Plenty of the joint decisions you might make with a partner—where to order takeout, what to do on Saturday, the next show you’ll binge—are low-stakes. But when it comes to buying a new bed, the choice is more important than you might think: Your mattress affects your sleep quality, which impacts your overall well-being, for years to come. So what do you do if you and your S.
O. don’t agree on what makes the best mattresses so great? What if, say, you prefer to sink into a doughy bed while your bedmate likes more support? Experts say that when you and your partner have a difference of opinion on mattresses—but also, really, in general —it’s best to compromise fairly. “Find something in the middle if you have diametrically differing needs [in a bed],” says Benjamin Devaud, PT, DPT, CSCS , clinic director at ATI Physical Therapy .
“I would avoid trying to fit only one partner’s sleep preferences, as the softest or firmest mattress may not be the ideal answer [for both people].” When mattress shopping as a duo, it can also be helpful to keep in mind some characteristics that couples tend to agree are mutually beneficial. For example, a cooling mattress can combat your collective body heat.
Or if you’re not the spooning-all-night-long types, you might agree to opt for a California king size that allows you both to starfish. A mattress’s ability to isolate motion, which measures how well a bed absorbs the impact of someone rolling around, is also importan.
