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Mattress topper make bed firmer


How To Make A Mattress Firmer (8 Tips To Fix Your Soft Bed)

Before we begin, let’s first firm a few things up (get it). All jokes aside, this post is designed to be a helpful guide for you to lear how to make a mattress firmer. Let’s get to it.

Why You Might Need A Firm Bed

There are many reasons why you might need a firmer mattress. Your bed may have simply arrived a little softer than expected. Also, some mattresses tend to get softer with time, as you break them in. If you have a back injury or some back pain, your doctor may have recommended that you sleep on a firmer surface. Or maybe your partner moved in, and they need a firmer mattress. Whatever it is, we’re here to help.

Let’s first go over some reasons why having a firmer versus a softer bed can be so important, and then we’ll talk about some options for making your mattress firmer.

Why Firmness Level Is Important

The Slumber Yard creates a mattress firmness graphic for each mattress we review

The firmness level in a mattress plays an important factor in your sleep, health, and overall well-being. Depending on your weight, how you prefer to sleep, and whether or not you have any back issues, it’s necessary to get a mattress that can support your needs when sleeping. Because we spend eight hours a night sleeping, which translates to a third of our lives, we need to have a mattress that has the right level of firmness for our bodies. 

If a mattress is too firm for soft for your specific sleeper position, you could have a lot of pain in your back and spine. Finding a mattress that can support your weight and the position you like to sleep in is important. For instance, side sleepers need a less firm mattress that can align to their curves and spine when sleeping, while back sleepers may need more firmness. We’ll explore how to make your mattress firmer if it is too soft.

Options To Make a Mattress Firmer

Before running out and getting a new mattress, there are many strategies you can implement if you’re wondering how to make your mattress firmer. Unfortunately, a mattress may not always end up feeling as firm as it was the day you tried it out in the store.  

These options can help get your mattress to the firmness and comfort level you need it to be at. From taking advantage of the trial period to using a plywood board beneath your mattress, a few tweaks can ensure you’re sleeping comfortably.

Trial period. Many online mattress brands have trial periods, so that you can really get to know your new mattress before you commit. Most companies offer a 100-night trial period, but others, like Nectar for example, have year-long trial periods.

Check to see if your mattress is still within its trial period, because you might be able to return the bed for a full refund, and most of the time the company will come remove the mattress for you, also free of charge. You could also try contacting the company and see if they can help you. Novosbed will even send you a Comfort+ Kit, which is a free foam topper, if you feel the firmness of the bed isn’t quite right for you.

Try placing your mattress on the floor. If that makes it feel firm enough for you, you could either go for a cool college kid vibe and leave it there, or you can try slipping some plywood boards between your mattress and the bed frame. This will add some extra firm support and possibly harden your mattress.

Check your box spring. Box springs can wear out with prolonged use. When they lose their strength, they provide less support for your mattress than they should, which in turn may make your mattress feel softer. Replacing a box spring is usually much less pricey than replacing a mattress, and can help to harden up your bed.

Replace the worn out layers. More and more companies are manufacturing their mattresses with different layers of material, so it’s easy to switch out the ones that are more damaged. This is also a more affordable way to make your mattress firmer. Just make sure your mattress has a removable mattress cover.

Dampness. Your bed can become soft from absorbing moisture from the air. This is common in humid areas or if you live close to the beach. If you think this might be the problem, just take your bed and lay it in the sun, and let it dry out for the day. This should not only firm up your mattress, but the sun should also kill off any bacteria, mold, and germs that may have occurred from the dampness. If you’re super worried about a contaminated mattress, you can also pay for a professional cleaning, but make sure to try this first.

Mattress topper. I know, you’re probably thinking, aren’t mattress toppers supposed to make beds softer? But there are tons of great mattress toppers you can find on Amazon that will make your bed firmer.

