Serta - Sheep Retreat Medium 10” Gel Memory Foam Mattress-in-a-box - Multi

I had been apprehensive on purchasing a mattress in a box despite how popular they seem to have become because I just assumed they couldn't be as good as a "regular" mattress (including hybrid types like I have and enjoy on another bed) so when I got this I was prepared to be disappointed. I can admit I was wrong! The mattress arrived in what I thought was an impossibly small box for a decently thick mattress (looks were deceiving of course). It was heavily rolled in plastic wrap but was fairly easy to open up and unroll. Although no instructions were in the box I did a quick search just to see how long it would take for the mattress to be sleep ready (answers ranged from a few hours to over 24 hours). In just over 4 hours I measured the mattress to see how close it was to the advertised 10"....and it was right around the 10". I did let it continue to sit until late that night (around 15 hours) before actually using it. But seriously, setup was as simple as it can get. The mattress is definitely more comfortable than I could ever imagine. It is advertised as a medium firmness...it leans more firm than soft but it's not too firm. I thought I would miss having a traditional pillow top mattress but I really don't. Unlike some memory foam mattresses I've tried in the past I don't get too hot in the middle of night with this one. It's honestly so comfortable that I almost hate to get out of bed in the morning. Only time will tell how well it holds up but with a 10 year warranty I suspect I will get some great years of use out of it.

With the advent of the "mattress-in-a-box", there are now more options for how (or where) to get your new mattress. Being able to have a mattress delivered directly to your home via a shipping service, all packaged and bundled neatly in an easy-to-maneuver box, is super convenient. That is, when compared to the 'traditional' way of going to a mattress or department store. More and more companies, are offering such an option for the mattresses they sell. New brands have made their presence known in recent years, which gives the consumer plenty of choices. Serta is a brand name well-known and respected in the bedding industry. So I was quite interested in trying out this Sheep Retreat (Medium) 10" Gel Memory Foam Mattress-in-a-Box for myself, and see how it compares to another brand's mattress that I already own. First of all, the unboxing. This is a simple and easy, straightforward procedure. Just follow the included set-up guide. There's an 'opening tool' to slice open the thick plastic sheathing your new rolled-up mattress. Be careful and take your time. Oh, it's a good idea to have the area you'll be doing the unboxing (theoretically the bedroom you'll be using the mattress in) ready ahead of time, and give yourself plenty of room to move around. Be mindful that the rolled-up foam mattress will expand, slowly filling out to its full shape. There may be a slight 'smell' upon taking the mattress out of the plastic wrapping. This is normal and will dissipate after a few days. If you've never owned, or slept on, this type of gel foam mattress before, give yourself several weeks to adjust and acclimate to how this mattress feels to sleep on. As with any new mattress, it takes time to let your body get used to the difference. Even though I'm familiar with how a foam mattress feels to sleep upon, I'm having to get used to the feel of this Serta as there are noticable differences between it, and my other foam mattress. For one, I'm a back sleeper, and my husband is a stomach sleeper. What type of sleeper you are should always be a factor when choosing a mattress, and in the case of a gel foam one like this Serta here, the thickness of the top foam layer should be considered, as well. Normally, my husband and I prefer a mattress medium-to-firm. However, we decided to give this 10" gel foam (medium) mattress a try. I will say the build quality is there. The mattress itself is stylish to look at, just sitting there on the foundation. Fit of the sheets was good, no issues at all with the thickness of the mattress, and they stayed put too, no matter how much we moved around. Actually, that's another great feature of these types of foam mattresses. The material "absorbs" the shifting motion when another person rolls over or gets out of bed, making for a better (and less interupted) night's sleep. Although the medium firmness of this Serta Sheep Retreat Gel Foam Mattress is slightly different than I'm used to, and I'm still adjusting to the newness of the 'feel' night after night, I'm liking it so far. So good.

I absolutely love this bed! I purchased one for my daughter last year and love it, so I decided to take the plunge and order one for myself. We had no issues getting it to expand. There was a smell for a day or two, but we aired out the room and it was gone pretty quick.