How To Choose Firm Mattress

What If You Choose The Wrong Firmness

Discomfort while sleeping on a new bed can signal one of two things: either the firmness level of the bed isnt right for you, or you have not gone through a full break-in period with your bed.

If you have slept on the bed for longer than the breaking in period and you are still experiencing discomfort, there may be options to adjust the beds firmness level to better suit your needs. To assess whether your bed is too soft or too firm, you can observe cues from your body. Certain sensations and pains can tell you what the problem is, and what you need to do to improve your comfort.

Choose What Mattress Size Is Best For You

One of the biggest parts of getting a mattress is choosing the right mattress size. Its a rather straightforward process, but its still important to consider:

• How much sleep space youll need
• Whether you share a bed
• How big your bedroom is

Plus, the mattress size you choose impacts how much the beds cost.

Pressure Relief / Body

One of the key things to consider when choosing a mattress for pregnancy is pressure relief and body-contouring. Youll want a bed thats durable enough to support more weight, but conforming enough to really relieve tension around your hips, shoulders, and lower back .

In general, mattresses that are made entirely of memory foam or that include one or two memory foam layers in their top foams are the most pressure-relieving options. If you dont typically like the feel of memory foam but think you may like it during pregnancy, Id suggest adding a memory foam mattress topperto a mattress you already like. This can be a good way to get some additional pressure relief during pregnancy without sacrificing your preferred feel after pregnancy.

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How And When To Replace Your Mattress

• A longer warranty may not promise a certain lifespan. if you read the fine print. If the mattress is stained because you didn’t use a mattress protector, or if you don’t use a matching foundation beneath the mattress, it could invalidate the warranty.
• Mattresses last five to 10 years as a general rule. However, you should decide when it’s time to replace your mattress based off of other warning signs. Are you waking up sore? Is your mattress feeling lumpy? Do you sleep better on other mattresses, like at a hotel? These are all signs that its time to go shopping. Don’t forget to extend the life of your new pad by using a mattress protector, which can keep out keep out dust, allergens, spills, and other hazards.

How To Choose A Mattress For Stomach Sleepers

For anyone who prefers to sleep on their stomach, a firmer mattress is preferable. You dont want your pressure points to sink in too far in this position. A traditional all-foam mattress may place too much strain on your lower back, but you also dont want your ribs pressing too hard against the mattress. If so, a medium-firm mattress with a little additional cushioning could be a better choice.

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How To Choose A Mattress For Back Sleepers

People who sleep on their backs exert the most strain on their lower backs. When a mattress is overly soft, the middle of your body sinks in deeper than the upper back and lower body, causing a spinal curve that can cause strain. If a mattress is overly firm, the modest bend in the lower back will not be accommodated. As a result, back sleepers benefit from a mattress that is medium firm to firm.

How Much To Spend On A Mattress

Presidents Day is the unofficial time for mattress sales, but in truth theres always a sale going on. Contrary to what a salesperson might have you believe, that blowout deal is not going to evaporate the second you exit the store . Once you do start shopping, this is a rough estimate of what you can expect to get for a queen-size mattress in different price ranges:

Under $500: If you have your heart set on an innerspring bed, its unlikely youll find a decent one for less than $500your choices in this price range are generally all-foam or foam-forward hybrid mattresses. The cheaper the bed, the likelier it is to be made with lower-quality polyfoam and memory foam . Less expensive mattresses also tend to be firmer and less durable than pricier beds. But those on a budget still have a few reasonably comfortable options to choose from, including the Zinus Cooling Copper Adaptive Hybrid Mattress, our pick for the best mattress under $400.

Kelli Pate contributed to this guide

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When Is The Best Time To Buy A Mattress

Buying a new mattress is a big investment, and the best time to buy is obviously when the prices are discounted the most. Luckily, those times come at fairly predictable and frequent times throughout the year for many mattress brands and retail stores.

While not every company will always participate in these major sales, theres a good chance you can find a great mattress deal around these holidays:

• Black Friday
• Labor Day
• New Years

Keep in mind that most mattress sales start up to a week before the holiday and can extend up to a week after the holiday.

You can also expect to save on mattresses around different company events, like grand opening sales, liquidation sales, moving sales and anniversary sales. These arent as predictable so its something to keep an eye out for.

If youre in the market for a new mattress, you might want to sign up for a few company newsletters to get alerts about sales and discounts. You can always unsubscribe later!

Hint: We always consolidate the best mattress sales for our readers on our coupons page.

More Springs Are Always Better

Over recent years spring count has turned into a game of mattress Top Trumps. Some manufacturers even resort to hiding smaller springs in their mattresses to boost the advertised numbers and sell more mattresses.

