Having lived in Mexico for over twelve years and dedicating much of my
time to learning about everything related to home furnishings available in this
country, I feel confident in my recommendations to others. Here is one of my most significant pieces of
advice: when furnishing your home in
Vallarta, the three items you should not skimp on are a well-made sofa,
long-lasting outdoor furniture, and an incredibly comfortable mattress.
It amazes me that some people think of purchasing their mattresses from
a big box store. A bed is a critical
piece of furniture. We spend roughly
one-third of every day on this item. It
needs to be comfortable, soft yet give enough support to ensure you get a good
sleep. The only way to know if a
mattress will provide these benefits is to lie down on it. Yet how many times have you seen someone at a
big box store lying on a mattress?
Throughout Mexico, there are dedicated mattress stores that offer numerous
options that you can try out. There is
no hassle from the salespeople. They
offer many familiar brand names, such as Sealy and Serta. In addition, unlike
the big box stores, these specialty stores include delivery, so you do not have
to try to find someone with a truck to haul it from the retail establishment,
up multiple flights of stairs and into your bedroom.
Before you shop anywhere for a mattress, however, it is essential to
know a few things that are different here than “back home.”
Most people are unaware that mattress sizes differ around the world.
Mattresses manufactured in Mexico are shorter and broader than American and
European mattresses. This size variance is not enough to impact sleep quality,
but you will notice something is a little off.
For those who are taller, worry not! American sizes are available in
Mexico, although they are considered special orders. According to the President of Sealy’s
manufacturing plant in Mexico, American-size mattresses make up less than 2% of
their total annual mattress sales. Some mattress superstores keep two to three
American-size mattresses in inventory; however, you may need to sacrifice any
features you may want in return for getting the mattress right away. California size mattresses are unlikely to
ever be in stock, so it would need to be a special order.
A special-order mattress can take up to two or three months, if not
longer. Manufacturing plants adjust all their machinery to produce these
special sizes and generally wait until they have a large enough order to
warrant the cost of adjusting.
As with all furniture in Mexico, do not expect prices to be lower than
north of the border. Prices for
Mexican-size mattresses are about the same price, although just like everywhere,
there are regular sales. American size
mattresses and American size bedroom furniture cost around 10% more as a rule
of thumb. Remember, too, that if you get
a custom-sized American mattress, your bed base and headboard sizes will also
need to be adjusted.
The names of bed sizes in Mexico are a little different. Here, they are king, queen, matrimonial and
individual.
As for materials, the two most popular options are coil and memory foam
mattresses. Depending on the type of support you prefer, mattresses with
pocketed, offset, or continuous coils are available. Memory foam mattresses are
soft and adaptable, and great if your partner is a restless sleeper.
I have had both types of mattresses in my home here for about ten years,
both priced in the mid-range. No rusted coils. No mold or mildew.
A good night’s sleep is an investment.
Make it a priority to get it right the first time. If you would like assistance with getting a
good mattress for your new condo, see us at SOLutions Mexico in the Romantic
Zone at363A Constitucion just off of Basilio Badillo (Open Mon through Fri
10 to 2). Our Bucerias store is at Heroes de Nacozari 126 (Open Tues, Thurs and Sat 10 to 2). If you are not currently in Mexico, email us
at furniture@solutionsmexico.com or Whatsapp us at +3221365156 and remember to join
our Facebook Group: Mexico
Furniture and Décor for
ideas and inspiration.