Mattress Buying Guide

Buying a new bed is a big decision. You’re going to spend a lot of time in it, so you need to make sure your choices are going to help you sleep well every night for many years. There’s also no single mattress that will suit everyone—or every body.

If that sounds like a lot of pressure, don’t worry. Considering some of these factors will help you to decide which options will suit your lifestyle and body type, and help you get top quality rest for the long life of your new mattress.

Firmness and support

It’s vital that you choose the right type of mattress for your individual needs. A type that suits one person won’t be right for another—a mattress that is too soft or too firm for your body type can leave you feeling achy and tired when you get up in the morning, or even cause muscular and skeletal problems. That’s why you should consider the kind of support you need, based on both your body type, and your style of sleeping.

Firm

Firm mattresses can be helpful for people with larger BMIs or restrictions on their physical mobility, as they make it easier to get in and out of bed. They also suit people who sleep primarily on their stomachs, by preventing the body from sinking down and causing spinal extension. People who suffer from lower back pain often prefer firmer mattresses.

All of the mattresses in the Galligans range offer firm options.

Medium

Lower back support is also extremely important for those who prefer to sleep on their backs, and mattresses with a medium level of firmness are usually the best option for them. Soft mattresses won’t usually provide enough support for this issue, and mattresses that are too firm can push against the natural curve and alignment of the spine—but medium firmness will meet nicely in the middle.

Galligans offers medium options in the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze mattress ranges.

Soft

Soft mattresses are usually the best choice for people who prefer to sleep on their sides. A softer mattress has enough give in it to reduce the impact on pressure points at the shoulders and hips, and to accommodate the natural curve of the body to help the spine to stay aligned. Softer mattresses are best for people with BMIs on the lower end of the spectrum.

Galligans offers soft options in the Gold and Bronze mattress ranges.

If you’re still not certain which level of support will be the best for you in the long run, most of the mattresses in our range are double sided, allowing you to choose between two levels of support in the one mattress. If a combination of extra firm, firm, medium and soft isn’t available in the mattress you want, talk to us about creating a custom mattress that will meet all of your specific needs to give you the best sleep possible.

Talk to us about creating a custom mattress that will meet all of your specific needs to give you the best sleep possible.

Comfort

While it’s important to consider your body type and sleeping style when choosing a mattress, making the right choice often boils down to a single consideration: comfort. The best type of mattress for you, and the one that will give you the best sleep, is usually the one you feel most comfortable on.

Galligans’ mattresses offer different levels of comfort in the types and quantities of materials used in each style, including the density of the foam. There’s really no substitute for trying our mattresses in-store before you buy them, especially if you take the time to lie in your most natural sleeping positions to see which models will best suit you.

Galligans’ Executive mattresses include a fully removable pillow-top made up of 40mm Dunlop Fusion Gel enhanced memory foam

Pillow tops can also make a big difference to the comfort of your mattress. While a firm mattress can deliver the support you need to properly align your spine while you’re lying down, a softer pillow top made of high-grade foam or latex will offer some cushioning against your pressure points, and give your bed a softer and more luxurious feel.

But comfort isn’t just about firmness. Galligans’ pillow tops can help to control temperature, keeping you cool and dry, as well as reducing the risk of dust mites and allergens by controlling the level of moisture and humidity in the mattress. Because they’re also removable, they can be replaced on demand, and can dramatically extend the lifespan of your mattress.

Galligans’ Platinum mattresses include a 20mm premium grade soft foam in the fully removable pillow-top (or a 25mm soft latex in Platinum Latex model)

Size

As a general guide, the width & length of Galligans’ mattresses are:

Single: 92cm x 188cm
King Single: 107cm x 203cm
Double: 138cm x 188cm
Queen:153cm x 203cm
King: 183cm x 203cm

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to mattresses—and it’s not always a case of the bigger the better. The size of the mattress is important for several reasons, including whether you’re sleeping alone or with a partner.

A king size will give two people plenty of room to stretch out and sleep comfortably, but a double or a queen might suit a single person better because it’s not such a reach to each bedside table. Different spaces between sleeping partners can affect partner disturbance, and how warm or cool they feel when they sleep.

Another reason to thoroughly consider the size of your new bed is to fit the size of the room. If you’ve just moved into a new home, it’s important to measure and plan out the space, because there’s always a chance your bed could be aesthetically or physically the wrong size for the room.

The width of each mattress also varies, and using an ensemble base or a bed frame will make a big difference to how high your mattress sits off the ground. This is an important consideration if there are any reasons you might have difficulty getting in and out of bed, and whether you prefer a high- or low-set look to your bed.

Using a bed frame will also change the look of your bedroom, and you should consider factors like whether you want a bed frame to keep your mattress off the floor for space and cleaning, or an ensemble for extra support and a longer mattress lifespan.

Take a look at our wide range of beds and headboards including timber, leather and metal frames. Available in a range of styles, colours and design.

Budget

At Galligans, we always aim to deliver the best quality for your dollar, no matter which style of mattress you choose. But the different levels of skill, expertise, and premium grade materials—including foam and memory foam, latex and innersprings—that go into making our mattresses do come with different expenses.

You should consider several factors about your budget when you’re choosing a mattress: the utility, the lifespan, and the level of luxury you expect from your purchase.

If you’re purchasing a mattress for a spare bed that won’t be used often, consider our inexpensive Opal mattress range. The Opal still provides good support and comfort, at a very affordable price. But if you’re looking for luxurious cushioning, the latest innovation in temperature-balancing technology, and the best orthopaedic support available, look to our higher-end ranges like the Executive.

All of our mattresses are designed to have a long lifespan, but being able to turn your mattress and remove or adjust a pillow top can significantly contribute to its longevity, and prevent dust mites and allergens. The higher-quality pocket spring options available in the Executive and Platinum ranges also dramatically increase the quality of the mattresses and reduces partner disturbance making them more economical in the long run.

Warranties and guarantees

A mattress is a big purchase, both because of the financial outlay and the long-term commitment to your general wellbeing. At Galligans, we understand how important it is to get it right when you’re making your choice, and how it can take some time to find out if your decision was a good one—which is why we offer a 30-day Guarantee. If, within 30 days, you’re not completely satisfied with the comfort and support of your mattress,

we’ll alter its internal comfort layer to any of the other specifications available in that range.

And because we’re so confident in the quality of our workmanship and our finished products, we also offer from 2 – 15 year guarantees with all our mattresses. At Galligans, we’ll give you comfort and peace of mind you need to rest well every night of your life.

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