Choosing a quality mattress for a double bed

Before you order an orthopaedic mattress for a double bed, you need to settle on its specifications. What makes this particular decision different is that you have to account for the build and the preferences of two people. So how do you choose the right mattress for a double bed?

Firmness of the mattress

This is the single most important thing when buying a mattress. Everyone has their own preferences, and a surface that feels soft and airy to one person will be far too hard for the next. What you feel through the night depends on body weight and age. To simplify the choice, there is a set of general guidelines that point you to the ideal model.

1. Start from your own weight. Anyone under 50 kg will be comfortable on a soft surface. For customers between 50 and 90 kg, medium firmness is the recommendation. Above that, firm models are the safer bet, and they are what makes for healthy, comfortable sleep.

2. Age counts for just as much. Newborns and children up to the age of three should sleep on firm coconut coir models, and after that you can move to something less rigid. Adults of average build do well on moderate to medium firmness, while older people need a softer surface.

Plenty of couples have a wide weight gap between them. That calls for a different approach. A very soft mattress will be uncomfortable for the heavier partner, a hard one for the slimmer. There is a way around it.

Go for a model built around an independent pocket spring unit. The springs sit apart from one another and are not linked, so each one works entirely on its own. Pick a version with a higher spring count, and the support you get through the night is noticeably better.

Sprung or springless?

Both options have something going for them here. Springs make the structure more hard-wearing, so it copes with heavier loads. Springless models, meanwhile, last just as long and hold the body in a comfortable position for a proper rest.

It matters just as much to measure the bed frame first, and as a rule the bed manufacturer lists those figures. Once the practical details are settled, you can head straight over to the mattress store and look through the prices, and put your order together.