Do you often wake up with tight muscles, joint discomfort, and back pain? Your mattress might be the culprit. A pillowtop mattress could offer enhanced comfort throughout the night and ease your mornings with its remarkable benefits.
This mattress features an additional layer of soft cushioning on top, allowing for smoother movements during sleep. It reduces pressure points and promotes better sleeping posture. In this blog, we’ll explore the various types of pillow-top mattresses and offer guidance on choosing the one that best suits your needs.
What Is A Pillowtop Mattress?
A PillowTop Mattress features a layer of soft, cloud-like padding on top. Typically, this involves a 2 to 4-inch cushioning layer sewn above the mattress’s main comfort layer.
These mattresses are great at molding the body, relieving pressure points, and increasing comfort without compromising support. They are constructed with a small space between the main comfort and pillowtop layers to facilitate better airflow. This type of mattress is especially advantageous for back and side sleepers and individuals of average weight who sleep on their stomachs.
What Are The Types Of Pillowtop Mattresses?
It’s important not to mix up pillowtops with mattress toppers or pads, which are separate additions that can be easily taken off the mattress. Unlike these removable layers, pillow tops are permanently stitched into the mattress.
The following are the types of pillow top mattresses.
- Standard Pillowtop Mattress
A traditional pillowtop has a plush, pillow-like layer stitched onto the top of the mattress. This layer can be soft, medium, medium-firm, or firm, providing a luxurious feel to the mattress. Pillowtops can be made from memory foam, latex, polyfoam, or organic cotton. Most have a small gap between the comfort layer and the pillowtop, allowing for proper airflow and preventing heat retention.
- Euro-Top Mattress
Euro-top mattresses provide comfort and support similar to standard pillow-top mattresses but have some unique features. Euro tops are seamlessly attached along the edges of the mattress without gaps between the plush and top layers. This design delivers improved edge support that isn’t common in standard ones.
What To Look For When Shopping For A Pillowtop Mattress In UK?
Finding the ideal pillowtop mattress in the UK can be challenging. However, there are many options available from well-known online mattress brands. Each mattress comes with its own set of unique features, such as relief from back pain, adequate support for the spine, and much more.
- Price
When shopping for a mattress, setting and sticking to a budget is crucial. Many high-quality pillowtops are available at affordable prices, with costs varying based on the materials and manufacturing methods used.
- Sleeping Positions
Your sleeping position greatly influences how your body interacts with the thick foam layers of a PillowTop mattress. While sleep experts often recommend a neutral position for optimal support, many favor side or curled positions.
For stomach sleepers, a medium-firm mattress is usually the best choice. Extremely plush mattresses can cause the body to curve unnaturally, potentially leading to neck and back pain.
- Mattress Firmness
Adding a plush pillowtop layer to a mattress, whether a euro top or a standard pillowtop, doesn’t usually change its firmness. The underlying comfort layers of a mattress are available in soft, medium, Medium-field, and firm options to match the level of support you need. Back and side sleepers often need less support because their body naturally stays in a neutral position more easily.
A Medium to Medium-Firm mattress often feels comfortable for those of average weight, whether they sleep on their back or side. However, most stomach sleepers tend to choose a Medium-Firm to Firm mattress to ensure they get enough support.
- Edge Support
Edge support is a critical feature to consider when searching for the best pillowtop mattress in UK, whether it’s made from memory foam or latex or features innerspring coils that are individually wrapped.
Good edge support is particularly essential for those who sleep near the edge of the bed or often sit on the edge. Frequent use like this can compress the materials of the mattress, leading to increased wear over time. Additionally, if a pillowtop lacks proper edge support, it can reduce the usable sleeping area, undermining the benefits of a larger bed.
- Sleepers Weight
When choosing the right mattress, it’s essential to consider the sleeper’s body weight. Individuals of average weight, whether they sleep on their stomach, side, or back, generally require less support compared to heavier individuals. A Pillow-Top mattress, with its soft, thin cushioning layer, enhances overall comfort while providing essential support from the firmer layers beneath.
This design ensures that the mattress remains both comfortable and supportive, accommodating various body types without sacrificing the critical support needed to keep your spine aligned throughout the night.
- Body Temperature
Hot sleepers can find relief with a pillowtop made from lightweight, breathable fabrics such as organic cotton and natural latex, which promote good airflow. A hybrid mattress with a plush pillowtop is especially suitable for those who tend to overheat at night. Additionally, mattresses topped with an organic cotton cover and incorporating natural latex are excellent choices for maintaining a cooler sleeping environment.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Pillow-Top Mattress?
The lifespan depends on its quality and usage. On average, a well-made PillowTop mattress can last between 7 to 10 years. Regular maintenance and proper care can help extend its durability.
Final Thoughts
Pillow-top mattresses offer exceptional cushioning and softness, making them a popular choice for many sleepers. However, the quality of the pillow-top layer is crucial. Cheap and low-quality options may fall short of providing adequate support and durability.
To ensure you select a mattress that meets your needs and expectations, it’s essential to conduct thorough research and consider factors such as support, comfort, and longevity. Taking the time to evaluate these aspects will help you make an informed decision and invest in a mattress that truly enhances your sleep experience.
