How To Make A Mattress Firmer: A Useful Guide on Increasing Mattress Firmness

Whether you’ve bought a new mattress that is too soft or have an old, worn-down bed that needs more firmness, there are various reasons why sleeping on soft mattresses isn’t good for your health.

Soft mattresses lead to misaligned spines, which can cause you to wake up with unnecessary and uncomfortable back aches. Repeatedly sleeping like that hampers your overall sleep quality.

However, buying an all-new mattress to address a softness issue can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive.

Instead, what if there was a way to firm up your existing mattress quickly and cost-effectively

This is why I’ve put together an in-depth guide on how to make mattress firmer, and some tips and tricks on making your sleeping space a comfortable one.

Let’s take a look.

Key Takeaways

• Rotating your mattress, adding a firm mattress topper, or a plywood base can all cost-effectively improve the firmness of your bed.
• In the worst-case scenario, you can consider getting a replacement through your sleep trial, your warranty, or replacing the mattress with a firmer model outright.

Methods on How to Make Your Mattress Firmer

There are several ways to make your mattress firmer, which include:

• Rotating your mattress.
• Adding a mattress topper.
• Replacing layers in the mattress.
• Using plywood or a bunkie board under the mattress.
• Placing a flat pillow under your hips.
• Moving your mattress to the floor.
• Checking your bed frame.
• Looking at your trial period.
• Investing in a new mattress.

Rotate Your Mattress

Mattresses often get worn down in the hips and torso area, where most of the body’s weight is placed. By rotating the mattress, your weight is placed in different regions of the bed. These new areas wouldn’t have as much weight put on them and will feel firmer and more comfortable for your back and spine.

Add a Mattress Topper

A high-quality mattress topper is an efficient solution but may be costly. A good topper needs to be at least 2-3 inches thick and of a dense foam or latex material to ensure it contributes to a firmer feel. Like the Puffy Mattress Topper, some of the best mattress toppers can range between $200-$500. If a firm, high-quality topper is found, it can breathe new life into your mattress and firm it up for a few more years.

How Do I Know If I Need a Firmer Mattress?

For long-time mattress owners, the need for a firmer mattress typically comes as a surprise. If you or your partner are experiencing any of the following, you may need a firmer mattress:

• Waking up in the mornings with unexplained aches and soreness.
• Tossing and turning more frequently at night.
• Not feeling comfortable or having an inadequate feeling of support.

If you were sleeping peacefully on your mattress one or two months back but suddenly are waking up with repeated soreness, this may be due to your bed becoming softer over time. This is typical of all mattresses, especially foam mattresses. The extra softness that develops causes your hips to sink in too deeply, bending your spine out of alignment. Sleeping like this can cause strain to your muscles and soreness when you wake up.

This extra softness also makes tossing and turning more frequent, which can surprise you if you’re usually a still sleeper. This tossing, turning, and waking up more often at night is your body’s natural response to trying to find a comfortable spot so your back is in better alignment.

A mattress that has become too soft will also not feel as comfortable as it once did. It may take a long time to find a comfortable position, or you may be reaching for an extra pillow to make yourself more comfortable.

All these signs indicate that your mattress may be too soft and need firming up.

Pro Tip: Needing a firmer mattress may surprise first-time mattress owners, as you won’t notice your mattress becoming softer. You must look for telltale signs, like waking up with soreness or tossing and turning more frequently, to determine whether your bed needs firming up.

Benefits of a Firmer Mattress

A firmer mattress has many benefits, such as better support and pressure relief, which may help alleviate back pain. Moreover, a firmer bed is more helpful for heavier sleepers, hot sleepers, and active couples.

According to MDPI, a firmer mattress at a 6-7 on the firmness scale, typically classified as medium-firm, has been associated with improved spinal curvature (2). Most sleepers prefer a medium-firm mattress, according to Gitnux (3). At least 47%, which is almost half of sleepers, would choose a medium-firm mattress for their needs over another firmness.

This phenomenon is likely due to the mattress easily holding up weight due to its firmness, which improves spinal alignment. If the spine is aligned, the body is typically tension-free, the muscles relax, and you’re overall more comfortable.

In addition, a firmer mattress is more resilient to heavier weight. That means it can more easily support heavier sleepers, which is beneficial in the long term. Heavier sleepers often have the issue of their hips falling into the layers of a soft, less supportive mattress. A firmer mattress can take on more weight and redistribute it evenly, making heavier sleepers more comfortable.

Hot sleepers will also benefit from a firmer mattress, as the firmer material lends to an ‘on’ the bed feel, not an ‘in’ the bed feel. Soft memory foam is known for trapping heat, which can irritate hot sleepers. Being suspended on top of the mattress, and less trapped in soft layers, can increase airflow and keep your temperature neutral. Some of Canada's best memory foam mattresses offer a balanced sinkage and cooling technology, delivering spinal support without overheating you.

Active couples will also benefit more from a firmer mattress. Softer mattresses have the issue of cradling too much, restricting movement. However, a firmer bed is more resilient, has less sinkage, and restricts movement less. This lends itself to effortless, fast motion, which active couples can use.