What comes to mind when you think of “comfort”? Most people might associate comfort with softness, but “softness” isn’t the best when it comes to mattresses. Surprising, we know, but hear us out!
Firm mattresses offer exceptional support, are suitable for most common sleeping positions, and benefit joints and the spine. A firmer mattress may be perfect for your sleep and health, regardless of your preference. Of course, before you decide to switch, what are the benefits of a firm mattress?
It’s Got Your Back!
Firm mattresses, particularly those made with memory foam, provide the best support for a good night’s sleep. We all know how much sagging and sinking can affect our sleep quality. Firmness stops your body from sinking too much into the foam.
With a medium-firm to firm sleep surface, memory foam allows you to sleep in different positions with ample support for your shoulders, spine, and even your hips if you sleep on your side.
Support the Spine to Eliminate Back Pain
Out of all the body parts, the spine benefits the most from mattress firmness. The mattress’s strong support and firm feel can retain the natural curves of the spine, keeping it in a neutral position. The neutral position gives pressure relief to your upper and lower back throughout the night.
With correct spinal alignment and sufficient back support, you may be able to alleviate any lower back pain that you have been experiencing. A softer mattress may sag too much, causing your spine to curve weirdly and leave you in an uncomfortable position. The misalignment may then lead to back problems and stiffness in the morning. This is where high-density foam mattresses, such as memory foam, shine, wherein it gives you firm support without sacrificing comfort.
But, also be cautious when picking your mattresses, as an extra firm mattress may not be the best firmness level for your sleeping style; while it has its merits, especially for those seeking orthopedic solutions, super firm mattresses can cause discomfort for some people.
Sleep on Your Back or Your Stomach
With ample spine support, a firm foam mattress makes it easy to sleep in two of the most common sleeping positions. Back sleepers might find that their hips sink into a soft mattress, but a firm option will keep your hips level with the rest of your body, achieving the ideal spine angle.
Stomach sleepers commonly find that soft mattresses do not support their stomach or spine either and let it sink into uncomfortable positions. A firm mattress raises your abdomen and hips to maintain a neutral spine.
The Best Firm Mattress for All Shapes and Sizes
Bodyweight can be a factor when choosing a new mattress, and a memory foam mattress with the right firmness level will be the best mattress for heavier people. Soft cushioning will make you sag into the bed. Sagging, again, leads to spine misalignment. You might even feel discomfort in your pressure points. A firm alternative will support your weight better, allowing for better sleep.
Heavier sleepers may also opt for a hybrid mattress, a combination of memory foam and pocket spring mattresses; the zone pockets within the mattress’ core allow you to sink less, even with a medium firmness while still maintaining good edge support. Think of it like an innerspring with a memory foam top.
Check out the Ecosa Vital Mattress – A hybrid mattress with a 7-zone pocket spring system that offers ample support while having zero partner disturbance.
Your Body Will Thank You
Aside from the spine, your muscles will also be less strained from all the sagging. Some other benefits of a firm mattress include less joint pain, deeper breathing, and better ventilation on hot, stuffy nights, meaning no more sweaty backs!
Choose Your Firmness
If all of this sounds too good to be true, trust us, it’s not. Maybe it’s time to invest in a quality memory foam firm mattress? Although people commonly associate memory foam with a soft, contouring comfort layer, memory foam can also have adjustable firmness levels to suit your needs.
Medium-feel mattresses may be considered the best of both worlds, as they allow a bit of sinking but still retain the strength to support your back. The average loves medium firmness, a firm favourite (no pun intended). It still feels deluxe and cushiony, with enough support for the body.
If you want to go up a level, try a medium-firm mattress. For ample support, heavier sleepers should start with this level of firmness rather than the medium one.
Not for the faint-hearted, firm might not feel super comfortable at first, but after a few days, your body will get accustomed to it, not to mention all the benefits we’ve just touched on. To achieve a plush mattress feel without compromising the support, you can add a memory foam mattress topper for equal comfort and support.
Find Your Perfect Fit
Do you need more convincing that a firm mattress is great for sleeping? Well, that’s where Ecosa comes in. The Ecosa Mattress offers interchangeable mattress firmness layers, so you can test each level to see what feels the best for you. Plus, you’ve got 100 nights to trial your mattress and a 15-year warranty, so you can’t go wrong.
The Ecosa Mattress range is available in all New Zealand bed base sizes: Single, King Single, Long Single, Double, Queen Size, King Size, and even Super King. Try it out for yourself to see why Ecosa is one of the top mattress choices in New Zealand.