How to choose your mattress?

The range of mattresses is very broad and full of subtleties. When choosing a new mattress, many questions arise: how can you judge its quality? Which technology should you select? Which materials should you favour? If there are two of you, what firmness should you choose? Should you opt for a memory foam mattress or a traditional one? Should you buy your mattress online to take advantage of promotional offers, or is it essential to try it in a shop? Embrin is here to help you navigate the mattress market.

Mattress Glossary

The world of mattresses comes with its own set of terms. Comfort layer, support, density and firmness are all technical terms often used, but not always understood by those new to the subject. Here is a short Embrin glossary for anyone looking to find a mattress that meets their expectations.

Comfort Layer

The comfort layer of a mattress is the first sensation you feel when you lie down on it. A mattress with a firm comfort layer has a rigid surface, while a soft comfort layer offers a more welcoming feel. This is the indicator most often referred to when people say a mattress is “too hard” or “comfortable” according to their own criteria.

Support

Support refers to the mattress’s ability to keep the spine straight during sleep. This quality determines comfort and also prevents aches and pains after many nights on the mattress. Ideally, all mattresses should support the sleeper’s spine. A good mattress does not need an overly rigid comfort layer for optimal support (in other words: a mattress does not need to be hard to keep your spine straight). Ideally, it offers firm support with a soft comfort layer, meaning it keeps the spine well aligned while remaining comfortable.

Density

The density of a mattress refers to the amount of material used in its construction. This density is expressed in units per cubic metre. For foam and latex mattresses (unlike non-pocket spring mattresses), this is a very important criterion as it indicates the amount of material inside and therefore indirectly the quality of its support. The higher the density, the denser and higher quality the material. For example, a foam mattress with lower density than another will most likely offer less optimal support.

Firmness

Closely linked to support and the comfort layer, firmness refers to the sensation when lying on the mattress or after spending one or more nights on it. It is the sleeper’s perception beyond the surface and comfort layer, over the medium and long term.

Note: Do not confuse “Density” and “Firmness” as they are two different indicators: density refers to the amount and quality of material used, while firmness is about the sleeper’s perception when lying on the mattress. A mattress with high density is not necessarily rigid: a mattress that feels soft at first may offer optimal support, while a very hard and rigid mattress may provide inadequate support.

Mattress Size

Of course, size should be one of the main criteria when making your choice. This depends on your preferences, the size of your bed or base (if you already have these), the size of the bedroom, and the number of people who will sleep in the bed (do you sleep alone, with a partner, with your child or children, with one or more pets?).

Our advice: if you are hesitating between two sizes, always choose the larger size. When more than one person shares a bed, it quickly becomes cramped. People complain if their bed is too small, but never if it is too big.

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation refers to the mattress’s ability to remain still on your side of the bed even when your co-sleeper(s) move. This is an important criterion if you do not sleep alone.

The Comfort Layer of the Mattress

As explained in the glossary, the comfort layer refers to the immediate sensation when you lie down. This comes down to personal preference: do you prefer a soft mattress or a rather firm surface? It depends on your tastes and habits. For example, a student who uses their bed for both sleeping and studying may prefer a firmer surface for working on a laptop for several hours. On the other hand, if you only use your bed for sleeping or occasionally relaxing in front of the television or reading, a softer surface will be more pleasant.

Body Shape and Firmness

You may appreciate a firmer or softer comfort layer depending on your personal preferences. However, firmness is a selection criterion that depends directly on the sleeper’s body shape, not their habits. Firmness should be suited to the sleeper’s weight and height to provide adequate support. Here is a table showing the relationship between body shape and mattress firmness:

Note: this table is provided for guidance only as there is no official regulation standardising makers’ firmness labels. In other words, one maker may describe their mattress as “Very Firm”, while another, with the same composition, may call it “Firm”. It is therefore strongly recommended to try a mattress before buying, or to choose an e-commerce site that offers several nights’ trial and free returns.

Which firmness should you choose if two people of different body shapes sleep on the same mattress?

In this case, you should select the firmer option, suitable for the heavier/taller person. The person with a smaller build can adapt to a firmer mattress, but the larger person may experience discomfort on a mattress that is not firm enough.

