If you’ve ever felt like you’re ‘stuck’ or ‘sinking’ into a mattress, you know that firmness can drastically affect whether you get a good night’s rest or toss and turn uncomfortably. And if you’re not well-rested, it’s harder to be productive and generally enjoy life, so fixing it should be a top priority! We’re here to offer some suggestions to help make your mattress firmer.
There are all sorts of reasons why you might need a firmer mattress. If you have an older mattress, maybe it has worn down and become softer over the years. Maybe you just got a new mattress and are having second thoughts, or maybe you’ve just moved in with someone who has different mattress preferences than you. Or perhaps your doctor recommended a firmer mattress based on a recent injury.
Why Is A Firm Mattress Important?
To some extent, the best firmness or softness level for your mattress will depend on personal preference. Some may feel more comfortable on a firm bed, while others will feel better on a relatively soft bed.
However, there are also other reasons why a firmer (or softer) mattress can be desirable under certain conditions. Your sleeping position is one factor that can affect what level of firmness is appropriate.
If you sleep on your side, a softer mattress that can more easily contour your body’s curves may be the better choice. On the other hand, people that sleep on their backs or stomachs may find that a firmer mattress keeps their spine more neutral and aligned, instead of potentially allowing it to arch or round excessively.
Additionally, your weight can affect your preferred firmness level. If you’re big and tall, you might sink down into mattresses more, and they might feel softer to you. In comparison, the same mattress might feel firmer to a smaller person.
There is also some scientific evidence to support a connection between a firmer mattress and positive health outcomes, like less joint and back pain, better sleep quality, and a lower overall stress level. For example, a 2009 study found that for people of average weight, sleeping on a medium firm mattress helped reduce low back pain and made people feel more well rested and less stressed, relative to their old beds.
Making Your Mattress Firmer
If you find yourself sinking into your mattress more than you’d like, or you’ve begun to wake up with some aches and pains, making your mattress firmer might be helpful. Of course, a mattress must be comfortable (very few people want to sleep on a wooden board), but it must also give you sufficient support, so that your joints are in alignment and not under pressure. Finding the perfect balance for you is what matters.
If you want to try to firm up a mattress, here are some helpful methods that won’t make a dent in your pocket book.
A Firm Mattress
Making sure your bed has the appropriate level of firmness is important. Not only will it make you feel more comfortable, it will improve the quality of your sleep, and help reduce stress and aches and pains.
If you’re noticing that your mattress is too soft, keep in mind that the tips mentioned in this article can help improve the firmness of your mattress without requiring you to buy a new one.