Thinking of purchasing a new mattress, but find working out which type is best for you? We're here to help!

We'll make choosing your next mattress simple with this ultimate guide by giving you the tools to choose a mattress. 

IN THIS GUIDE

  • The Ultimate Journey to Better Sleep: How to Choose Your Next Mattress

  • The Price of a Poor Night’s Sleep: Why the Right Mattress Matters for Your Health

  • From Pocket Springs to Advanced Hybrids: Understanding Mattress Support Types

  • Natural vs. Synthetic Fillings: The Luxury and Breathability of Organic Welsh Wool

  • ‭Tailored Comfort: How to Choose the Perfect Tension for Your Sleeping Position

  • Protecting Your Investment: Do You Really Need a Luxury Mattress Topper or Protector?

  • The Adjustment Phase: What to Expect When Settling Into a Premium New Mattress

  • ‭Bespoke & Specialist Sizes: Finding the Perfect Fit for Unique Spaces and Bed Frames

Everything You Need To Help Choose Your Next Mattress 

Want to replace your mattress but have no idea where to start? We know how difficult this can be, 1000's of different types and sizes, each with a different spring count, tension, fillings & feel. It can be overwhelming when searching for the perfect night's sleep, we're confident this guide will help guide you through the selection process. 

How Important Is The Right Mattress? 

The right mattress isn't just about comfort, it should support you aligning your spine, your posture and providing you with the best sleep quality. The wrong mattress can have diverse effects, back pain, poor sleep and will lead to lower energy levels for the day ahead. 

Studies show that we spend a third of our life in bed, so investing in the right mattress is very important for us all. Sleeping on the right mattress will boost our mental wellbeing, physical health and the day you feel day to day. 

With that in mind, let's delve into the different types of mattresses, how each mattress works and identify those that best support your sleep position, body type & budget. 


Different Type Of Mattress Fillings To Choose From

Have you ever thought about what your mattress is made of? You can't see what your mattress is made of, but the fillings inside are crucial to how comfortable you are whilst you sleep. There are far too many mattress fillings, each do offer their own benefits and you'll find the majority of the time, manufacturers do mix them together. 

Natural Mattress Fillings 

Years gone by have always seen us sleep on natural fillings and that still stands true today. Even after all this time, a natural filled, sprung mattress is still considered a top tier choice when choosing your mattress. They're usually filled with the following - 

  • Cotton - Breathable and soft. To enhance airflow and provide comfort to your sleeping surface.

  • Wool - 'The Natural Insulator' that keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter. Excellent moisture wicking properties. 

  • Cashmere - Exquisitely soft and exceptionally luxurious. It provides a sumptuous, plush feel while offering superior natural insulation without adding excess weight.

  • Silk - Supremely smooth and naturally hypoallergenic. It acts as a brilliant temperature regulator while adding a layer of unparalleled luxury and durability to the sleep surface.

  • Mohair - Highly resilient and elastic. Often referred to as the 'diamond fibre', it acts like a natural micro-spring to add structural support, bounce, and outstanding temperature control.

  • Bamboo - Incredibly sustainable and naturally antibacterial. It offers exceptional moisture-wicking properties and breathability, keeping your mattress fresh, dry, and odour-free.

Because the fillings are often combined, the Naturally filled mattresses offer great balanced temperature control, making them a the perfect choice of mattress all year round. They offer luxurious sleeping surface and help regulate your body heat through night. 


What else is there?

Latex Mattresses - The ultimate natural responder.

  • Harvested from the sap of rubber trees, natural latex is incredibly durable and eco-friendly. Unlike memory foam, it provides instant bounce-back and buoyant support, contouring to your body without making you feel "sunk" or trapped. It is naturally cool, exceptionally breathable, and possesses inherent anti-microbial and hypoallergenic properties, making it a premium choice for allergy sufferers.

Gel Mattresses - Advanced cooling and pressure regulation.

  • Specifically engineered for sleepers who overheat at night, gel mattresses feature an infusion of cooling gel beads or an intelligent grid layer. This technology actively absorbs excess body heat and dissipates it away from the sleep surface. Combined with supportive foam or springs, it offers responsive pressure-point relief while keeping your sleeping microclimate consistently cool and refreshing.

Orthopaedic Mattresses - Targeted spinal alignment and joint care.

  • Purpose-built with an extra-firm tension, orthopaedic mattresses are designed to distribute body weight evenly and alleviate stress on the spine. By resisting deep sinkage, they keep your musculoskeletal system in optimal alignment throughout the night. This is the ideal solution for those managing chronic back pain, joint stiffness, or recovering from athletic strain.

Foam Mattresses - Tailored contouring and complete motion isolation.

  • Utilising layers of advanced polyurethane or reflex foam, these mattresses are celebrated for their deep cushioning and body-mapping capabilities. They react to your weight and shape to cradle your pressure points perfectly. Because foam absorbs energy completely, these mattresses offer total motion isolation—ensuring that when your partner moves, your side of the bed remains entirely still.

