Helping you on your way to a restful night’s sleep

Choosing the right mattress is a very important task & there are many variations on the market. We understand that making a decision can be quite overwhelming and this is where our Mattress Buying Guide comes in!

Here at Housing Units, we are dedicated to helping you find your perfect mattress. With a vast selection of quality mattresses on display in our New Bedroom Department and our expert team on hand to give you advice and information, you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for.

Before you start your mattress journey it’s important to understand the differences, so that you can gain an idea of what may suit you best. Take a look at our guide below, giving an insight into the different types of mattresses we offer and the benefits of each one.

Mattress Sizing

Although some mattress are available to order in bespoke sizes, here are the standard UK sizes that are available in most mattresses:

Single: 3ft – Width 90cm x Length 190cm
Small Double: 4ft – Width 120cm x Length 190cm
Double: 4ft.6 – Width 135cm x Length 190cm
Kingsize: 5ft – Width 150cm x 200cm
Superking: 6ft – Width 180cm x 200cm

Mattresses by Type

A good mattress should provide comfort and support, whilst keeping your natural spinal alignment in place, so that you wake up feeling well rested and restored.

Here are some of the most popular types of mattress & the benefits to each one:

What is an Open Coil mattress?

An open coil mattress is a standard, traditional mattress, containing a unit of springs which are all connected by a wire. Although fillings will vary & many open coil mattresses feature additional elements to improve comfort and durability, an open coil mattress tends to give a firmer feel.

Open coil mattresses are usually more affordable due to their construction, making them perfect for guest bedrooms and occasional use.

What is a Pocket Sprung Mattress?

A pocket sprung mattress contains individual springs, each within their own fabric pocket. This allows the springs to move independently from one another, adapting and contouring to your body to help with spinal alignment and support.

A pocket sprung mattress also provides improved weight distribution and movement absorption. This helps to soften individual sleepers’ movements, which limits disruption from tossing & turning during the night.

What is a Memory Foam mattress?

Originally created by NASA in the mid-1960s, a visco-elastic memory foam mattress contours to the shape of your body & provides optimal spinal alignment and support.

They are great for helping to relieve pressure points as they will evenly distribute your body weight, as well as absorbing motion for less disturbance during the night. Memory foam is also beneficial to allergy sufferers, as it doesn’t harbour dust mites or their allergens.

The technology behind memory foam is now even more advanced than it was to begin with, with many featuring temperature regulating qualities for a cool and fresh night’s sleep. Some memory foam mattresses even include pocket springs, known as a ‘hybrid’ mattress.

What is a Hybrid Mattress?

A ‘hybrid’ mattress is a combination of two distinct mattress types & usually contains pocket springs, as well as memory foam or a natural latex interior. These are great for those who enjoy the comfort & pressure relief of foam layers but with the additional support of pocket springs.

Hybrid mattresses give a unique sleeping experience and suit most body types & sleeping habits, as they offer the perfect balance of comfort and sprung support.

Choosing your perfect tension

Finding the perfect comfort grade is probably the toughest part of selecting your mattress. We would always recommend taking some time to visit our showroom, where you can lay on various mattress for several minutes without disturbance. It is particularly important that you feel relaxed and snuggle into your usual sleeping position, to really get a feel for the mattress as if you were laying on it at home.

Although the tension you choose should be based predominantly on personal preference and comfort, there are four main comfort grades to look at: Soft, Medium, Firm & Extra Firm. See the guide below to gain an understanding of which tension may suit you best, based on your build and preferred sleeping position.

Please be aware that this is just a guide, and the best way to find the perfect mattress for you is to come & try them out!

Choosing the right filling

Springs provide support, fillings provide comfort. Mattress technology has come a long way & springs aren’t the only factor to be considered. Mattresses can contain all sorts of different fillings, from natural fibres such as wool, cotton and silk, to man-made fibres and even recycled plastics!

Here are some of the most popular fillings and the benefits to each one:

Alpaca

• • • • • Hollow fibres keep you cool & dry throughout the night
        • Strong & durable filling
        • Benefits allergy sufferers – Doesn’t harbour dust mites or their allergens

Bamboo

• • • • • Natural & sustainable
        • Has antibacterial properties – Resistant to fungi, pests & bacteria
        • Benefits allergy sufferers
        • Wicks away moisture – Approx. 3-4 times more absorbent than cotton

Cashmere

• • • • • Exquisitely soft & luxurious feel
        • Temperature regulating qualities – Keeps you cool in summer & warm in winter

Cotton

• • • • • Soft & fluffy fibre
        • Breathable & great for ventilation
        • Highly absorbent – Wicks away moisture helping to regulate body temperature
        • Strong, durable & hygienic

Horsehair

• • • • • Strong, springy & naturally flexible
        • Supportive
        • Wicks away moisture helping to regulate body temperature

Latex

• • • • • Natural filling – derived from the rubber tree
        • Elasticity that helps retain the shape of the mattress
        • Excellent support & pressure relief
        • Resilient & long lasting
        • Benefits allergy sufferers – Doesn’t harbour dust mites or their allergens
        • Moisture-absorbing and thermal qualities

Polyester

• • • • • Synthetic material
        • Highly breathable & absorbent – Helps to regulate body temperature
        • Hypo-allergenic

Recycled fibres

• • • • • Additional support
        • Usually breathable, soft foam-like material
        • Minimises the need for landfill sites and reduces pollution

Silk

• • • • • Luxuriously soft
        • Moisture-absorbing and thermal qualities helping to regulate body temperature
        • Strong, durable & breathable

Wool

• • • • • Durable, resilient & naturally elastic
        • Helps to regulate body temperature, keeping you cool in summer & warm in winter
        • Sustainable and biodegradable
        • Resistant to dust mites, mould, and mildew
        • Naturally fire resistant

Plan Your Visit

We hope this guide will help you on your way to finding the perfect mattress & would love to welcome you to our store.

We have recently undergone a huge transformation of our Bedroom Department, which is now bigger and better than ever! Take a look at the various mattresses we offer at Housing Units… You can shop online, or why not visit our New Bedroom Department & try them out?

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” — Thomas Dekker, American Actor