The Difference Between Mattress Firmness And Mattress Support
While its easy to think a firmer mattress means more support , these two terms arent exactly interchangeable.
Mattress firmness refers to the upper layers of your mattress that you feel when you first lie down, while mattress support refers to the base and core layers. So whats the difference?
The base and core layers of your mattress will have more of an effect on your spinal alignment and relieving pressure than the upper layers.2 This means you can have a firm mattress with poor support or a soft mattress with good support.
As an example, lets look at the Casper Wave and the Casper Nova mattresses. Both use a hybrid base of springs and foam to offer maximum lift and support. However, our Wave mattress maximizes that support to provide you with relief from pain, whereas our Nova mattress maximizes softness to enhance your comfort.
Dual Or Multiple Firmness Options
When it comes to your choice of mattress, the goal is to choose the mattress of the right firmness that will suit all your specific needs and sleep preferences. If you think that the universal comfort model cant meet your needs, then you should choose a model that offers different firmness options.
Many brands now provide more freedom and versatility of choice for their customers by having medium and firm options or soft/medium/ and firm. This gives you a greater choice and allows you to get the right mattress for you.
Some mattresses allow you to personalize the firmness yourself by offering you to possibility to swap the layers of different firmnesses and adjust the firmness according to your needs.
Also, some mattress brands like Helix offer you the possibility to customize the bed yourself and choose the materials and firmness on each side individually, which is especially good for your if you share your bed with a partner whose sleep preferences are different from yours.
Most brands that offer different firmness options usually offer soft, medium, and firm options. Heres how each one differs from another in terms of firmness:
Make Sure That The Air In Your Bedroom Is Dry
If you live somewhere near the ocean or just in an area with a lot of moisture in the air, this may be the reason why your mattress gets softer. Ideally, you should let the sunlight do all the job and get rid of moisture. On top of that, moisture in your mattress creates an ideal environment for germs, bacteria, and mold, so try to keep it dry.
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Soft Mattress: 3 To 5/10
If the mattress is within 3 to 5 on the firmness scale, you can consider it a soft mattress. Youll experience sinking when lying on it, so a soft bed typically uses cushioning like pillow tops on the top layer and more materials like foam on the comfort layer. Should you choose a soft mattress?
If you want deep contouring and pressure relief for sleep, a soft mattress would be perfect. You also want this softness if you sleep on your side to help reduce the pressure on the shoulders, hips, and lower back in this position. Here is also how to make a firm mattress softer if your bed is too hard to sleep on.
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.
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Decide What You Want From A Mattress
When looking for a new mattress, its worth making a list of what you want and dont want from your next mattress. This will help you narrow down your options so you dont get overwhelmed by the countless mattress options on the market today.
Try asking yourself the following questions:
- What do I like about my current mattress?
- What do I dislike about my current mattress?
- Is the mattress for me or someone else?
- What must my next mattress have?
- Do I need to buy any accessories for my mattress?
Solutions For Sleeping Hot
If you sleep hot at night, be sure to choose a mattress thats designed with cooling technology.
Temperature plays a big role in your nights sleep and if you naturally sleep hot, your choice of mattress can help with that. If you tend to wake up drenched in a sweaty stream, a cooling mattress can make all the difference.
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How To Determine Your Sleep Style
Most people fall into one of three main categories for sleeping styles. These are side, stomach or back. If you find yourself sleeping in multiple positions, then youre a combination sleeper.
Note what position you find comfortable to fall asleep in and how you wake up to better understand what sleeping style you fall in to. Knowing this before looking at mattresses will be helpful. Once you know how youre sleeping, you can find a bed that caters to your sleep style.
Here are some general rules that can help you in your search for the perfect mattress.
Read Reviews On Different Best Adjustable Firmness Mattress Before Buying Them
Finding the best adjustable firmness mattress that does what it claims to do is not always easy. The best adjustable firmness mattress in 2022 come with reviews to help you decide if they are worth your time and money.
Checks can be found on blogs, social media sites, or even in the product description. It is essential to read them before buying so that you know what others think of the product.
A lot of people are unsure about what to buy, but there is a solution! Read reviews on different best adjustable firmness mattress before buying them.
This way, you can see how the product has worked for other customers who have tried it. Plus, it’s always wise to read customer reviews because they’re honest and will give you an idea if the product is worth your money or not.
