How firm or soft should your bed be? Find out what works for you

At The Mattress Warehouse in Midrand, we have a customer who wants a firm bed. Not just a gently firm bed, but something really really firm. So firm, that at the moment, he sleeps on the floor. He finds it most comfortable. He has a back problem. The moment he sleeps on anything soft, his back and sometimes the entire body will be in pain when he wakes up. This is really unusual for someone with a back problem, as usually the best way to solve that is to buy a bed that will be soft enough to keep the spine in a straight line, but not for this guy. This all goes to show that softness and firmness and the type of bed that’s right for you is purely a personal decision.

If your pressure points aren’t cushioned, they can be stiff and painful.

So what type of bed is right for you?

The bed and mattress that will suit you is all dependent on a few factors, such as age, weight, gender and the position you prefer sleeping in. It might also be influenced by your lifestyle. Many people who grew up sleeping on the floor or hard pallet have a great deal of trouble adjusting to a bed, finding even the firmest too soft. If you like to sleep on your side, you may prefer a gentle firm mattress, as a firm mattress puts too much pressure on your hip. A gentle firm mattress is comfortable and applicable for a side sleeper because it is soft enough to accommodate the weight of your hips and shoulders pressing into the mattress, ensuring that your pressure points are cushioned, but firm enough to keep you from feeling like you’re suffocating.

Do you sleep best on your back?

Stomach sleepers need a firm mattress.

If you are a back sleeper, consider a soft mattress. This will keep your back from being forced upwards as your body carries your whole weight on your hips and shoulders, giving you back pain. A soft mattress will carry the weight of your hips and shoulders well, and as long as it is well made, mould around your body, keeping every part well supported without feeling saggy. Great soft beds are Silentnight’s memory foam and Genesis’s memory foam beds.

If you are a stomach sleeper, you need something firm to keep your body in a straight line, not bending down through your hips into the mattress and causing back pain. A good firm mattress for a stomach sleeper would be made from foam, like The Mattress Warehouse’s house brand, Universe Bedding mattresses, or a Cloud Nine or Genessi mattress. These mattresses are made with hygienic and recycled foams, and are very durable and long-lasting, making for a great investment in a bed.

Whatever kind of sleeper you are, and whatever firmness or softness you are, the type of bed you need is something that will support your entire body. This means that your back and legs are supported, rather than simply your lumbar area and shoulders, which normally take the brunt of your weight on a flat surface where your back’s curve lifts it off the mattress. This causes your muscles to be tense and unrested when you are sleeping, as they will be working to hold your spine the whole night, rather than relaxing. The Mattress Warehouse sells only the best kind of beds that will support your body and give restful sleep for a long time. Call us today on 0861 007 000 or buy a bed online here. We will deliver to your door for free!