How to Choose the Right Mattress: Serta’s Support First™ Guide

Choosing a new mattress should be straightforward, but with so many options, materials, and comfort levels, it’s easy to get confused. Is firmer always better? Does a plush mattress offer enough support? And do you really need to spend time testing every bed in a showroom before making a decision?

According to Serta, some of the most common mattress-shopping advice doesn’t tell the whole story. With its Support First™ approach, the brand is encouraging shoppers to look beyond how a mattress feels and pay closer attention to what’s happening underneath.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that a firm mattress automatically provides better support. In reality, firmness describes the surface feel, while support comes from the mattress’s internal construction. A firm mattress can have weak support, just as a softer mattress can offer excellent underlying support.

The same applies to plush mattresses. A soft, comfortable top layer doesn’t have to sacrifice support, because the comfort layers and support core serve different functions.

And what about mattresses with multiple layers? More isn’t always better. While additional comfort layers can change how a mattress feels, the quality and engineering of the support system matter far more than the number of layers.

Serta’s Support First™ methodology aims to simplify these decisions by helping shoppers understand the support system before choosing a mattress. Rather than relying entirely on a few minutes spent lying on a showroom bed, the approach focuses on how the different components work together to provide support, comfort and hygiene.

The brand’s Best of Both™ mattress design combines two complementary spring technologies with a calibrated comfort feel, creating a complete system built around these priorities.

It’s also intended to make shopping easier. With fewer decisions to navigate, customers can purchase Best of Both™ online in as little as three clicks or move through the Support First™ selection process in approximately 60 seconds once they understand their options.

After all, you’ll use a mattress every night for years. Understanding what lies beneath the surface can help you make a more informed choice, whether you prefer a firmer feel or something wonderfully soft.

Visit Serta for more.