses range in the price category for 499.00 for top air mattress and foundation. and the Arlington Serta 399.00.
Two of the stores that I visited were closeout discount retail chains called Big Lots. These stores sold beds separately, not as a suite, but the choices were limited to five beds. None of which, matched my guest room. A cherry wood sled full bed was on sale for 299.99, but was really too large for the guest room. However, I opted for buying just a metal bed frame to support the air mattresses, and to look for a headboard at a later date. Big Lots had bed skirts and bedding at a very good price as well. I have preferred satin sheets in the past, but have found this not to be a practical idea. Anyone with pets knows that just one hop upon the bed from Tabby, and a permanent claw mark can be left on satin sheets. I chose the new microfiber sheets that are more affordable, and much softer than cotton, while more durable.
One of these stores was a donation store for the Kidney Foundation which had new donated Pillow Top Serta air mattresses, top and foundation for under 300.00 which was almost a 400.00 savings. I opted for the Pillow Top Serta air mattresses, and the air mattress frame that cost 39.00 from Big Lots that were 89.00 at the other stores. The microfiber sheets were 10.00. The total price for my full bed was 349.00, plus tax. A total savings of around 740.00.
