How To Choose A Mattress Firmness ?

Some considerations for choosing a firmness when shopping for a new mattress.

What Is Mattress Firmness ?

When shopping for a pocket coil mattress, there are literally thousands of options. Having multiple options is great, but when it comes to deciding on just one bed that's comfortable and fits your needs, the endless options can make it harder to narrow down your options. One of the most important considerations when deciding on a best suitable mattress is comfort. A lot of what we call "comfort" has to do with how soft or firm a mattress is, which can range from very soft to very firm. Think of softness and firmness as opposite ends of the spectrum, and each degree on that spectrum is called the "firmness" of the bed.

Which Hardness Is Right For You ?

So how do you know which hardness is best for you? Some sources explain that finding your personal preference is as simple as asking yourself, "Do I prefer a softer  or a firmer mattress?" While this may seem like a simple question, there are actually multiple reason behind our preference for mattress firmness. If you're not sure what hardness level you need, exploring these reasons will help you make your choice.

Spine Alignment

Restful sleep often depends on your spine being properly aligned. When standing or sitting, your spine is supported because you are subconsciously controlling your posture. When you're lying down but awake, your muscles are still active, so your body stays aligned. However, when you fall asleep, your muscles relax and your body relies on the sleeping surface to stay aligned. If you sleep on a surface that doesn't naturally support your back, you may wake up with pain.

A common misconception is that when we lie on our backs, our spine is straight. Our spine actually has a slight natural curve. So when you sleep, your mattress must support this natural curvature, which also helps relieve pressure points. The most important pressure points to consider when choosing a firmness level are those that make the most contact with your mattress, such as your shoulders, hips, and legs. Choose a mattress with moderate firmness that provides adequate support without pressure points, provides good weight distribution, and is compatible with your sleeping position. For example, when you sleep on your side, your hips and shoulders should sink enough into the mattress to relieve pressure points and keep your spine in a straight line.

Remember again that "soft" doesn't necessarily mean "lack of support". Choosing a firmness level simply means choosing a surface that will allow your spine to align properly on the mattress. The alignment of your spine on your sleeping surface depends on various aspects, including your weight and your typical sleeping position.

Sleeping Position

Your sleeping position is an important consideration when determining the appropriate firmness level. The amount of pressure applied to a particular point on the body depends on the point that supports most of your body weight. For example, people who sleep on their stomach exert more downward force on their hips than people who sleep on their backs. While sleeping position and firmness preference comes down to personal preference, we have some suggestions for those who haven't decided which firmness to choose:

Side sleepers generally prefer a softer mattress. The soft surface allows the mattress to conform to the pressure points of the shoulders and hips, as well as the arms tucked under the side bolsters, preventing numbness and tingling. A firmer mattress makes stomach sleepers more comfortable. For stomach sleepers, there is much more pressure on the hips and pelvis, as these areas support most of their body weight. A medium or firm mattress can prevent your hips and pelvis from sinking below your shoulders and creating unnatural curves in your spine. Back sleepers have the greatest range of firmness because pressure is more evenly distributed across their pressure points as they sleep. Because of this, people with backrests can find comfort on soft, medium and firm mattresses. If you're still hesitant, a medium-firm mattress is a very safe choice.