Firm or Soft: What Mattress Type Should You Buy?

A good mattress is paramount to ensuring that you get a good night's rest. In fact, it is the foundation of healthy sleep. When you have a mattress that supports your needs and body requirements, you are more likely to get the sleep quality you deserve. If you feel that your mattress is sabotaging your sleep, it is now time to look for a better replacement.

Because you'll spend years of your life on your mattress, knowing what your body needs to achieve good sleep is important when buying a mattress in Singapore. Do you need a foam mattress? An innerspring mattress? Do you prefer sinking into your mattress, or do you want it bouncy? Do you need a soft or a firm mattress? Aside from your personal preferences, mattress types, materials, and firmness all have pros and cons attached to them.

To help you make a wise mattress purchasing decision, here is a quick guide to knowing the benefits of soft and firm mattresses.

Firm or Soft Mattress for Back Pain: What Makes a Good Mattress?

When choosing between a soft and firm mattress, aside from your comfort preference, the factor that you should consider is your spine's health. A quality mattress should support the S shape of your spine during sleep. When lying straight on your back, your head should naturally align with your shoulders, buttocks, and heels without any pressure. Your mattress should be good enough to alleviate back pain, encourage healthy sleep, and maintain good posture.

What Makes a Mattress Soft or Firm?

Mattress firmness is not measured into two categories but is determined on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 is the softest, and 10 is the firmest). The materials used in constructing a mattress mainly affect its firmness. Generally, foam mattresses are softer than spring mattresses. Innerspring mattresses with comfort layers are softer than those with little to no comfort layers. Latex mattresses are usually firmer and bouncy than memory foam mattresses that take the shape of your body. Still, like innerspring mattresses, foam mattresses can be softer or firmer depending on how thick the comfort layer is.

In a subjective approach, what is firm for light sleepers is softer for those who weigh more. With all factors in mind, mattress manufacturers in Singapore provide various choices in terms of materials and firmness to cater to different needs.

At Megafurniture, we categorise our mattresses as very soft, medium soft, medium firm, firm, and very firm. Mattresses that reach a rating of 8 or above are considered our firmest mattresses.

Scale	Firmness Rate
1-2	Very Soft
3-4	Medium Soft
5-7	Medium firm
8-9	Firm
9-10	Very Firm

Mattress Materials, Comfort and Support

Mattresses have both support and comfort layers. Support layers help your body keep its natural alignment during sleep. Comfort layers are designed at the top of the mattress layers to add contour and comfort during sleep. Soft mattresses have thicker comfort layers. 

Pros and Cons of Firm Mattress

Firm mattresses are suitable for those who experience back pain. Back and stomach sleepers generally need firmer support during sleep. The common conception of comfort is that you have to be gentle with your body to relax. But scientifically, when it comes to sleeping, a little bit of resistance in your bones is necessary to keep you comfortable.

When sleeping on a firmer mattress, your bones receive more pressure, easing the strain on your muscles and veins. Because of this, your muscles relax, and your blood circulation is improved. In addition, when lying on a firm mattress, your body receives less contour. By doing this, your weight is evenly distributed, preventing one part, usually your lower back, from bearing all the pressure that causes back pain.

However, if conditions like scoliosis cause your back pain, check with a professional first to know what kind of mattress will suit you.

Honey Advance Active Pillowtop 10" Pocketed Spring Mattress

Firmness rating: 7/10 (Medium Firm)

Materials: High density foam, pocketed spring system and quilted and knitted fabric cover

Features:  Made with high-density foam, this mattress provides firm body support to alleviate back, shoulder, and neck pain during sleep Pocketed coils respond individually with movements to ensure an uninterrupted sleep Quilted and knitted fabric cover ensures the breathability of the mattress

Pros and Cons of Soft Mattress

For light sleepers or those who have pre-existing back problems, mattresses with thicker comfort layers are helpful. Side sleepers need this contour to support their shoulders and hips. Some back sleepers can also benefit from the added comfort the soft mattress provides. However, sinking on a soft mattress might not be the healthiest solution for those who are heavier and might cause backaches and inconveniences. During hot seasons, those who sleep on softer mattresses may feel warmer than they should be because of the sinking and lack of exposure to air. In this case, firm mattresses are cooler and more suitable for those who sweat a lot during sleep.

Somnuz Comfort Night 12 Inch Water Repellent Teflon Fabric Latex Individual Pocketed Spring Mattress

Firmness rating: 4/10 (Medium Soft)

Materials: Latex and Teflon Fabric

Features:  Presents a lightweight and bouncy feel during sleep Offers resilient sleep support for an uninterrupted sleep Water repellent

 

Choosing the Right Mattress to Buy

Choose your mattress based on your sleeping position, back condition, weight, and comfort preference. 

• For back and stomach sleepers who do not have a pre-existing back condition, sleeping on a firm mattress can help you relax your muscles and align your spine in its natural form. For back sleepers who suffer from back pain, a softer mattress might be a suitable match.
• Sleepers with hip and joint pain may prefer a soft mattress with enough comfort layers to alleviate body and joint pains, although this often boils down to individual comfort preferences.
• Firmer mattresses are suitable for people who weigh more, even for innerspring mattresses. This is because heavy sleepers sink in and receive pressure easier on a soft mattress. If looking for softer choices, a medium-firm mattress can feel more delicate, like a medium-soft variety for average to heavy sleepers.
• If two people share a mattress, it is important to assess individual needs and preferences to get the right mattress. Weighing comfort preferences can be difficult for partners who sleep in different positions or if one is heavy and the other is a light sleeper. When facing this dilemma, try looking for a memory foam mattress that handles individual pressure very well or an innerspring mattress that can adapt to both of your needs. Pocketed coil mattresses help to balance the response of a mattress to weight and movement. If your partner tosses and turns, the movement will not directly affect your comfort since the coils will only react to the pressure exerted in the specific area.
• The mattress should match your personal preference. Whether on a soft or a firm mattress, it is essential that you feel comfortable where you sleep essential that you feel comfortable where you sleep. Not all people prefer firm mattresses. Not everyone favours soft mattresses. At the end of the day, you should buy a mattress that suits your own definition of comfort. 

Ready for better sleep quality? Upgrade your mattress with our collection of the best mattresses online.