Unlock Your Best Sleep: How to Find Your Perfect Mattress Firmness
Are you tired of tossing and turning at night, struggling to find the right position for a comfortable sleep? The solution may be easier than you think. The firmness level of your mattress often plays an important role in supporting your body and preferred sleeping style. At Amart, we offer a wide variety of mattress styles so that you can choose the right firmness for your sleeping needs.
Why is the right mattress firmness important?
The importance of finding the right mattress firmness cannot be overstated. It directly impacts your sleep quality and overall well-being in several ways, including ensuring comfort and proper spinal alignment throughout the night by:
- Providing adequate support.
- Conforming to your body's natural curves.
- Minimising pressure points.
- Allowing muscles to relax and rejuvenate during sleep.
- Alleviating back, neck, and/or joint pain.
Different sleeping positions require varying levels of support to prevent discomfort, with softer mattresses often preferred by side sleepers and firmer ones by back and stomach sleepers. Quality sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, and a mattress that matches your firmness preferences ensures deeper, more restful sleep, leading to improved cognitive function, mood, and energy levels during the day.
What are the different levels on the mattress firmness scale?
Mattresses are commonly classified into four main categories: soft, medium, medium-firm, and firm. Each style offers a distinct feel and level of support, catering to different sleep preferences and needs. Take a look at the mattress options below to see which is the right fit for you:
- Ultra Plush Mattresses: Deliver an exceptionally soft and luxurious feel, offering deep contouring and pressure relief. These mattresses provide the ultimate cradling sensation, making them perfect for side sleepers and individuals who desire a cloud-like sleep experience.
- Plush Mattresses: Provide a plush, sinking feeling, contouring closely to the body. Ideal for side sleepers and those who prefer a cradling sensation.
- Medium Mattresses: Strike a balance between softness and support, suitable for a wide range of sleepers, including back and combination sleepers.
- Firm Mattresses: Offer enhanced support and stability while still providing some degree of contouring comfort. Favoured by back sleepers and individuals seeking balanced support.
- Extra Firm Mattresses: Offer minimal sinkage and maximum support, promoting proper spinal alignment. Ideal for stomach sleepers and those who prefer a firmer sleeping surface.
How Mattress Firmness Affects Sleep Quality
The level of mattress firmness directly influences sleep comfort and support. A mattress that's too soft may lack adequate support, leading to discomfort and poor sleep quality. Alternatively, a mattress that is too firm can cause pressure points and restless sleep. Proper spinal alignment is crucial for restful sleep and can also affect your long-term posture and movement. The right mattress firmness helps maintain alignment and reduces pressure points, allowing muscles to relax and promoting deeper sleep. Chronic sleep disturbances due to an unsuitable mattress can also have long-term health consequences, making it vital to invest in a mattress with the right firmness level for your needs.
Choosing the Right Mattress Firmness Based on Your Sleeping Style
Choosing the right mattress firmness is highly dependent on your sleep style and personal comfort preferences, some sleepers prefer sinking into their mattress whilst others like laying on a hard and firm surface. Your sleeping style may help you decide which firmness is best for you. Here's a breakdown of the best mattress firmness levels for various sleeping positions:
1. Side Sleepers:
- Best Firmness: Medium to Plush
- Why? Because side sleepers typically exert more pressure on their shoulders and hips. A medium to medium-soft mattress allows these areas to sink in slightly while still providing adequate support to maintain spinal alignment.
2. Back Sleepers:
- Best Firmness: Medium to Firm
- Why? Because back sleepers require a balance of support and contouring. A medium to medium-firm mattress offers enough cushioning to support the natural curvature of the spine while preventing excessive sinkage.
3. Stomach Sleepers:
- Best Firmness: Firm to Extra Firm
- Why? Because stomach sleepers need a firm surface to prevent the lower back from sinking too deeply into the mattress, which can lead to spinal misalignment. A medium-firm to firm mattress provides the necessary support to keep the spine aligned.
4. Combination Sleepers:
- Best Firmness: Medium
- Why? Because combination sleepers switch between different sleeping positions throughout the night. A medium mattress strikes a balance between contouring and support, accommodating various sleeping styles without compromising comfort or alignment.
When choosing a mattress, you should also consider a range of other factors including your mattress size, sleeping arrangements, and any specific sleep issues you may have. Tailor your mattress firmness choice to your individual sleep needs. Trust your instincts to find the level of comfort that suits you best.
How to Test Mattress Firmness
Visit your local Amart store to explore our extensive mattress showroom and spend time lying down on various mattresses to assess their feel and support. Take note of how your body responds in different positions and focus on feeling the support, comfort, and pressure relief each mattress offers. Talking to a mattress expert is the best way to understand what type of mattress is right for you and your sleeping needs. That’s why we have developed our new SleepZone in-store mattress shopping experience, guided by our very own sleep experts! Find an Amart SleepZone store near you to take your mattress shopping experience to the next level.