It’s important to make the most of this precious time by creating content that will help people understand your products and services. It can be done faster than you think possible with Shoe Care And Accessories. buy now
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Which Firmness Is Right For You
So how do you know which firmness is best for you? Some sources explain that finding your personal preference is as simple as asking yourself, Do I prefer a soft or firm bed? While it might seem like a simple question to answer, there are actually a variety of reasons behind our mattress firmness preferences. If you arent sure what firmness level you need, exploring these reasons will help you with your selection.
Determine If Its Time To Replace Your Mattress
Before you even start your hunt for a mattress, look at your current bed and decide whether its even time to replace it. Mattresses are a big investment, so not all of us can replace them on a whim.
If your mattress meets the following criteria, it may be time for a replacement:
- Your mattress is over 7 to 10 years old
- Your mattress has visible sags, lumps, or indentations
- You struggle to get comfortable at night
- You wake up feeling fatigued or achy
- You sleep better on different beds
Whether your mattress is too old or not the right style for you, if you are simply unable to get comfortable on your current bed, its probably time to switch it for something better suited for you.
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Buy The Best Adjustable Firmness Mattress For Your Needs
Have you ever found yourself asking, “What should I buy?” It is a question that many people ask themselves regularly. You may be wondering if it’s worth your time to research the products that are out there or not. The answer is YES! It would be wise for you to spend some time exploring what product will work best for you.
There are so many options when purchasing the best adjustable firmness mattress these days, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out which one will work best for me.
We all have our unique preferences and budgets, but this does not mean we cannot find something perfect without breaking the bank in the process.
The best way to find the best adjustable firmness mattress in 2021 for your needs is by doing research. Before you buy anything, figure out what you need and then compare different products against those specific needs.
It will help you make an informed decision about which product is right for you.
You want to buy the best keyboard on the market, but it’s difficult to know which ones are good. Spending too much money on keyboards can backfire buyers may not use them and you’ll end up with a bunch of unsold inventory. learn more
If You Have Back Pain
Roughly 8 percent of adults in the U.S. deal with chronic back pain. Whether you experience frequent or sporadic aches and pains, your mattress may alleviate or contribute to your discomfort. The best mattresses for back pain relief will cushion the shoulders and hips, align the spine if needed, and provide adequate support throughout the body.
Upper to Mid Back Pain: If you experience back pain above the lumbar region, you’ll probably feel most comfortable on a mattress with enhanced shoulder support. Beds that sink too deeply around the shoulders can cause the spine to become misaligned. You may want to consider a mattress with zoned support layers. These layers are engineered to feel softer around the head and neck, slightly firmer under the shoulders, and even firmer beneath the back and hips.
If you experience upper back pain, you may also want to reconsider your pillow choice. If your pillow is too thick or too thin, you will be more susceptible to neck and shoulder aches. Our recommendation: find a pillow that provides enough cushioning between your head/neck and the mattress. If you sleep on a firm mattress, then a thicker pillow may be needed if your mattress is softer and you sink beneath the surface, a thin pillow may be sufficient.
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Do I Need To Buy A Box Spring With A New Mattress
Most box springs last around 8 to 10 years, or roughly the same lifespan as most mattresses. So, youll generally need to replace your box spring around the same time as you replace your bed.
With this in mind, innerspring mattresses are the only type of beds compatible with box springs, but innerspring beds are becoming less common these days. More popular, modern mattresses include memory foam, latex, and hybrid beds, all of which are best paired with slatted or solid foundations.
Medium Mattress: 6 To 7/10
If the mattress is within 6 to 7 on the firmness scale, the manufacturer considers it a medium or medium-firm bed. This feel is possible thanks to the soft top layer and high-density foundation. The result is the perfect combination of comfort and support, ideal for almost all types of people.
Should you choose a medium-firm mattress? This mattress would be helpful to achieve a good sleeping position for most people because there is some sinkage for pressure relief. However, youll still maintain a neutral spine because it has some firmness to push back against the body and keep the spine from misaligning.
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Buying A Mattress Online
Purchasing a mattress online is a great way to save money. But not many people will buy something as important as a mattress sight unseen. Luckily, there is a way to solve this dilemma.
