Why Your New Mattress Feels Different Than In-Store

Why does my mattress not feel like it did in the store? If you have ever purchased a mattress, chances are you have asked yourself this very question before. You went into the store, tried out a few different mattresses before finding the one, and brought it home expecting it to feel exactly like it did in the showroom — but it doesn’t. It feels different. For some, it may feel softer, but for most, it may feel firmer. Why is this? 

If after sleeping on your new mattress you’re thinking, “Why is my new mattress so uncomfortable?” or “Why is my new bed hurting my back?” there is no need to worry. The mattress experts from Texas Mattress Makers are here to explain why your new mattress feels different than in-store. 

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Why is my new mattress so hard? 

When you purchase a new mattress, the components are fresh and have not yet been exposed to any kind of pressure, making the mattress appear much firmer at first (we’d say around 30% firmer). Sleeping on a new mattress with components that are in their original, intact form is much better for your sleep quality. 

Do mattresses get softer over time? Unless you purchased an ultra-firm mattress, yes, your mattress will soften up the more you sleep on it. Again, there’s no need to stress. You won’t be sleeping on a hard mattress forever (unless that’s what you intended).

So, why does this happen? To understand why your mattress feels firmer than in-store, we must discuss the mattress break-in period.

Understanding the mattress break-in period

Do mattresses need to be broken in? Yes! Just like a new pair of shoes are stiff at first and need time to mold to your feet, mattresses need time to mold to your body. As you continue to sleep on your mattress, the pressure from your body will relax the components and mold them more into your sleeping form as time goes on. This creates what we call a natural body impression (not to be confused with a sagging mattress) that promotes healthy spine alignment — the key to restorative rest. The more the mattress adjusts to your body, the more comfortable it will be for you!

To be clear, “breaking in” a mattress does not necessarily mean that the components are weakening over time, just that they are learning how to support your body best as you sleep. 

How long does it take to break in a mattress? Depending on the type of mattress you have, breaking in a new mattress can take around 30-60 nights of you consistently sleeping on a mattress for it to adjust to your body, soften up, and give you the “showroom” feel you experienced. Note that your mattress may not feel “perfect” right away, but remember that the materials need time to adjust to your body before it’ll feel perfect for you. This is why we have a 90-Night Comfort Guarantee.

Our comfort guarantee

As the mattress manufacturer, we understand that mattresses take time to break in. Depending on the mattress’s components, some mattresses may take longer to break in than 30-60 days. Because of this, we offer a 90-Night Comfort Guarantee that gives you more than enough time throughout the break-in period to make sure that you are truly satisfied with your mattress purchase — and if you’re not, we will do what we can to help. When you have a problem with your mattress, you get to speak to us directly, not a third-party service, so we can do everything in our power to make things right for you.

Tips for breaking in a mattress

We get a lot of questions from customers surrounding the break-in period and how it works. Because of this, we’ve laid out some tips from our experts on how to properly break in a mattress.

• Sleep in the same spot every night. This will allow your mattress to form those natural body impressions around your body and your preferred sleeping position, not someone else’s. This is especially important if you sleep with a partner in the same bed.
• Wait the full 30-60 nights to let the mattress break in. Most people prematurely try to return a new mattress before the mattress break-in period not knowing that their mattress will feel perfect in time!
• Practice patience. There is no way to truly speed up the break-in process without hurting the mattress’s components. Be patient and allow the mattress to naturally form to your body for your most comfortable sleep ever. 
• Look at your mattress’s warranty. If after 90 nights you’re still not happy with your mattress, our 90-Night Comfort Guarantee allows you to contact us with any concerns about your mattress and we will do what we can to ensure you get the quality sleep you deserve.

Why your new mattress feels firmer than in-store

Before we dive in, we first need to explain a key element of the Texas Mattress Makers shopping experience. Because it is extremely crucial that you try before you buy a mattress to ensure that you are choosing the right bed for you, we don’t want to sell you a mattress without letting you know how it will perform in the long run. This is why all of the mattresses displayed in our showrooms are already broken in so that they are ready to try and you can get a proper idea of how that mattress will feel once it has been slept on. 

Major retailers don’t do this, so we can understand why you may be concerned about your new mattress’s different feel when you first bring it home. Just know that your mattress will eventually mold to your specific body and provide the comfort and support that you need.

What to do if your new mattress is too soft

If you’re waking up with a sore back, hip pain, or any other type of discomfort, there is a chance that your new mattress is too soft. Here’s a harsh truth: a mattress that is too firm at first can soften up over time, but a mattress that is too soft can’t be so easily remedied. Why is that?

If you purchase a new bed that feels too soft right off the bat, there is a chance that the mattress is forming a dip or a sag — a telltale sign of low-quality components. Purchasing your mattress from a major retailer increases your chances of buying a bed that will not last. Your typical mattress store displays rows of mattresses, frequently changed with a new replacement the moment it begins to show signs of any type of wear. The problem with this procedure is that a newer mattress does not feel the same way as it will feel over time. As a result, the products presented in most mattress retail stores do not provide an accurate idea of how your bed will feel long-term.

If your new bed is too soft or is showing signs of wear and tear, it will need to be replaced. Luckily, Texas Mattress Makers only sells mattresses that are made with durable, top-quality components that are more resistant to dips and sagging. We can help you to get a brand new mattress for a great price that will provide you with your best night’s rest — and you’ll know exactly how it is supposed to feel short and long-term.

Find a mattress that feels just right at Texas Mattress Makers

We hope that the answer to the age-old question “Why does my mattress not feel like it did in the store?” feels like less of a mystery now. In summary, new mattresses need time to adjust to your body properly so that you can feel as comfortable as possible each night for quality sleep. If your mattress feels firmer than in-store, it will soften over time, but a mattress that is too soft upfront may have some issues that need addressing. At the end of the day, or should we say night, patience is key to getting your best night’s rest.

If you have any questions about a mattress or its components, our mattress experts are here for you! We are happy to help as you explore your best mattress options and provide the answers you want to know so that you can get the best quality sleep possible.

Stop by any of our mattress stores in Katy, Downtown Houston, The Woodlands, Rosenberg, Humble, and Baybrook, TX for a simpler and more well-rounded mattress shopping experience.

More Helpful Articles by Texas Mattress Makers:

• 5 Mattress Shopping Mistakes to Avoid
• Do You Need A Bed Frame For Your Mattress?
• Mattress Myth: Can You Fix a Mattress Dip? 
• What Type of Mattress is Best for Back Pain?
• 5 Reasons Why You’re Waking Up Tired