There is no single firm or soft mattress that suits everyone. The right firmness depends mainly on the position you sleep in, your weight and whether you have back complaints. In general, side sleepers often prefer something softer, while back and stomach sleepers prefer something steadier.
And one more thing counts as much as everything else: feeling comfortable. If your mattress feels uncomfortable, you will find it hard to sleep well, however right it looks on paper.
What firm and soft mean
The difference shows in the feel. A firm mattress is steadier and gives less, while a soft one compresses more easily under your body. This depends on the springs and on the materials above them.
On every mattress page, firmness is shown on a 1–10 scale: up to 3.5 is soft, 4 medium-soft, 4.5–5 medium, 5.5–6 medium-firm and 6.5 and above firm. This way you compare mattresses in the same way.
The feel is not the same as the support. A mattress can look soft on the surface and support steadily from below, and the other way round. That is why pressing it with your hand is not enough: you need to lie down on it.
When a firmer mattress suits you
A steady mattress stops the lower back from sinking and spreads the weight more evenly. That is why it often suits back and stomach sleepers, and heavier people.
- The feel is solid and steady, and if you like such a surface, that is a good reason in itself to choose it.
- You do not «sink in», which helps keep the spine straight.
- At first it may feel uncomfortable if you come from a softer one. Usually you get used to it within a short time.
- It is not always better for the back: if you have a specific problem, a very firm mattress may bother you more.
When a softer mattress suits you
Side sleepers press mainly on the shoulders and hips. A softer mattress receives them and helps the spine stay in a natural line. It often suits lighter people too, who do not sink enough into a firm mattress.
- The feel is fluffier and «hugs» the body. If you like to feel cradled, a softer mattress will win you over.
- For back or stomach sleepers, or for heavier people, it may be too soft and strain the back.
If you share the bed
For a couple the choice is harder. The heavier person sinks more and the surface becomes uneven, and one wants firmer while the other wants softer. A mattress in the middle of the scale, medium, medium-soft or medium-firm, often suits both. Try it together: both lie down at the same time, for several minutes, the way you sleep, and see whether you feel each other when one turns over.
How to choose
Keep three things in mind: the position you sleep in, your weight and whether you have back pain. Then lie on the mattress for a few minutes, in your usual position, and notice where you feel support and where you feel pressure.
Weight counts too. The heavier you are, the more you sink, and you often need something steadier so that the middle does not sink. The lighter you are, the more easily a very firm mattress will feel like a «rock».
Give it a little time as well. The body usually needs a few weeks to get used to a new mattress, especially if you change from a very soft one to a steadier one.
You do not have to pick one extreme. There are mattresses in the middle that lean slightly one way or the other. And if you want to change the feel without changing the mattress, a topper can change the feel of the mattress.
If you do not know where to start, Sleep Match asks how you sleep and what you like and suggests mattresses. If you have pain that persists, the mattress is not always the answer: talk to a doctor.
In short
Usually softer for the side, steadier for the back and stomach, and medium when you are not sure or when two people sleep in the bed. Browse the mattresses and try them in person in one of the more than 200 stores where ORION mattresses are available.
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