We suggest a dense memory foam or a latex one. Latex is a natural foam material made from the sap of rubber trees, and it’s known to be pretty firm and responsive. They have synthetic latex options, as well, which are usually cheaper. Toppers are usually around 2”-6” thick, so they can make your bed decently thicker, or just a little bit thicker, if that’s what you prefer. Also, mattress pads tend to be thinner and make mattresses softer, so look specifically for a topper.

Consider your room temperature. Some materials, like 100% memory foam or airy polyurethane foam, can be temperature sensitive. If you leave them in a cold room they We’ve even heard of pure memory foam freezing solid if left in a super cold climate! Try adjusting your thermostat in your bedroom to a lower temperature, or even leave a window open and get the fan going and see if that firms up your bed a bit. Likewise, a warmer temperature might make your bed softer.

Rotate or flip your mattress. Sometimes simply rotating your bed so that the heavier parts of your body lay in different spots can help. We always recommend that, no matter what kind of mattress you have, you rotate it seasonally to help prevent sagging or impressions.

If your bed is two-sided, you can also try flipping it to make it firmer. Just double check first that it’s a flippable mattress. Some beds, like the Plank for example, come with two different firmness levels on each side. If there aren’t different firmness levels, the unused side will still often be firmer.

Plywood board. One way to make a mattress firmer is to place a piece of plywood board between the box spring or bed frame and the mattress. This offers another layer of support beneath your mattress and prevents it from sinking down.

If all else fails, get a new mattress. As we explained above, the firmness of your bed is very important for your spinal health, and to prevent against body aches and stiffness. This is especially true for strict back or stomach sleepers. Also, having a worn out bed that’s been around too long is just not great for your body. If you’ve had your bed for over 10 years and it’s much softer than when you first got it, it might be time for a new mattress anyway. You can check out our list of Best Firm Beds or Best Beds for Back Sleepers if you want some help figuring out which bed might be best for you.

What is the Right Firmness For You

Side Sleepers

Side sleepers should have a mattress that’s more soft than it is firm. The softer mattress will align to the curves of the body better so that you won’t wake up with a stiff back or create back problems that will persist later on in life. 

Back And Stomach Sleepers

Back and stomach sleepers would benefit from a firmer mattress. A softer mattress can lead the hips and pelvis to sink in too much, which can result in poor alignment and ultimately, discomfort. A firmer mattress will help keep everything straight while sleeping in these positions.

Combo Sleepers 

For those who tend to sleep on their side, back, and stomach, then you’re probably wondering what type of mattress is best for you. In this case, think about what position you prefer to sleep in most, or which one is most comfortable. Whatever that position is, you should get the mattress with a firmness level that’s ideal for that specific position. Otherwise, you can explore using a hybrid mattress, or consider getting a mattress that’s somewhere in the middle so you can adjust with mattress toppers and/or plywood as you see fit.

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How can I make my memory foam mattress firmer?In order to make your mattress firmer, you can try a few things, like getting a firmer mattress topper, flipping your mattress (if it’s flippable), or placing plywood between the mattress and the bed frame/box spring.
Can a mattress topper make a mattress firmer?While a mattress topper won’t make the mattress itself firmer, it will help you feel that the bed as a whole is more firm. Using the right mattress topper is a great way to get your bed to the comfort level you desire.
How do I know if I need a firmer mattress?If you are a back or stomach sleeper a firmer mattress should be more comfortable because it’ll keep your spine aligned. Your doctor can also recommend a firmer mattress if you have a back injury or pain. Studies suggest that firmer bedding can reduce back pain, improve sleep quality, and decrease overall stress.

Best Firm Mattress Toppers (2022)

In the world of mattress toppers, the desired effect is to add a little plushness and give to a firm bed. However, there are instances when time and toll can make already-cushy beds uncomfortably soft. You sink in, your spine loses its alignment, and you wake up every morning with a litany of aches and pains. Adding one of our best firm mattress toppers can be a great way to get a little extra support without you having to go all in on a brand-new bed.

