So you’re in the market for a more comfortable sleep experience but not ready to splurge on a new mattress? Not to worry. Whether your needs have changed or your bed is starting to show its age, there are plenty of ways to improve the comfort of your mattress.
How to Make a Mattress More Comfortable
So you’re ready for a more comfortable mattress but not prepared to splurge on a new one? Not a problem. There are plenty of ways to improve the comfort of your existing mattress.
But you might be wondering, “What makes a mattress comfortable?” The answer depends on several factors, such as firmness, feel, and mattress materials. For a full rundown, take a look at our comprehensive mattress buying guide.
Add Bedding Accessories
One of the easiest ways to make your mattress more comfortable is to add a few bedding accessories. Take a look at our favorites:
Mattress Topper
A mattress topper is the #1 way to drastically improve the comfort of your mattress, especially if you need added softness and pressure relief. Some toppers can even help a mattress sleep cooler.
Most toppers are made from memory foam, latex, or polyfoam. In fact, many mattress companies produce mattress toppers that have a lot in common with the mattresses they sell – so you can upgrade without paying for an entire mattress.
Check out the 10 Best Mattress Toppers for more ideas.
Comforter
Once you’ve mastered what you’re sleeping on, it’s time to tackle the comforter that covers you up. When considering the best comforter, keep in mind whether you sleep hot. Even though you might think of all comforters as heat traps, many comforters today have breathable materials that regulate temperature. Some even feature moisture-reducing properties – important if you’re a sweaty sleeper.
From filling type to degree of fluffiness, many options exist that allow you to find the perfect comforter for your needs.
Body Pillow or Supportive Head Pillow
We know we harp on alignment – but that’s because it’s so important! If you’re not comfortable at night, your mattress might not be entirely to blame. By using properly sized pillows, you can sleep better.
Your head needs to stay aligned with your spine, and you don’t want a kink in your neck. To accomplish this, stomach sleepers need a very thin pillow, back sleepers a medium-loft pillow, and side sleepers a thick pillow.
Pillows are also helpful for keeping your legs and hips aligned. Side sleepers should sleep with 1–2 pillows between their legs to keep their hips aligned, while back sleepers often require a pillow beneath their knees. Alternatively, side sleepers may find that a body pillow works well to keep the legs and arms comfortable.
Soft Sheets
Nothing feels better than slipping into a clean bed with fresh sheets. You only need to spend one night in a nice hotel to recognize the difference luxury sheets can make. You don’t necessarily need to break the bank getting high-end sheets, but making sure your sheets are soft and comfortable can improve your sleep experience.
RELATED: Best Sheets of 2023
Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets provide many benefits that can help you sleep better. Using a weighted blanket stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm down your body and brain. If you get anxious before bed, a weighted blanket can help lull you to sleep.
Make the Mattress Softer or Firmer
Do you feel like your mattress is no longer the comfort level you desire? Your personal preferences or needs may have changed, or your once-firm mattress could have experienced some material breakdown and lost some of its firmness. Whatever the reason, if you want to make your mattress softer or firmer, we have some tips.
Making your mattress softer is the easier of these two tasks – most mattress toppers do exactly this. Add a memory foam topper or other comfort material mattress topper to your bed to decrease its firmness. Generally speaking, the thicker the topper, the more difference it makes because it gives your body room to sink in.
On the other hand, sometimes you want a firmer mattress. Unfortunately, this is harder to achieve. Mattresses lose firmness as they break down, and while a few minor changes can help, they’re unlikely to fix the problem. You can always try rotating your mattress, flipping it if it’s flippable (most mattresses aren’t), or using a new, supportive bed frame. If poor support could be a problem, test it out by placing your mattress on the floor before buying something new.
There are also some mattress toppers designed to make your mattress firmer, so if the above tips don’t work, there’s still hope!
How to Make an Old Mattress More Comfortable
Mattresses are a major investment, so it’s understandable to want to get as many years as possible from them. On average, a mattress lasts between 7 and 10 years. Chances are, you’ll start to notice when your mattress needs replaced.
If your mattress sags, makes a lot of noise, smells weird, aggravates your asthma or allergies, or no longer allows for a good night’s sleep, it might be time for it to go.
But we know that buying a new mattress is a big step, so here are some tips for sprucing up your existing mattress.
Fix Any Sagging
You know your mattress is starting to lose its luster when it sags. Rotating your mattress is the first step to both prevent and fix sagging. If you sleep alone, changing which side of the bed you sleep on can also slow the inevitable creep of sagging.
Assuming you’ve already taken these steps, what else can you do to fix sagging? A quick fix is adding a layer of plywood between your mattress and its base to provide extra support. You can also use pillows in the sagging areas to even things out.
Lastly, check your mattress’s warranty! Many manufacturers guarantee that mattresses will not sag more than a certain number of inches during the warranty period. If you notice a significant indentation, the company might replace or repair your mattress.
Clean Your Mattress
There’s something to be said for the psychological impact of knowing you’re sleeping on a dirty mattress. It’s hard to get truly comfortable when you know you’re lying atop a sea of stains. We recommend cleaning your mattress to jumpstart your mattress’s rejuvenation.
FAQs
Still have questions about how to make your bed feel more comfy? Check out our FAQ section below!
Why are hotel mattresses so comfortable?
You may be pleased to discover that one thing that makes hotel mattresses so comfortable is the use of mattress toppers! Hotels put a lot of thought into creating a luxurious sleeping experience, including a high-quality bed, soft 300 thread-count (or higher) sheets, soft pillows, and mattress toppers.
Are firm mattresses comfortable?
Firm mattresses certainly aren’t for everyone, but they can be comfortable for stomach sleepers, who require extra support to keep their hips from sinking into the bed. Some back sleepers and heavier sleepers also prefer firm mattresses, as they provide enough support to maintain spinal alignment.
Are cheap mattresses comfortable?
Mattress price is not necessarily directly related to comfort, though higher-quality materials provide various benefits. Pricier mattresses are often more durable, which can mean more comfort in the long run, as the breakdown of cheap materials can impact the feel of your bed.
How can I make an air mattress more comfortable?
To maximize comfort, ensure the air mattress is fully inflated and place it on a carpet or rug to keep it from slipping around. You can even add a mattress topper for extra comfort. Check out our article for more tips on making air mattresses more comfortable.