Choose A Mattress Based On The Type Of Sleeper You Are 

Mattresses for Front Sleepers

Sleeping on your stomach naturally pushes your midsection downwards, which can cause your lower back to over-extend and strain. To combat this, front sleepers require a highly supportive sleep surface.

  • Ideal Tension: Firm to Extra-Firm.

  • The Goal: You need a robust mattress that prevents your pelvis from sinking too deeply into the bed, ensuring your spine remains flat and in a neutral alignment throughout the night.

  • Recommended Construction: Look for firm pocket spring systems, natural fillings, orthopaedic models, or dense support foams that provide a rigid core to resist sagging beneath the abdomen.

Mattresses for Side Sleepers

Side sleeping is the most common sleep position, but it forces your entire body weight to balance on two narrow pressure points: your shoulders and your hips.

  • Ideal Tension: Soft to Medium.

  • The Goal: Your mattress must have enough plush "give" to allow your heavier joints to sink in, relieving pressure while simultaneously cushioning your waist to keep your spine perfectly straight.

  • Recommended Construction: Deep comfort layers are essential. Consider Naturally filled mattresses, wool, cashmere, silk. Gel would also be a recommendation due to its foam feel, but superior breathability. Responsive top layers are perfect for contouring to the body's natural curves.

Mattresses for Back Sleepers

Often considered the healthiest sleeping posture, resting on your back naturally aligns the spine and evenly distributes your body weight across the surface of the bed.

  • Ideal Tension: Medium-Firm to Firm.

  • The Goal: The mattress must confidently support the natural arch of your lower back (the lumbar region) while providing just enough surface contouring to accommodate your shoulders and buttocks without leaving a noticeable gap.

  • Recommended Construction: Premium pocket sprung, orthopaedic, or balanced hybrid mattresses provide the targeted, zoned support required to hold up the heavier midsection without feeling overly rigid.


Chosen Your Mattress? How About An Enhancer or Topper? 

Bear in mind, you can always make a mattress softer, you cannot make one firmer. If you need to soften your firm mattress, an Enhancer or Topper can be added. This is essentially a thinner mattress that can be placed on top of your current mattress to help raise the profile of the mattress to create a softer sleeping surface. Mainly they are bought to extend the lift of a tired mattress whilst saving for a new one but Enhancers are becoming more popular with new purchases as the core mattress gets heavier each year. With an enhancer, you're able to just rotate and turn the enhancer which can be easier than rotating the whole mattress. 
Today, mattress toppers are being combined with all new mattresses to create a more supportive but comfortable sleeping surface, which is crucial to a healthy lifestyle. If you'd like to consider adding one to your current mattress you can check out the range available at Now To Bed. If you're unsure if you need to purchase one, then consult our Mattress Topper Guide for more info! You can also call/email us and of course we'll aim to help you. If you're thinking about protecting your mattress from stains and discolouration, then head to our Mattress Protector Guide to learn more about those. 



Adjusting To A New Mattress 

If you've been sleeping on the same mattress for a number of years, the sudden change to another one can take a while for your body to get used to. During this 'bedding-in' period, it is important to give yourself time to adjust, ignoring the temptation to return to your old one. This will only delay your body to adjust to your new mattress. 

Most of us sleeping on a new mattress will never experience this, but for the few that do have difficulty adjusting should expect the transition to last around a week - it can be known to take around a month in some extremes. 

Specialist Mattresses 

If you currently sleep on an adjustable bed, then you'll need to purchase an adjustable-mattress as the sizes are different to a standard mattress. If you're a bigger build, then you may wish to read our guide on How To Choose The Best Bed For Heavier People. Whilst shopping for your children's bed, we have a range of beds to suit their bedroom. 

Need Help Deciding On The Best Mattress For You? 

To choose the best mattress, will depend on several factors  specific to you. 

  • What type of sleeper are you? 

  • Do you have a preference on fillings? 

  • What fabric would you be most comfortable sleeping on? 

Our sleep experts at Now To Bed can guide you when choosing your new mattress, wether your visiting us instore or chatting to us online/over the phone, there's no need to loose sleep over trying to choose on your own. Our team have specialist knowledge that can help guide you to the mattress that's right for you. 

If you would like help finding the ideal mattress for you, please do get in touch with us on 01745 852877. 


Browse Pocket Sprung Mattresses Here                                                                               Browse Memory Foam Mattresses Here


                                                                                     Browse Orthopaedic Mattresses 


Written By Thomas Burnet.

Tom has 15 years experience working within Now To Bed. Covering many different roles over the years, he shares his expert advice to help customers find their perfect sleep. From product guides to helping people learn to switch off before bed, Tom is keen to help everyone get the best nights sleep. 


Approved by Neil Hodge, Psychologist.

Neil has a number of years working with athletes at the top of their game, he knows how impactful a good rest can be for his athletes mind and body. Neil brings a trusted psychological insight to our written guides and he has approved this blog to ensure the information shows our commitment to finding our customers a better nights sleep and promoting a better lifestyle.