Best Firm Mattress Toppers of 2022

The Nolah Mattress Topper is a high-quality product boasting a CertiPUR-US certification. Nolah's signature foam is described as more durable, plush, and cooling than other foams on the market.

Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5 Check Price

Our favorite firm mattress topper is the Nolah Mattress Topper. It’s made of a denser foam that should provide pressure relief without making you feel trapped in the material. For those wanting to add a firmer feel to their mattress, we recommend the Luxury Firm option over the Plush option. The high-quality materials within this topper should help it maintain its shape well over time. In fact, it boasts an organic cotton cover and CertiPUR-US certified foam.

Pros:

Cons: 

Our full review is coming soon!

Brooklyn Bedding's Talalay Latex mattress topper is a natural, cooling mattress topper. Talalay Latex, which is the interior material in this topper, is an Oeko-Tex certified material, meaning that it is free of harmful chemicals, and it's naturally bouncy, durable, and cooling.

Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5 Check Price

Brooklyn Bedding’s Talalay Latex mattress topper is our all-time favorite firm latex topper. This product is incredibly versatile; it comes in two different options for covers and three different firmness levels. The topper cover options include an organic cotton cover and a luxury cooling cover for sleepers who overheat at night. And as for firmness, you have your choice between Soft, Medium, and Firm. While those looking for a firmer topper will likely want the Firm version, the latex in each option should result in a more supportive feel overall.

Pros: 

Cons: 

A review for the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Topper is coming soon.

The ViscoSoft Select High Density mattress topper features high-density gel-infused foam with perforations for airflow, as well as a bamboo rayon cover and adjustable no-slip straps.

Sleepopolis Score
4.50 / 5 Read Full Review Check Price

Side sleepers require sufficient pressure relief to cradle pain points at the hips and shoulders. Though we consider the ViscoSoft Select High Density topper to be medium-firm, it has the characteristics of a firmer topper and provides some great support. This balanced feel is good for side sleepers; they should receive the necessary plushness without feeling like they’re stuck in the material. Its three-inch foam construction is gel-infused, so this topper shouldn’t trap heat like other foam models.

Pros: 

Cons: 

Learn more about this topper in our full review!

Best Firm Mattress Topper for Back Pain – TEMPUR- Adapt Topper

The TEMPUR-Topper Supreme is a great mattress topper with a soft memory foam feel that offers impressive pressure relief!

Sleepopolis Score
4. 50 / 5 Read Full Review Check Price

The TEMPUR-Adapt Topper is a mattress topper from the classic brand TEMPUR-Pedic, known for their high-quality memory foam mattresses. We think this firmer topper is a solid match for those with back pain because it uses a balance of comfort and support. Overall, the memory foam in this topper creates a slow response to pressure and provides some great pressure relief. Also, its thick foam gives it a firmer feel and added support. This balanced construction is ideal for back sleepers and side sleepers.

Pros: 

Cons: 

Get the top story on the TEMPUR-Adapt Topper in our full review!

 

This mattress topper is made with 100% natural latex that's Oeko-Tex certified for safety standards. It's available in two thicknesses—two or three inches—and in five different firmnesses, including extra-firm. You can also add a GOTS certified organic cotton cover for an additional $99.

Sleepopolis Score
4.90 / 5 Check Price

The PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper is extremely versatile. It’s available in two thicknesses—two or three inches—and in five different firmnesses, including extra-firm (which is great for raising the firmness of a way-too-soft bed). The extra-firm version is ideal for stomach sleepers or heavier sleepers who are looking for something extremely supportive. Perhaps one of the best parts about this topper is that it’s environmentally friendly; the latex is free of toxic chemicals.  

Pros: 

Cons: 

A review for the PlushBeds Latex Mattress Topper is coming soon.

