Your preferred sleeping position can have a big impact on the type of mattress you should choose, with different materials and firmness settings working best for different sleep styles. If, like half of adults, you are a side sleeper, making the right selection can be especially important; you’ll want to find a mattress that contours just enough to support your body shape while also easing the pressure on tired hips and shoulders.

So what things should side sleepers consider when choosing a new bed? The expert team at Dreamwool Beds is here to help you maximise your comfort and choose the perfect bed for your sleep style and needs.

Selecting the Best Materials

The most important first step when choosing any new bed is to find one that is filled with meaningful volumes of high-quality, natural materials. Lower-end synthetics like gels and memory foams can trap heat and lead to discomfort, so your best bet is to look for high-end materials like all-natural latex and Merino wool. These will provide optimum comfort for much longer, providing side sleepers with the best sleeping experience for many years to come.

Pocketspring vs Latex

Your next question will likely be whether you should choose a pocketspring or a latex mattress style. The truth is that, like red wine or white wine, these are both great options that can be the right choice depending on your unique preferences, as they offer two different but equally luxurious sleep experiences. We would generally recommend latex for side sleepers, as it offers great contour and deflection for your joints, with pocketsprings providing a flatter style of firmness – a great option for those who prefer to sleep on their back.

Firmness

Speaking of firmness, how do you know how firm to go? While side sleepers tend to prefer a softer, more contouring mattress, there are several other factors that will probably also affect your choice. 

Body Shape and Weight

Lighter, smaller people often prefer a softer mattress, while larger and heavier people may need firmer support. The key is to choose a firmness setting that allows you to achieve great alignment and support without sinking too far into the mattress’s surface.

Age 

Like everything, sleep preferences tend to change as we age, with older people often leaning towards a softer supportive mattress.

Injury 

Chronic pain and injury can play a big role in comfort, particularly for those with sensitive joints, which may require a softer level of support, or lower back injuries, which may benefit from additional firmness.

Base Style

For side sleepers, choosing the right base is just as important as choosing the right mattress. What your mattress is sitting on will affect how much it deflects your hips and shoulders, with divan-style or fixed slat bases offering less dynamic support than a European flexible slat base, which allows you to move into the bed without creating pressure points on your joints.

Rest Easy With Dreamwool

Really, the only way to know which bed is best for you is to go into a shop and try a number of options to see how they feel. We also recommend talking through the details of your unique sleep preferences and needs with the retail assistant, and if you’re tossing up between two firmness options, err on the slightly softer side. Side sleepers tend to do well with a slightly softer, latex sleeping surface, and a new bed will always feel firmer after a night’s sleep than it did after a short test on the shop floor.

Don’t toss and turn. Book a consultation with the Dreamwool team today.

Luxury mattresses, such as those made by Dreamwool Beds, last much longer than their budget alternatives because they contain better materials in higher volumes. And while their up-front cost is higher, they can be more cost-effective in the long term, as you won’t need to replace them nearly as often.

When considering the lifespan of your next mattress, the things you should prioritise are premium natural materials and quality craftsmanship by a reputable bed manufacturer. Once you get it home, you should implement a regular care and maintenance routine to maximise your comfort for as long as possible.

How long do beds last?

The average high-street mattress generally lasts only about 5-7 years. This is because cheaper mattresses contain synthetic materials in fewer layers, impacting their comfort as they age. Fewer or lower-quality fillings equal a poorer quality of sleep; this accelerates as the layers wear. You will feel the bed get firmer over time, and you will see it show more signs of wear more quickly, with less resilience and support than when it was new.

The luxury mattress lifespan of a Dreamwool Bed is typically more like 10-15 years. Its plush layers of high-quality, natural materials ensure that it maintains optimum comfort and support for much longer than a bargain alternative. All-natural latex and premium spring systems will always endure better than their synthetic or poorly manufactured counterparts.

In both cases, you must consider the nature of the mattress’s use. A mattress used by a person who is 120 kgs, is going to have less longevity than a mattress used by a couple who are only 70 kgs each.

Choosing for Durability

When selecting a mattress, it can be tricky to tell which one will last. The best way to choose a mattress that can go the distance is to check out the warranty. Is it for 5 years or 10+? What does it include? A shorter warranty, or one that has many exclusions, may indicate a lower-quality product that won’t wear as well.

Mattress Care to Maximise Lifespan

Once you get your mattress home, there are a few steps you can take to help it last as long as possible. We recommend rotating your mattress once a season to extend its lifespan and reduce wear by allowing you to use your sleeping surface more evenly over time. You should also spot-clean any spills or stains as quickly as possible, and air it out regularly to help with the evaporation of any moisture.

Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your Mattress

Because mattresses often lose comfort gradually, many of us sleep on them for far too long; it’s important to keep an eye on these signs that it might be time to replace yours:

• Ridging or bowing in the middle
• Body impression (beyond what you would consider comfortable, or normal wear and tear)
• Discolouration
• Sagging or lack of support

With a Dreamwool mattress, you can expect optimum comfort and support for 10-12 years. That said, there are many factors that can impact this, including the kind of base you’re using and your individual body composition and sleep preferences.

The key question is how long your mattress can stay in the comfort zone that meets your needs. While a luxury mattress should last you 10+ years, you may need to replace it sooner as your body composition or sleep needs change. Aging, injuries, weight changes, and illness all impact our sleep needs. You should wake up feeling rested and recovered. If your comfort is beginning to suffer – regardless of your mattress’s age – our best advice is to replace it.

With a luxury Dreamwool mattress, you can achieve a better quality of sleep and a higher standard of overall health and well-being for much longer. Book a consultation today and learn how you can experience the sleep of a lifetime.

Every sleeper is different, and there are a lot of factors that can determine what mattress will be best for you: age, body shape, weight, sleep preferences, sleep position, injury, illness, partner comfort, and more. So, how do you choose the right mattress for your sleep style?

The expert team at Dreamwool Beds has put together this handy mattress comfort guide to help every sleeper know where to start when selecting their next mattress.

The Right Materials

Your first priority when choosing your next bed should be to find one that is filled with high-quality, natural materials at meaningful volumes. Synthetics like memory foams can trap heat, leading to night sweats and sleep disturbance. For maximum breathability, look for materials like natural latex and Merino wool.

Then, you should consider whether you would prefer a pocketspring or a latex mattress; these options offer two different but equally luxurious sleep experiences. Pocketsprings provide a flatter style of firmness, with latex offering a bit more contour and deflection.

What firmness should I choose?

There really is no such thing as an ideal firmness or a one-size-fits-all solution; the only way to know for sure what you need is to lie down on the mattress and try it for yourself. We recommend spending at least a few minutes trying it on both your back and your sides. If you’re tossing up between two options, go with slightly softer; a bed will always feel firmer after eight hours of rest than it did after a 10-minute test on the shop floor.

As you’re weighing up which firmness could be right for you, here are a few factors to consider:

Age

Most of us will find that our sleep preferences change with age, often leaning towards a softer mattress as we get older.

Injury

Injuries and chronic pain can affect your choice of firmness, particularly if you have sensitive joints, which may require a softer level of support, or lower back injuries, which may benefit from additional firmness.

Partner Comfort

Your partner’s comfort may also dictate your firmness selection. Softer mattresses can absorb more movement, reducing partner disturbance.

Weight and Body Shape

Smaller and lighter people often prefer a softer mattress, while larger and heavier people may need firmer support. Similarly, a curvier person with a pear-shaped body might be more comfortable with a slightly softer mattress than a person of the same weight and size who has a more rectangular shape.

Sleep Style

All of these factors, combined with your sleep style, can help you select the best mattress for your needs. Your preferred sleeping position can play a big role in what firmness of mattress is best for you. Back sleepers may benefit from slightly firmer support, while side sleepers often prefer a softer, more contouring mattress.

Let’s look at a few different types of sleepers to see how their selections might compare.

50kg Side Sleeper

Often, the best mattress for side sleepers is one that is slightly softer. This is also true for someone whose body shape is smaller and less curvy, as the softer surface will contour around them for optimum support.

50kg Back Sleeper

Back sleeping typically requires a little extra support, though you’d still want to be mindful of this sleeper’s weight and body shape. They could be well-suited for either a soft or a medium firmness.

120kg Side Sleeper

It’s worth considering this sleeper’s body shape, as a side-sleeper with bigger shoulders might prefer a softer surface that allows them to deflect into the mattress. If they carry more of their weight in their mid-section, a firmer mattress with extra support would be appropriate.

120kg Back Sleeper

This person would probably be best suited to a firmer mattress with extra support, but again, it’s also worth taking into account factors such as body shape, age and injury.

Don’t Compromise on Sleep

The best investment you can make in tomorrow; is a good night’s sleep. To find the best latex, pocketspring or adjustable mattress for you and your individual sleep style, do your homework, look for all-natural materials, talk to your salesperson, and ask to see samples of what’s inside.

For partners with different sizes, shapes, and sleep preferences, we’d highly recommend a Twin Super King, which gives each sleeper a full single mattress to themselves, tailored to their own sleep style and comfort preferences, without the need for compromise.

Let the expert team at Dreamwool help you find your perfect fit by booking a consultation today!