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Never managed to get the right mattress that’s perfect for your sleeping positions? Always struggled to get enough nights of uninterrupted sleep? Well, it’s a great idea to consider that it may be your mattress firmness that’s preventing you from getting your shut eye.
Surprisingly, a large number of people in the UK are not totally satisfied with their mattress choice and around 25-30% of people say they prefer a firm mattress.
But how do you know which is the right one for you? In this guide, we’ll talk about why choosing the right mattress firmness is essential for your sleep quality, as well as distinguishing the differences between mattress firmness vs mattress support. We’ll also point you into the right direction when it comes to choosing the right mattress firmness for you, so you can get many nights of dreamy sleep! So, don't we dive straight in?
Why Is Choosing The Right Firmness Important?
Choosing the right mattress firmness is important for your own individual needs and your sleep quality. Getting around 7-8 hours of sleep per night is essential for everyday well-being - for your cognitive function, physical health, concentration levels and so much more. So, finding the right mattress firmness can help with this.
A mattress that is too spongy may not be supportive enough for someone who has back ache or neck pain. A firm mattress can help relieve pressure points in the joints, allowing you to wake up with less aches and pains.
Equally, a spongy and soft mattress may benefit those who are looking for a more cushiony feel. Someone who has preferred sleeping positions may benefit from these kinds of mattresses since they can adapt to your body’s shapes over time.
For the best of both worlds, mattresses that offer both high levels of firmness and a cushiony feel can really make a difference when it comes to sleep quality.
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Mattress Firmness Vs Support: What’s The Difference?
There are some subtle yet key differences when it comes to the nuances of mattress firmness and support.
The firmness of a mattress tends to refer to how much you sink into the mattress, and a key tip to identify this is to sink your hand into it to test how deep you can go. Usually, your hand will sink deep into the mattress if it’s the spongy and more cushiony type, whereas there’s less depth and bounciness in the firm mattresses.
When we refer to mattress support, we usually refer to the mattress’ internal structure and what it’s made out of, e.g. pocket springs or memory foam, as well as how this contributes to improved spinal alignment or how it adapts to your preferred sleeping positions.
How Do I Know Which Mattress Firmness To Choose?
When it comes to mattress firmness, it’s actually very subjective and all down to personal preferences. However, there are some key points that you can identify when it comes to understanding whether a spongy mattress or a firm mattress may benefit you more when sleeping.
So, the first telltale sign that you may need to consider a different mattress firmness is if you’re waking up with a lot of aches and pains after sleeping. If this happens often, seeking some professional medical advice is the first step if you have any concerns, but once you have done this, you could opt for a mattress that’s firm.
These mattresses can help with improving your sleeping position so you don’t put too much pressure on certain areas of your body, such as the pelvis, neck and back. Firm mattresses are often designed with plenty of pocket springs inside that help with improved spinal alignment and support.
Another tip to know which mattress firmness to choose is if you keep tossing and turning throughout the night, and either you or your partner is disturbed from movements and noise. Firm mattresses can really help with this, as they often have reduced noise and motion transfer, meaning you won’t hear or feel your partner as much during the night.
With that being said, if you’re someone who likes to sleep in a certain preferred position, you may lean towards a mattress that’s soft and spongy. These kinds of mattresses are flexible enough to offer you support even when you are sleeping in your desired position.
After many years, it may be time for a replacement mattress anyway, as the firmness can usually wear down over time. This can be normally caused by the weight being concentrated in certain areas of the mattress, causing the springs to wear down or the memory foam to lose its elasticity. So, if you find that your mattress feels uneven after around 7-10 years, it’s likely that it’s time for a replacement.
Finding The Right Mattress Type
Now you understand the importance of choosing the right mattress firmness for you, let’s take a look at some different mattresses we have to offer, with various levels of firmness and how they may benefit.
Mattresses For Firm Sleepers
We have a wide selection of mattresses for those who prefer firm sleeping positions. The first option is the Orthopaedic Mattress that’s designed to help with improved spinal alignment. Designed with firm pocket springs inside, these kinds of mattresses help with muscle soreness, joint pain and general fatigue at the end of the day. So, someone with muscle soreness and back pain could really benefit from the firmness of the orthopaedic mattress.
Pocket spring mattresses are also designed with ample support and firmness. Created with thousands of individually enclosed pocket springs that are wrapped in their own fabric, they’re made to reduce the amount of movement and noise you feel during the night. If you’re sleeping with your partner, like we mentioned earlier, these mattresses can make excellent choices when it comes to firmness and nights of undisturbed sleep.
Mattresses For Soft Sleepers
Memory foam mattresses may benefit those who like a soft, sponge and cushiony feel when sleeping. If you like to feel enveloped and as though you’re sinking into a soft mattress, the memory foam is a great option for you.
Designed latex materials with high levels of viscosity, the memory foam mattress gets to know your body’s shapes and contours over time. As a result, someone who has a preferred sleeping position may benefit from a memory foam mattress as it understands the way you like to sleep as time goes on.
Mattresses For Medium Sleepers
For those who enjoy a mixture of firmness and softness when they sleep, we also offer mattresses that give you the best of both worlds. For example, our hybrid mattress is designed with lots of interior pocket springs , with an extra layer of memory foam. This combines a dense, firm structure with the support that comes with the springs, as well as a soft layer that feels cushiony and soft.
This mattress option is great for couples who have different preferred sleeping positions and styles, as it’s a firm mattress but the memory foam layer is still flexible enough to suit mould to both of your bodies.
Preventing Your Mattress From Losing Its Softness Or Firmness
Over time, mattresses can show visible signs of wear and tear and they begin to lose their viscosity and firmness. So, there are a few steps to help prevent this.
The first one is to rotate your mattress 180 degrees every three months or so. This helps distribute the weight across the mattress more evenly, as weight that is concentrated in one place can cause indentations over time. So, whether you have an orthopaedic, memory or pocket spring mattress, you can extend its lifespan and retain its firmness with this quick and easy trick.
Using a mattress topper or mattress protector is also another handy method when it comes to ensuring that your mattress is kept in its best condition throughout the years. Acting as an extra layer, it’s a great way to ensure that your mattress still maintains its shape, softness and firmness, whilst also protecting it from stains and giving you even more comfort.
One other easy trick you can do to keep your mattress firm or soft is to ensure that your wooden slats are tightly secured. If you have bought one of our Ottoman beds or you already have a bed at home with wooden slats, you can easily check regularly if they are still tightly screwed onto each other. Make sure that they are no more than 3 inches apart, as this can cause the mattress to sink between the slats and make it misshapen.
Discover Right Mattress For You Now
After reading this guide, we hope you have more of an insight into which mattress firmness is right for you. For more tips and advice when it comes to choosing the right mattress, why not explore some more of our guides?