comfy beds

HI! so im 23, just graduated college and have a pretty good entry level office job...I just got my 1st apartment and am totallyyyy new to this whole 'home furnishing' business. i need some advice...

a). what is a reasonable price to pay for a good quality mattress? (ya know, nothing too fancy, but something that is comfortable and will last at least through my 20's)...I have heard soo many different things. Is $800 (sealy, full size) a "bargain"??
b). any suggesting on where to shop for one? (online or at an actual place) I've looked at macys, sears, and 1800mattress...
c). anyone have a really comfortable bed/brand to recommend?!

THANK YOU!!

ps - reccommendations for buying other household goods (what to buy, where to shop etc) are welcome too!

Mon. Oct 8, 3:42pm

I'm not a good one to ask about beds because I got rid of mine to sleep on foam pads on the floor - it's the only thing that works for my back. I do, however have lots of pillows and nice bedding so it looks sort of middle eastern instead of just like I sleep on the floor. It's surprisingly comfortable (and cheap). Previouisly I had a Tempurpedic and that was comfortable, but not very good for me personally.

In the past I have found very few matresses I like under $3K. In your position I would consider a futon - when you get a better job or a raise, you can upgrade without the slightest twinge of concious and if you move to a bigger place it can be relagated to the guest room. You can also move it fairly easily if you have lots of company and need more seating (I used to pack a whole lotta people into my little place). The mattresses have gotten better these days and you can find some really good ones for less than a comparable bed, and have a multi-functional piece of furniture.

For other furniture - Craig's List! You can find some terrific deals there. Do enough looking on your own to have some idea of what you'd like and then keep an eye on Craig's list. Don't be in too much of a hurry - hold out for something desireable rather than jumping on anything because you are convinced you 'need a' - purchases made in haste are often regretted. That said - know what you like so you can jump on a good deal - there's a difference.

Ikea is a good place for those starting out and not just furniture but household items such as dishes, flatware, linens, etc... It's not the nicest or the best, but it's certainly not the worst either. I was surprised to see how expensive Target has gotten on some things - for just a bit more money I'd rather go to Crate and Barrel for something a bit nicer and I think Crate and Barrel actually may have cheaper dishes.

Ross or Tuesday Morning are really hit or miss but sometimes you can find good deals that makes it worthwhile to keep an eye out. Just don't find yourself buying useless crap 'because it's such a good deal'. I stay away from WalMart for most household things - I have found their quality to be lacking far too often.

Above all have fun and enjoy making your new place a home! :-)

Monday, October 8, 2007, 4:09 PM

You DEFINITELY can get a good mattress for less than $3k!!!

For a Sealy Posturepedic, $800 probably isn't a bad deal, but it's also not a steal. When you're in the department stores, ask when they plan to have a sale.

Also, figure out what kind of bed you're getting. If you get a platform bed, you probably do not need the "springs" that come with the mattress. Buying the mattress without the springs may cut 30-40% of the cost of the mattress.

I got my first mattress at Verlo. I don't know if they have those all over, but they do have a website (I put the link below.)

The most important part is to go to the store and test out the mattresses. Find out if you like soft, medium or firm, pillow-top or not, and try out the mattress you plan to buy.

So long as you don't have major back issues, whatever is comfy in the store should last you quite a few years. Far longer than a futon. And for a good futon that won't hurt your back, you'll spend more than you'd spend on an average-ish mattress anyway.

Good luck!!

Link

Monday, October 8, 2007, 4:35 PM

Oh, I forgot to mention, I think my mattress from Verlo, one of their higher-end mattresses with a great pillow-top, was about $400. You're not paying there for the "brand name" of Sealy or Serta, just for the mattress.

Monday, October 8, 2007, 4:36 PM

How fun! It's been a looooong time since I got to set up house...hmmm...maybe it's time to move :)

Target actually has some very cute stuff these days, Pier One, too. Recommendations on what to get? If you're talking decor, decide what your 'style' is first - otherwise you'll just keep buying all kinds of stuff willy nilly. Buy purposefully and you'll save money in the long run and you'll also cultivate a look (kind of like how to shop for clothes!)

Utensils and what not...there's so much stuff out there. Maybe make a list of everything you want and just buy a few at a time - starting with what you'd use most.

Have fun!!

Monday, October 8, 2007, 7:01 PM

(not OP) Right now I have a very firm mattress with an eggcrate pad and a fiber filled quilted pad on top. The bed is almost 10 years old so I'm ready to buy a new one. Especially since I have serious back problems. Degenerative arthritis. Lots of pain sleeping and getting out of bed. What is the best kind of bed for that but doesn't cost $1000s? My rheumatologist told me to buy a select comfort sleep number bed but I don't have that kind of money and can't get it on credit. She even wrote me a scrip for the bed but my insurance won't pay for it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Monday, October 8, 2007, 7:16 PM

your 2 mattress pads tell me you want a pillow top and not a "very firm" regular bed, check around for sales on high quality pillow tops. you can prolly get a full one for around $600-700 or a queen for around $800-900.

Monday, October 8, 2007, 7:44 PM

the mattress on the floor is the most comfortable bed available, but most people won't do that because it's very unfinished. The japanese low beds are comfortable too but you'll start paying 5k for something good (foutons are a cheap substitute). Don't get something without a box spring, they look great but are terribly uncomfortable. Don't go to 1-800-mattress, you can't lay on the beds before purchase and you're spending at least 1/3 of your life there.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 8:30 AM

That's not true about mattresses w/o box springs being uncomfortable. Many platform beds require a mattress w/o a box spring. It ends up feeling the same as a mattress on the floor. I've slept on a mattress w/o a box spring for years, on a platform bed, and love it!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 11:37 AM

11:37, exactly what kind of mattress are you sleeping on?

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 1:53 PM

11:37am poster here (also Oct. 8, 4:35pm)

Verlo, queen-sized, medium firmness, pillowtop. Cost about $400.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 2:31 PM

If you're going to have a mattress w/o the box spring, and use it on a platform bed, just remember that the platform will act as a very hard spring, like a floor. So, you may want to go a level softer than you'd go if you were going to use the box spring.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 2:32 PM

My first bed was in fact an inflatable mattress, it was cheap and pretty comfortable too. I always wanted a nice, real bed though, so as soon as i had the chance to get one i did it. Now i have my own memory foam mattress, which is incredible comfortable. In fact this is how i decided to buy it, i was curious how it feels to lie on it, so i tried it, without having the smallest intent to actually buy it. This was enough to convince me so as soon as i got my salary i got back there and brought it home.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 9:50 AM

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