When furnishing your home in Yucatán, the three items you should invest in are a well-made sofa, long-lasting outdoor furniture and a very comfortable mattress.
That last item can cause some confusion. Most people are unaware that mattress sizes differ around the world.
Mattresses manufactured in Mexico are shorter and wider than U.S. and European mattresses. This size variance is not enough to impact quality of sleep, but you will notice something is a little off.
For those who are taller, worry not. U.S. sizes are available in Mexico although they are considered a special order.
According to the president of Sealy’s manufacturing plant in Mexico, American size mattresses make up less than 2 percent of their total annual mattress sales. Some mattress superstores keep two to three American size mattresses in inventory. However, in return for getting the mattress right away, you may need to sacrifice some features.
A special-order mattress can take up to two or three months.
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 making the adjustment.
Prices for mattresses in Mexico are about the same price as what you would pay north of the border. As a general rule of thumb, the cost for an American size mattress and American size bedroom furniture is around 10 percent more.
Bed sizes in Mexico are king, queen, matrimonial (equivalent to full) and individual (equivalent to a twin). California King is also available here, however also considered a custom size.
As for materials, the two most popular options are the coil and memory foam mattresses. Depending on the type of support you prefer, mattresses with Bonnell, pocketed, offset or continuous coils are available here.
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 in Mexico for about 10 years, both priced in the mid-range. No rusted coils. No mold or mildew.
The only way to select a good mattress is to try before you buy. It never ceases to amaze me when people say they will buy a mattress at a big box store where you cannot test them out. I recommend shopping one of the Mexico mattress superstores where you will be able to test them out.
Unlike department stores, you generally pay less. And many of the mattress superstores offer free delivery.
Many of the brand names in the U.S. and Canada are also available in Mexico. If you plan to research mattresses north of the border with the idea of purchasing one when you arrive in Mexico, heads up! Although retailers here will likely have the same mattress, it will probably have a different name. So write down the name, as well as the features so you can find the equivalent version here.
A good night’s sleep is worth every penny. Don’t pinch when buying your mattress.
Sheryl Novak is an expat Canadian who has owned a home in Mexico for over 10 years. She is the owner of SOLutions Mexico — the online furniture store for your home in Mexico. She is considered the expert on sourcing all styles of furniture, for all sizes of budgets, in Mexico. Email the author at sa.novak@solutionsmexico.com for a free newsletter on how to get good value on furniture in Mexico.
