Mattress FAQ

Questions we're often asked:

How do I know when I need a new mattress?

Are you sleeping as well as you were a year ago?

Have you had your best night's sleep recently somewhere other than your own bed? A hotel bedroom for example?

Do you wake up with pain, stiffness or soreness?

Is your mattress showing visible signs of wear and tear? Are the springs 'noisier' than they ever were?

A worn out mattress can contribute to how well you wake up in the morning. If your mattress is saggy or uncomfortable then you are unlikely to enjoy a great night's sleep. People are often shocked at the tremendous difference they feel when they sleep on a new Sleepy's mattress, falling asleep earlier and waking up rested and alert. You can 'test drive' a new Sleepy's mattress, and if it doesn't help you sleep better, simply return it for a different model. It's that easy.

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How do I choose the right mattress?

Look for a quality mattress from a recognized brand manufacturer. Look for thick good quality cushioning, in the feel that suits your needs. Try out different feels - soft, medium, firm, pillowtop. Choose one type of feel and then try different mattresses in that type of feel. Use the 'process of elimination' by choosing between two and eliminating the least comfortable.

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What's the difference between a mattress expert and a mattress retailer?

The dictionary definition of the word 'expert' is: a person with a high level of knowledge or skill. Sleepy's Mattress Experts are great people with years of experience who are dedicated to helping customers make the mattress buying process as easy as possible. Our factory-trained Mattress Experts help our customers through the process of finding the best technology support system for their sleep needs. We also like to help our customers feel good about their shopping experience at Sleepy's .

It's a fact that for every ten years of your life you'll spend 30,000 hours sleeping on your mattress. It's vital for your good health and wellbeing that you have all the facts available to you to make an informed and correct decision that you'll benefit from in terms of having years of "peaceful nights and rested mornings".

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Should I have a matching base, or will a slat base bed be better?

Modern mattresses are designed and engineered to suit a matching base, with spring modules inside it. The matching base will assist in allowing the mattress to contour to your shape to provide the maximum comfort. Isn't that why you are buying a new mattress? A slat or rigid base bed will not conform at all. It is similar to sleeping on a mattress on the floor or on a board. A rigid base can shorten the life of your mattress by up to 33%. A beautiful slat bed looks nice, but will it be the most comfortable? Sleepy's Experts will be able to answer all of your questions regarding the base for your new mattress.

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How do I shop for the best mattress?

Think about the mattress you have now and what you would like a new mattress to be like. Consider the biggest size you can fit in your room. Does your partner have a different comfort preference to you? Talk about the comfort you would both like to have.

Visit a mattress retailer that specializes in good quality mattresses from recognized brands. Make sure the salesperson knows what they are talking about. Try different comfort feels and compare. Lay down on the mattresses, you cannot 'feel test' by sitting on a mattress.

Look for an exchange service from the retailer, in case you are not totally satisfied when you have tried it at home for a while. It is often difficult to choose a mattress in 15 minutes that you will have for 10 or 15 years.

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What's the best mattress to buy?

There is no 'best' mattress that will suit everyone. Each person has individual needs. We are all shapes and sizes and we have different preferences. Some people prefer firm, some prefer soft.

If you choose a new mattress from a recognized brand of supplier, and buy it from a specialist mattress retailer - you will have the highest chance of ending up with a comfortable night's sleep.

Major suppliers like Sleepmaker invest in the latest technology for manufacturing techniques and for spring design and comfort layers.
Sleepy's Experts are constantly trained in these latest innovations and can assist with your choice. They also offer extra services like a Price Guarantee and 60 Night Comfort Exchange .

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Where did the word 'mattress' come from?

The history of the word mattress is a small lesson in the way amenities have come to Europe from the Middle East.

During the earlier part of the Middle Ages, Arabic culture was more advanced than that of Europe. One of the amenities of life enjoyed by the Arabs was sleeping on cushions thrown on the floor. Derived from the Arabic word taraha, "to throw," the word matara meant "place where something is thrown" and "mat, cushion." This kind of sleeping surface was adopted by the Europeans during the Crusades, and the Arabic word was taken into Old Italian (materasso) and then into Old French (materas), from which comes the Middle English word materas, first recorded in a work written around 1300. The Arabic word also became Medieval Latin matracium, another source of our word.

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