Buying a new mattress in Singapore?
If you are ready to toss your old mattress and upgrade to a new one, you should first determine what firmness level is best for your requirements.
Mattress firmness plays a big role in providing you with the right comfort and body support when you lie down on your mattress. The right mattress firmness should support the neutral alignment of your spine while targeting your pressure points. Moreover, it should provide you with comfort according to your preferences.
This extensive mattress firmness guide is here to help you understand why mattress firmness is important, how it can impact your sleep quality, and how you can determine the best firmness for your needs.
What is Mattress Firmness?
Mattress firmness refers to the feel of the mattress when you lie on it. This can also determine the amount of contour or pushback comfort when using your mattress. Does your body sink in when you lie down, or does it feel like you are floating on top of your mattress?
Determining the "mattress firmness" can be a very tricky part of shopping for a new mattress. This is because what’s firm or soft for one person is different for another. This can be influenced by your body type, size, and preferences. While firmness is subjective, mattress companies offer a few benchmarks to better categorise mattress types according to their firmness levels.
Ultimately, mattresses in Singapore are categorised by a 10-point firmness scale, where 1 is the softest and 10 is the firmest. Mattresses that range from 6.5-7 are considered medium-firm.
As a guide, here’s the firmness scale that Somnuz follows:
|
Firmness Rating |
Mattress Feel |
|
1-2 |
Very soft mattress |
|
3-4 |
Soft mattress |
|
5-6 |
Medium Soft to Medium-firm mattress |
|
7-8 |
Firm mattress |
|
9-10 |
Very firm mattress |
Very Soft Mattress (1-2/10)
A very soft mattress falls under firmness levels 1–2. These very plush mattress types utilise soft foam layers that give them their contouring feel. This mattress' firmness offers the right amount of sinkage and conformity to the body when you lie down.
When it comes to support, very soft mattresses are often used by side sleepers and light sleepers who weigh under 130 pounds. They provide a unique hugging sensation that people with sharp pressure points enjoy.
However, while a very soft mattress sounds like a good idea in terms of comfort, this mattress type may trap heat due to the memory foam layers used for its construction. It may also not offer enough pushback support for heavy or stomach sleepers.
In terms of variety, very soft mattresses are not as popular compared to other mattress types. Therefore, there aren’t many options available on the market.
Soft Mattress (3-4/10)
Mattresses that range between 3 and 4 out of 10 on the firmness scale are still considered soft mattresses. These provide enough body contour and pressure relief by following the natural curves of the body.
Soft mattresses offer a generous amount of pressure relief for side sleepers and may also be supportive for stomach and combination sleepers. They may, however, be less supportive for stomach and heavy sleepers. These contouring mattresses may also feel a bit claustrophobic for sleepers who don’t prefer the hugging feel of a soft sleeping surface.
Medium-Firm Mattress (5-6/10)
Medium-soft to medium-firm mattresses are very popular for many types of sleepers as they provide the right amount of pressure relief and pushback support, which appeals to many types of sleepers.
A medium-firm mattress is also ideal for mattress sharers since it works as a middle ground for different sleeping positions and body types. Since it’s a popular mattress type, a medium-firm mattress is also offered in a variety of materials, prices, and features, giving you more options for your needs.
When it comes to weight, medium-firm mattresses are enough for sleepers who weigh between 130 and 230 pounds. This will provide your spine with the appropriate amount of sinkage while maintaining a healthy amount of support for a neutral spine alignment.
Firm Mattress (7-8/10)
Mattresses with 7 to 10 firmness levels rarely offer the plush comfort that is present on softer mattress varieties. Many firm mattresses are made of innerspring materials, which provide unparalleled support and pushback comfort, which is also beneficial to many sleepers.
Since they don’t allow so much body sinkage, firmer mattresses are generally more breathable than softer varieties. Firmer beds are also helpful for back sleepers and people who weigh more than 230 pounds.
Very Firm Mattress (9–10/10)
Like very soft mattresses, beds on the firmest part of the spectrum are rare compared to medium-firm varieties. These contain fewer comfort layers, minimising the hugging sensation of the sleep solution. Heavier sleepers and people who love the feeling of "sleeping on top of the mattress" may love the support of a very firm bed.
Choosing the Right Mattress Firmness
Now that you know how different mattress firmness levels feel, it’s time to determine the factors that you should consider when choosing the mattress firmness for your needs. Some important factors, such as your body type and sleeping position, are important when determining the best mattress firmness level.
Body Weight
Your body weight will help you determine the best firmness level for your needs. For example, when two people of different body types sleep on the same mattress, they will have different perceptions of its firmness. Heavier sleepers consider the same mattress to be softer and more contouring than light sleepers. Aside from comfort preferences, the ability of the mattress to support the alignment of your spine and distribute your weight is also important.
Sleeping Position
The parts of your body that receive the most pressure will differ depending on your sleeping position. For example, side sleepers will feel more pressure on their hips and shoulders, whereas back sleepers will feel more pressure on their lower backs. With this in mind, most side sleepers need a softer mattress to sink their hips and shoulders and support the neutral alignment of the spine. Back sleepers will need a medium-firm to firmer mattress type for more reliable pushback support. Stomach sleepers, on the other hand, will require a firm mattress to prevent their back from receiving too much pressure.
Mattress Sharing
When sharing your mattress, it’s vital to choose a mattress firmness that can cater to both of your sleeping needs. This can be a bit easier if you and your partner have the same weight range. But if not, it’s good to meet in the middle, where there is enough soft comfort and pushback support. Choosing a versatile mattress material that can cater to different body types is also vital.
In this case, a pocketed spring mattress that moves independently with the sleeper's movements and body contour regardless of sleeping position is recommended. In this way, you can enjoy the contours of your sleeping solution without disrupting the sleep of your partner.
Conclusion
Mattress firmness refers to how soft or hard the mattress feels when you lie down. Finding the right mattress firmness level will highly depend on your sleeping position, body type, shared needs, and preferences.
Ready to buy a new mattress? Check out our collection of premium mattresses in Singapore.