Methodology: How We Chose the Best Firm Mattress Toppers

Choosing the right mattress topper with the purpose of adding firmness is always a bit tricky, because what’s firm to one person may be completely soft for someone else. With that in mind, there were a few specifics we looked at when assembling our list.

Materials

Certain topper materials tended to hold firmness better than others. We found that the variance in firmness of memory foam was ideal more often than not, because it added the proper amount of resistance without sacrificing comfort.

Breathability

Mattress toppers are usually bought in lieu of purchasing an entirely new mattress, and as a result, they can be low-cost and made of artificial or synthetic materials. These materials tend to breathe poorly, so it was important to us to factor in how cool the topper kept through the night.

Convenience and Accessories

A firm mattress topper can be a great investment on its own, but including a quality cover that can be easily attached to a mattress is a great bonus. It also helps if the cover can be removed and washed.

Firm Mattress Topper Tips

Here are a few additional things to consider before making your purchase!

Thickness

You really want to factor in the thickness of the mattress topper when determining what’s right for your needs. If you’re looking to cover an extremely soft mattress in order to firm it up, look at thicker toppers (four or more inches). If you only need a small change in firmness, you may be able to get away with a thinner topper (two or three inches).

Sleeping Position

This ties in with the thickness of a mattress topper. For side sleepers who need additional pressure relief on the hips and shoulders, we recommend selecting a thicker topper for deeper contouring. Stomach sleepers, however, require more support, and they’re better off purchasing a thinner topper. Back sleepers are often somewhere in between based on their personal preferences.

Longevity

Odds are, if you’re opting for a mattress topper, you’re avoiding buying a new mattress. That shouldn’t mean that you select something cheap and disposable. Investing in a high-quality mattress topper can pay off dividends in the long run.

Who Should Buy a Mattress Topper

Those Who Want to Change the Feel of Their Mattress

If you like your mattress for the most part but feel minor adjustments in firmness could make all the difference in the world, then we definitely suggest purchasing a topper. A mattress that’s too soft, too firm, and even too lumpy can be adjusted with the right topper.

Those Who Want to Extend the Lifespan of Their Mattress

A topper can help avoid premature wear and tear of a mattress. Depending on the product, spills, excess moisture, and dirt particles can be trapped by the topper itself and not the actual mattress. In this sense, we consider toppers to be a great investment. Mattresses can be expensive, and the more you can protect the condition of the one you own, the better.

Those Who Sleep Hot

There are many cooling mattress toppers on the market. Some of them have naturally cooling materials, and others boast the newest cooling technology. Either way, hot sleepers should consider a topper if they’re looking to lower their body heat or wick away some extra moisture at night.

Related: Best Cooling Mattress Topper

Those Who Want to Save Money

Mattresses can be extremely expensive and toppers are a fantastic way to adjust firmness without breaking the bank.

Related: Best Cheap Mattress Topper

Who Shouldn’t Buy a Mattress Topper

Those Who Already Sleep on a Worn-Out Mattress

A mattress topper can’t save a mattress that’s already experiencing problems. Adding a topper won’t fix sagging in the middle of the mattress, nor will it fix your spinal alignment. If a mattress is too old, we recommend purchasing new one.

Related: Best Mattresses of 2022

Mattress Toppers vs Mattress Pads vs Mattress Protector

Mattress pads and toppers are used to alter the feel of a mattress, but mattress toppers are around two to three inches thicker and often heavier. While some of these products can fight against contaminants, it’s not what they’re built for. Mattress protectors, on the other hand, can save your mattress from moisture, bed bugs, allergens, and other contaminants. They aren’t intended to change the feel of your mattress, but they can extend the life of your mattress.

The Best Cooling Mattresses of 2022

Our Review Process

Our Sleepopolis reviewers personally test each mattress topper, taking time to assess it on our backs, stomachs, and sides. By seeing how the topper performs in each position, we’re able to give our final verdict for a variety of sleepers.

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Logan is the former content director of Sleepopolis. As content director, he reviewed new mattresses every week and curated the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. Logan perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.