First, look online to find a few mattresses you might be interested in. Let’s say you’re browsing on Amazon.com and spot a Sealy Posturepedic Granite Peaks Ultra Plush mattress set. Write down the manufacturer, model name and number if available, coil count, and other pertinent, descriptive information.
Next, go to the manufacturer’s website and do a search to find a retailer near you who sells Sealy. Visit the store, find the Granite Peaks Ultra Plush, and test it out. Another option is to do this process in reverse, visit different stores, find a mattress that is comfortable, write down its information and then go online to order it.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the authorâs knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Which Mattress Firmness Suits Me
We use a 1-10 scale to measure how soft or firm a mattress feels, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the firmest. Most mattresses made today fall between 3 and 8. The following table breaks down different firmness levels based on the 1-10 scale.
| Firmness Rating | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleepers feel very little contouring. The mattress will not sink, and should feel very supportive. | Side sleepers who weigh more than 230 lbs.
Back and stomach sleepers who weigh at least 130 lbs. |
Side sleepers who weigh 230 lbs. or fewer
Back and stomach sleepers who weigh less than 130 lbs. |
|
| 9-10 | Sleepers feel little to no contouring. The mattress will maintain a flat, even surface with no sinkage whatsoever. Like extra soft, this firmness level is very uncommon. | Side, back, and stomach sleepers who weigh more than 230 lbs. | Side, back, and stomach sleepers who weigh 230 lbs. or fewer |
The information in the table above represents the general consensus among sleepers, so there are definitely exceptions. You may weigh less than 130 pounds and prefer a firmer mattress, or weigh more than 230 pounds and prefer a softer mattress. However, the best firmness for you will likely be tied to your body type and sleep position.
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Why Does It Matter
The firmness of the mattress is a fundamental characteristic which is quite critical for the decision-making process. Not only will it determine the overall level of comfort but its also going to have a serious impact on the support of the bed as well.
This is something quite critical. The firmness has an impact over almost every important characteristic that your mattress is defined by. From the comfort and support to the overall performance of the unit, everything could be associated with its firmness.
What If Im Not Sure What Firmness Level I Want For My Mattress
If you are unsure what firmness level is going to be right for you, theres really no way around it youll need to test some mattresses out for yourself.
You can try out mattresses in a showroom to get a gauge on what feels comfortable to you initially, but youll need more than just lying on a bed in a showroom to know for sure.
If you have an idea of what firmness level may be right for you, make sure to go for a mattress that is free and easy to return for either a refund or exchange.
Many mattress-in-a-box companies offer generous risk-free trial periods that allow you to try the mattress out at home for anywhere between 90 nights to a full year.
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The Problem With Firmness Extremes
Even though the firmness scale is measured between 1 and 10, it is unlikely youd ever come across a mattress that sits at the extreme of either end of the scale.
Why? Because level 1 or 10 would be so soft or so firm, theyd pretty much be at the point of ridiculousness and not actually suitable for anyone but the rarest of cases. A mattress with level 1 softness would have an extreme level of sinkage while not providing any meaningful support.
A mattress with level 10 firmness would nearly feel like sleeping on a tabletop extreme pushback levels with next to no sinkage or conforming properties and extremely thin soft comfort layer.
The Different Pillow Firmness
The good news is that you can choose the level of pillow firmness you prefer.
Soft pillows are perfect for sleepers who dont need a lot of support. Soft pillows conform to your head and neck. They can also lead to neck pain if you lay the wrong way.
Like soft pillows, these pillows are plush, but give you a bit more support.
If you need a pillow right in the middle, this one’s for you. Its not too soft, and its not too firm. If you change positions a lot, this pillow will suit you best.
If you need a firm pillow, but would like a bit of flexibility, the medium firm pillow will work. It provides you neck and head support with a balance of conformity.
The firm pillow is the toughest on this list. Its perfect for larger sleepers as it gives you more support without the plush. These will be heavier pillows that will not conform.
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Remember: Higher Price Does Not Always Equal Higher Quality
It is tempting to assume that the more you pay, the better the mattress. But a high price tag does not always guarantee high qualityand it certainly does not guarantee you will personally find the mattress comfortable. Research the materials, and let personal preference be your guide.
A mattress is an important investment that can affect the health of your spine and the quality of your sleep, so take the time to find the mattress that is right for you.
