Thursday, October 12, 2017

How to Choose Mattress Firmness

When it comes to mattresses, firmness is very subjective. Everyone has a different perception of what soft or firm means. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose the mattress that will give you the right amount of firmness and support so that you get your best night’s sleep.


What Is Mattress Firmness?

When you lie down on a mattress and feel yourself relaxing into it – that’s when you can feel the firmness. Does the mattress feel stiff and unyielding? This would be considered a firm or very firm mattress.

Or does the mattress have a more cloud-like feel with tons of cushion that immediately conforms to the contours of your body, like sleeping in a hug? This would be considered soft or plush. And some mattresses have a balanced level of hug, contour, and push-back. This would be considered a medium firm mattress.

Whether you are a stomach, back, or side sleeper will influence the level of firmness you require in a mattress.

Side vs. Stomach vs. Back Sleeper

These three positions play a key role in the firmness level that will give you the most comfortable sleep. Sleeping on your side can create numerous pressure points between your body and the mattress. For this reason, side sleepers usually fare better with soft or medium firmness, so that the mattress is able to conform to the shape of the side of your body.

Some feel they just cannot get to sleep unless they sleep on their stomach, but this position can lead to lower back issues. Because of this, stomach sleepers generally require a slightly firm or medium mattress. This will help keep the spine in alignment when lying on the stomach.

Back sleepers can really suffer from back or neck pain if they have a mattress that is too soft or worn out. Their mattress requirements range from slightly soft to medium to moderately firm. Back sleepers need a mattress that relieves pressure and offers plenty of support.

How to Decide Which Firmness Level Is Best for You?

Of all the factors covered, position is probably the most important one to consider when determining your ideal firmness. Side sleepers usually require a firmness low-to-medium firmness level, while stomach sleepers will probably be more comfortable with a mid-to-high range. Back sleepers tend to be most comfortable with a mattress squarely in the mid-range.

Kingsdown bedMatch Mattress Technology

The Kingsdown bedMATCH diagnostic system uses 18 statistical measurements and more than 1,000 scientific calculations as well as information about your sleep preferences and physical condition to help you find the perfect mattress. This system identifies the right firmness and postural support based on your body shape, curvature of the spine, width of the shoulders, and any current pain or issues you may have. You’ll find that when your mattress gives you the best postural support based on your sleeping position and body type, your body remains properly aligned and supported while you sleep.

4 Steps to Better Sleep with bedMatch


  1. Create Your Profile – answer a few simple questions about your sleep preferences 
  2. bedMATCH Analysis – technology analyzes statistical measurements and 1,000 scientific calculations related to your answers 
  3. Mattress Recommendations – get color coded recommendations for mattresses with the firmness you need for postural support based on your profile 
  4. Choose Your Perfect Mattress – test each mattress on your list and choose the one you like the most 


The combination of science-based recommendations and personal preferences lets you find the mattress that gives you the best support. The next time you are mattress shopping, visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to take advantage of the Kingsdown mattress technology and find your perfect mattress match. Getting a good night’s sleep will change your life.

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