It depends on how you sleep. A side sleeper usually needs a softer mattress, a back sleeper a medium to medium-firm one and a stomach sleeper a firmer one. The ideal mattress combines comfort and proper support, and to find it you look at two things: firmness and materials.
Why your sleeping position matters
In each position your body weight falls on different spots. On your side the shoulders and hips take the pressure, on your back the back and pelvis, on your stomach the chest and belly. A mattress that does not suit your position can leave you with aches in the lower back, shoulder or neck.
Most of us change position during the night. Think about which position you spend the most time in and start from there.
How to read firmness
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 can compare mattresses in the same way, without relying only on descriptions.
If you sleep on your side
On your side, the shoulders and hips need a little room to sink in, so the spine stays in a natural line. That is why a soft or medium-soft mattress, with a plush layer on top, usually suits. The thicker that layer is, the more easily the mattress takes the shape of the body.
Pocket springs are a good choice here, because they are anatomical and each spring works on its own. Pressure on the shoulders and hips is spread better. Remember that a pocket mattress needs a bed frame with slats, and dense ones at that.
For the top layer, look at materials such as foam, latex and Memory Gel, or a mattress with a pillowtop.
If you sleep on your back
On your back the weight falls on the back and you need good spinal alignment, without the middle of the body sinking in. For many people a medium to medium-firm mattress suits, that is, about 4.5 to 6.5 on the scale.
A Bonnell mattress, which is orthopedic and steady, gives even support. If you prefer a more anatomical feel, a pocket mattress with a firmer setting is also an option. A Bonnell does not need a bed frame with dense slats.
If you sleep on your stomach
On your stomach the middle of the body tends to sink. If the mattress is too soft, the back curves too much. If it is too firm, the body does not find a natural curve and the chest and belly are pressed.
A firmer mattress usually suits, from medium to firm (about 5 to 7 on the scale), so the middle of the body does not sink. A pocket mattress with a thin comfort layer on top helps spread the weight evenly.
If you change position or share the bed
If you turn a lot during the night, medium or medium-firm is often a good starting point, because it works in more positions. For a couple with different needs, the independent action of pocket springs helps, and most mattresses can be made in custom sizes: you enter width and length on the mattress page and see the price at once.
In most cases the best test is to lie down. Try the mattress for a few minutes in the position you sleep in and notice whether your body stays straight and whether any spot is pressed. If pain in the lower back, shoulder or neck persists when you wake up, the mattress is not always the answer: talk to a doctor.
How to look after it
Whichever mattress you choose, it needs turning so it wears evenly. A double-sided mattress is turned over every six months. A mattress with a pillowtop, or with layers on its top side only, is turned head to foot every six months. Also leave a gap of 1–2 cm around the mattress in the bed.
In short
Softer on your side, medium on your back, firmer on your stomach. Sleep Match asks how you sleep and what you like and suggests mattresses, and you can see all the mattresses on their page. To try them in person, there are more than 200 stores where ORION mattresses are available.
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