Thats why we don’t think it’s helpful to advertise spring count. But by all means, get in touch and well tell you exactly how many springs we use in each mattress.

A good UK king size mattress will generally have 1,000 to 2,000 springs. Smaller mattresses naturally contain fewer springs. A budget mattress might only contain 300 springs and should be avoided.

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Benefits & Drawbacks Of Firm Mattresses

Firm mattresses have many benefits and support is chief among them. Firm mattresses are more supportive than soft mattresses and hold up the body, rather than letting it sink in too far. Lying on a firm mattress, most people will feel like they are sleeping on top of the mattress, and they should have no real issues moving around on the mattress.

This also makes firm mattresses cooler than soft mattresses. Lying more on top of the mattress, more of the body is exposed to the air that is moving around in the bedroom.

However, while firm mattresses offer great support, they arent the best when it comes to pressure relief. Side sleepers might feel some serious pressure on their shoulders and hips when they lie on a firm mattress. Also, while comfort is subjective, many people dont find firm mattresses to be as comfortable.

Whats The Best Mattress Of 2021

The best mattress for you will depend on your support needs. However, memory foam beds tend to rate the highest in terms of customer satisfaction. Memory foam beds contour to the curves of the body and provide instant pressure relief. Plus, this material is responsive enough to reform to the shape of your body as you change positions throughout the night. This combination makes memory foam the ideal choice for those with back pain and arthritis.

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Best Mattresses For Stomach Sleepers Of 2021

• Editors Pick Helix Dawn
• Best Mattress for Stomach Sleepers with Back Pain Saatva
• Best Mattress for Heavy People WinkBed Plus
• Best Firm Mattress for Stomach Sleepers Brooklyn Bedding Plank
• Best Mattress for Side and Stomach Sleepers Layla Hybrid
• Best Organic Mattress Birch Natural
• Best Foam Mattress for Stomach Sleepers Casper
• Best Cooling Mattress Purple Hybrid

Degree Of Firmness According To Bodyweight

Bodyweight is a when selecting the right degree of firmness

But, since you also need to consider height, build, and prefered sleeping position, we can only give general guidelines and you still need to consider everything on a case-by-case basis.

The following table may help you decide which degree of firmness is right for you:

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The Right Degree Of Firmness For Children

Firmness is also important to consider when buying a mattress for your child.

While children over the age of 6 can sleep quite comfortably on adult mattresses, babies, toddlers, and small children under 6 generally require a special cot mattress.

These offer the perfect medium-firm feel to support growth and healthy bone development.

If a child’s mattress is too soft or too firm, there is a risk of spinal deformities developing – especially at an early age.

Teenagers can orient themselves according to more general firmness scales.

• The Little Green Sheep
• £ 149 BUY M& P POCKET SPRING

Are Certain Mattress Types More Firm

In a word, no. Regardless of the type of mattress, it is the materials and way it is constructed that determines the firmness.

You should never make assumptions about firmness based on the type of mattress as always, testing each mattress out yourself is the only way to ensure youre getting the right firmness for you.

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Watch Out For Gimmicks

While sellers will label mattresses as “orthopedic” or “medically-approved,” there is no medical organization that officially certifies mattresses to carry these labels. Mattresses may have orthopedic-friendly features, but no medical group verifies these claims.

See Considerations When Buying a New Mattress

Firm Vs Soft Mattress: Which Is Best For You

Lets face it, mattress shopping can be an overwhelming affair. There are hundreds of mattresses to choose from online, and they come in all different types and sizes. Plus, buying a mattress is a big investment, so its a decision you want to make carefully.

There is one question that every mattress shopper should ask themselves: Do I want a firm or soft mattress?This is a great place to start because the mattress firmness will really affect how comfortable or supported you feel on a mattress. Yes, a big part if it comes down to personal preference, but there are some more objective benefits and drawbacks to both firm and soft mattresses.

We have put together this firm vs soft mattress guide to help all those confused mattress shoppers decide which is best for you. Watch our video below or read on to compare them!

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How Do I Know It Will Fit My Bed Base

All our mattresses are handmade to order in all standard UK, EU, and custom sizes. See our Size Guide to learn more.

If your size isn’t listed, we can still make it for you. Just get in touch. We’ll also call you after your order is placed to confirm the dimensions you’ve chosen.

If you’re unsure what size mattress you need, get in touch and we’ll talk you through how to measure your divan base or bed frame.

