A topper is an extra, thinner layer that you place on top of your mattress. It does not replace the mattress, but it changes its feel: it makes it softer, more comfortable or a little firmer, depending on the topper you choose.
What a topper offers
- A different feel on the same mattress. If your mattress is firmer than you want, a soft topper can ease it without having to change it.
- More comfort at the pressure points. The extra layer may reduce pressure at the shoulder and hip.
- A solution for a second bed. If the sofa bed or the guest bed is hard, a topper makes it more welcoming.
Do not expect miracles, though. A topper changes the feel of the surface; it does not fix a mattress that has worn out or sagged. If your mattress is many years old and no longer supports you properly, it is worth looking at a new one.
Topper or mattress protector?
The two are easily confused. A topper adds a layer and changes the feel. A mattress protector (επίστρωμα) protects the mattress from sweat and stains and does not significantly change how soft or firm it is. Many people use both: first the topper, and the protector on top.
How to choose
There is no single topper that suits everyone, because every body and every mattress is different. Start with how your mattress feels now, and what bothers you: something that presses on you, something that makes you warm or something that feels hard. If it is firm for you, look at a softer topper. If it is already soft, do not make it softer, because the lower back will sink in more.
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. See where your mattress sits on the scale and think about which way you want the feel to move: a topper usually shifts it a little, not by a lot.
Look at the materials too. Foams carry a number: the higher it is, the better the quality, and HR foams are the best. Sleep products also use latex, Memory Gel, coconut fibre, Aloe Vera and Coolmax fabrics. Each product page describes its materials.
Remember that the base is still the mattress. A Bonnell, with its springs tied into a grid, is orthopedic and steady and does not need a bed frame with dense slats. A pocket is anatomical and does need one. A topper does not change that base; it only adds a different feel on top. If you can, lie down before you decide.
Which size
A topper should be the same size as your mattress. The usual sizes in Greece are 90 × 190/200, 140 × 190/200, 150 × 200 and 160 × 200 cm. If your mattress has custom dimensions, check that the topper fits them, so that it neither overhangs nor falls short at the edges.
How to place it
The process is simple: lay the topper over the mattress, making sure it covers the whole surface and does not slide. If your bed has a frame, leave a gap of 1–2 cm around the mattress. The new height should let you get up easily, and the sheets should still fit properly.
If you have pain that persists when you wake up, a topper is not always the answer. Talk to a doctor.
Care
Follow the washing instructions on the label, if there are any. Air the topper now and then, especially in summer, and do not leave it damp. If sweat is an issue for you, a mattress protector on top will protect it and is easier to wash.
Where to find them
Browse the toppers and, if you want to see the mattress itself, the mattresses. If you do not know what suits you, Sleep Match asks how you sleep and what you like and suggests mattresses. You can try ORION products in more than 200 stores.
In short
A topper changes the feel of the mattress you have, without replacing it. Choose it by how soft or firm you want your bed to feel, and remember that it does not fix a mattress that has worn out.
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