Sleep dreams at Idler's

Sitting in the San Luis Obispo Idler’s showroom, surrounded by refrigerators and ranges, is a brass bed dressed in plush linens. No, it’s not a rest stop for weary appliance shoppers; it’s a not-so-subtle reminder to customers that the company has recently added a sleep shop to its ever-expanding lineup of home goods.

“It seemed the next logical step, since we already have the appliances, the kitchen design and outdoor products,” said Gabe Hedges, who is assistant manager of the San Luis Obispo Idler’s and a former mattress store owner himself.

Idler’s opened its first sleep shop at its Paso Robles location last spring, when the store expanded to take over a space vacated by a mattress store that had recently gone out of business. The San Luis Obispo store followed suit in December, converting a room that previously housed their “scratch and dent” inventory. Currently, there aren’t any plans to add mattresses to the Atascadero store.

Idler’s now sells four mattress lines: Tempur- Pedic, Simmons, Serta and Majestic, an economy line produced by Serta. It offers a selection of bedding sets by special order, and ergonomic pillows. Furniture, which includes but is not limited to bedroom furniture, is available through special order.

Although Idler’s sells plenty of spring mattresses, Tempur-Pedic memory foam is its top seller. Although pricier than many of the newer memory foam lines on the market, Hedges believes it is worth the investment.

“It’s a lot denser so there’s more material to offer more support,” he said. He claims that, while lower-end memory foam mattresses begin to break down and form body impressions in two to five years, Tempur-Pedic may last up to 15 years, depending upon how well it is maintained.

Not everyone, however, appreciates the feeling of a mattress that molds to their shape. For those who like the bounce of a traditional mattress without the pressure points created by metal springs, Idler’s also offers a latex line through Serta. Latex has the added perk of being a natural product. There are also mattresses that combine latex with memory foam or memory foam with springs.

How to choose the best one?

Hedges strongly urges customers to set aside one to two hours if they’re serious about choosing a mattress. He advises them to lie on each mattress they’re considering in their usual sleep position — then stay there for 10 to 15 minutes. Memory foam, in particular, will change in response to pressure and body heat, so it takes at least 10 minutes for it to feel as it would during a typical night’s sleep. To facilitate restful mattress sampling, the main mattress showroom in each Idler’s store is set apart from the appliance showroom.

“We wanted it to be quiet so people can really relax,” said Hedges.

Even after you settle on a mattress, you’re not necessarily stuck with your decision. If you aren’t happy with your choice, Idler’s will allow you to exchange it within 60 days (Tempur- Pedic has a similar 90-day policy). Hedges recommends allowing at least four weeks to make up your mind.

“It takes some time for your body to adjust to a new sleep system,” he advised.

Idler’s Sleep Solutions showrooms are at 122 Cross Street in San Luis Obispo, 543-6600 and at 2361 Theatre Drive in Paso Robles, 238-6020.