Suitable For Side And Combination Sleepers

When resting on your side, the heaviest parts of the body, the hips and shoulders, bear the brunt of the body weight. If the bed is too firm, pressure can build up in near these areas causing tension and pain. Also, if the bed doesnt offer enough give, the spine may be forced to curve, which causes the back muscles to tense. However, a mattress that is too soft can also cause excessive sinking, which forces the spine out of alignment. A medium is the best mattress for side sleeping because it provides the right amount of firmness to keep the hips and shoulders lifted and cushioned.

Combination sleepers tend to change positions throughout the night, so they need a firmness that will keep the spine neutral and pressure points cushioned when resting on their side or back. The comfort and stability of a medium bed makes them ideal for those who frequently change sleep positions.

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If Youre Light Weight

Light sleepers tend to be a match for softer mattresses. Lighter individuals need enough plush softness to sink enough that the comfort layers conform to their body.

Firm mattresses can cause pressure points for light people because they tend to sit on top of the bed rather than sinking into it and having it conform to them.

Without this conforming, the weight is concentrated in the heaviest areas that are in contact with the mattress. This is what causes pressure build-up.

In order to get the level of contouring needed, most lightweight sleepers will choose a mattress in the Soft to Medium range.

What Is The Best Month To Purchase A Mattress

Many mattress retailers offer deep discounts around Presidents Day, which is celebrated annually on the third Monday in February. You can usually find some good mattress deals around Memorial Day and Labor Day, and sometimes around the Fourth of July. Generally speaking, you may see a few decent price drops during holiday shopping events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but they likely wont be the best deals of the year. We track deals on all of our mattress recommendations year-round.

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Eve Sleep Premium Hybrid: 782 Evesleepcouk

Sizes available: Double, king, super king

Mattress depth: 28cm

Material: Memory foam and springs

Trial period: 100 nights

Guarantee: 10 years

This extra-deep, vacuum-packed hybrid mattress is next level, in our opinion, especially when it comes to people who sleep at least part of the night on their backs and, unlike the Emma hybrid that goes for folk of any shape and size. This is particularly good news for tall and/or overweight back sleepers, for whom no other mattress came close in our tests.

The durability is outstanding, so it should last you longer than other mattresses. It also gets 10 out of 10 from us on breathability, comfort and support, being just slightly firmer than medium. Eve says its down to the combination of special layers and years of product development, focus groups and testing. The top provides a comfy lift, followed by a contouring memory foam layer, then a firmer foam support layer and a sturdy foam base layer that also encloses full-sized pocket springs. You wont disturb your partner when you roll over and the cover is washable. It does smell a bit at first, but not for long, and no mattress scored higher for edge to edge support.

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Choose The Right Mattress

A firm mattress will suit you if you sleep on your stomach since it will keep the spine aligned. If you sleep on your back, a medium mattress is your best option as it will provide sufficient support to your spine, back, and neck. A soft mattress is best if you sleep on the side as it enables you to sink in and conforms to your bodys curves.

Courtney is the reason The Sleep Shop exists. Shes a Seattle native with a passion for healthy sleep. She graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a major in marketing. She started The Sleep Shop to help friends and family choose a good mattress, and helped grow the site to what it is today. She does most of the product testing and reviews.

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Other Factors To Consider When Choosing A New Mattress

In addition to plushness or firmness, there are other factors youll need to consider when finding the mattress thats best suited to you. Every mattress manufacturer has its own unique method of achieving different degrees of firmness, but there are few specific strategies youll want to be familiar with.

• What kinds of materials are being used to build each mattress?
• How has the mattress design been optimized for maximum comfort and support?

Lets take a look at mattress materials and zoning designs to help you make a more informed purchasing decision.

Preferences And Other Considerations

There are other important factors to consider when shopping for a new bed. If you tend to overheat at night, you will want a mattress that can help keep you cool. Latex runs cooler than foam, which is known for retaining heat. Hybrids and innersprings also sleep cooler, since air circulates between the coils. If you really enjoy the feel of foam but find it runs too hot, look for a foam bed that incorporates cooling components such as cooling gel, an aerated composition, or phase change material. Covers made of cotton or cooling fabrics can help regulate temperature, and wool layers wick moisture from your body.

If you with a partner, you may want to consider a mattress with strong motion isolation. This can help reduce sleep disturbances when sleep partners shift in the middle of the night. Many foam beds are highly effective at minimizing motion transfer, while latex beds have a bouncy feel that is less conducive to motion isolation.

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to finding an ideal mattress. Eco-conscious shoppers may prefer beds made with organic materials. People who sleep close to the edge of the bed might want a mattress with good edge support. Shoppers who are new to purchasing mattresses online may appreciate a bed with a long sleep trial. Figuring out your individual needs will go a long way toward finding the perfect mattress, so take our mattress quiz to get started on your search.

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