The Different Mattress Technologies

There are several mattress technologies. While some brands offer unique, patented compositions, there are nonetheless several relatively standard categories that are very common.

Mattress Fillings

There are many types of mattress fillings. We have also listed them, along with their advantages and disadvantages, in a table.

Sleepers’ Issues and Conditions

We are all different and have our own particular needs. Here are the most common, and the alternatives to consider in each situation.

Which mattress should you choose if you have back pain?

The first criterion to respect if you have back pain is to choose a mattress with firmness suited to your body shape. If your mattress is not firm enough, your spine will not be kept straight and you will experience discomfort.

Once this is addressed, there is no miracle answer: your back pain may not be caused by your bed, but by your posture when standing or working, stress, an unsuitable gait, etc. You should consult a professional (or several) to determine the cause of your pain and remedy it.

In the meantime, you could try sleeping with a cushion between your legs (there are models designed specifically for this purpose), which will help realign your spine during the night. This is a favourite for pregnant women!

Have you tried sleeping with an ergonomic pillow? These are designed to avoid straining the neck and can greatly reduce back pain.

Our washed linen pillowcases

Which mattress should you choose if you sweat a lot?

If you tend to feel hot and/or sweat heavily, you need a suitable mattress. Mattresses are designed to absorb sleepers’ perspiration, but some are more absorbent than others.

Spring mattresses are the most ventilated, whether pocketed or not. If you sleep as a couple, opt for a pocket spring mattress, which ensures motion isolation for both partners.

Which mattress should you choose if your partner moves a lot at night?

We turn over an average of 40 times per night—quite a lot. If you are a light sleeper, your partner’s movements are likely to wake you. In this case, you need a mattress that guarantees motion isolation. Memory foam mattresses offer the best motion isolation, followed by pocket spring mattresses.

If your bedroom is large enough, choose a very large mattress (at least 160 x 200 cm); it’s proven: the further you sleep from your partner, the better you sleep.

Finally, don’t forget to get a very large duvet, or even better, two separate duvets, so you’re not woken up because your partner has pulled the covers over during a restless night.

Our washed linen duvet covers

Which mattress should you choose when sleeping with a baby/child?

Do you sleep with your little one and want to offer them unrivalled comfort? As with couples, you should choose the mattress with firmness suited to the largest person sharing the bed. Your child won’t mind: what matters to them is being with you. However, don’t forget to choose a large bed: at least 160 cm wide, and ideally 180 cm; the smaller the children, the more they spread out!

Which mattress should you choose when sleeping with a pet?

According to a 2017 study by the Morphée network, 36.7% of people sleep with their pet. In this case, two criteria are important: bed size (like children, pets tend to spread out and take up a lot of space), and hypoallergenic properties. Pets bring in many bacteria (when they go outside or use a litter tray), so you should protect yourself against dust mites and fungal substances. In this case, bamboo, latex and polyurethane foam mattresses are preferred.

How to Maintain a Healthy Home with Pets 

Which mattress should you choose when sleeping in a damp house?

Renovations and energy-inefficient homes: there are many reasons why we sometimes have to sleep in less-than-ideal conditions. That’s no reason to sacrifice your bedding and wellbeing. With the right equipment, you can successfully create a healthy sleeping environment. Cotton or bamboo-filled mattresses are best suited to damp environments and will help you sleep soundly.

Don’t forget to get a good quality dehumidifier and to air your home regularly to sleep in optimal conditions and protect your health.

5 Tips for Choosing Your Mattress

1. Try it out: nothing beats your own experience, at least for the comfort layer.
2. Read other buyers’ reviews: this is the most transparent information available when buying a product.
3. Opt for an offer with delivery included: many websites now offer free delivery with your purchase, so why not take advantage?
4. Don’t just go for the cheapest: you’ll sleep on your mattress every night for years, you deserve to enjoy deep, restorative sleep, free from aches and pains. What’s more, buying a mattress is a medium-term investment: a quality mattress will last longer and save you additional costs.
5. Consider the fitted sheet depth: don’t choose a mattress higher than the depth of your fitted sheets, or you’ll have to replace them all.

Did you know? Embrin offers fitted sheets with made-to-measure depths.

Our fitted sheets