How to change the firmness of a mattress? - We correct the rigidity of the bed with toppers and mattress covers

A good and high-quality sleeping surface has a rather high cost, so it is usually carefully chosen and purchased for a long time. Studying the characteristics of mattresses, each of the buyers prefers the most suitable option, based on their wishes. The main attention is paid to the degree of rigidity of the orthopedic product. At the time of purchase, the sleeping surface meets all the requirements, so it is comfortable to spend a night's rest on it. However, over time, you may want to get a softer or vice versa hard mattress. What to do in such cases? After all, not everyone is able to allocate funds from the family budget to purchase a new sleeping surface. In addition, the existing mattress has not yet served its purpose and I don’t want to throw it away at all. nine0011

In such a situation, it is worth knowing that there are effective methods of influencing the degree of firmness of the mattress, increasing or decreasing it. The simplest, affordable and not very expensive way to improve the sleeping surface and make it more appropriate for your needs is to purchase a topper - an orthopedic mattress pad filled with functional material.

Topper is a versatile product that can completely replace a bed in case of guests' arrival, as well as serve as an orthopedic surface. It can be placed on top of the main mattress to provide a higher level of comfort. The thickness of such an attribute is small, but at the same time it provides full support for the body during sleep and will serve as a new "top" layer of filling your mattress. nine0011

If you need to soften the surface

If the main sleeping surface is very hard, you can purchase a special softening topper to soften it. It can also be used to flatten a mattress, sofa or cot for a more comfortable sleep.

The following materials are used as filler for softening mattress toppers:

Each of the listed types of filling has its own significant advantages, which you should pay attention to when buying a topper.


Thus, latex (natural) is recognized as the best filler. Mattress covers with latex are considered one of the most comfortable and reliable among soft toppers. nine0011

In second place in terms of quality characteristics is placed shape memory foam (memorix, memory-form) , which has medium elasticity and is able, when heated from the body, to repeat its shape. A topper with this filling is relatively thin (usually 4 cm thick), but at the same time expensive. However, in terms of the level of comfort provided, this is the best material.

The third place in terms of quality is occupied by a thin mattress with strutofiber / holofiber filler. This type of filler consists of several materials, namely polyester fiber, cotton, wool and linen. The combination of synthetic raw materials with natural raw materials allows you to make the topper as functional as possible. The rigidity of this product is medium. This is a prime example of inexpensive mattress toppers for not too much softening of a hard mattress or just for leveling the surface. nine0011

Last in the list of fillers - polyurethane foam , which is a modern substitute for foam rubber. Toppers filled with PU foam are the softest, but short-lived, so they are not considered practical. The main advantage of models on polyurethane foam is low cost.

When purchasing a topper to improve the orthopedic properties of a mattress, it is necessary to choose its thickness correctly. The larger it is, the more weight it can withstand. The product with a thickness of 5 cm provides full support for the body weighing 75-85 kg. Also, when buying a mattress pad made of foam materials (natural and artificial latex), thicker models should be preferred, since a thin layer of such a filling will not give the desired orthopedic effect. nine0011

If you need to increase the rigidity of the surface

When the mattress is soft and there is a need to make it more rigid, elastic and hard mattress toppers can be used. Such products are filled mainly with fibers of coconut coir , less often with bicoco or struttofiber (holofiber) . Coconut filling is considered the best, as it is a natural raw material, is not capable of causing allergic reactions and is absolutely safe for human health. nine0011


Due to their high quality characteristics, palm fiber toppers can even be used for arranging a bed for children and newborns. How coir material is divided into two types according to the method of its production:

  1. Pressed (needle-punched) coconut coir
  2. Latex Coconut Coir

The first option is a rather rigid material, prone to rapid drying and destruction. Fragility is, perhaps, the only drawback of toppers on pressed coir. Currently, mattress covers and toppers with this type of filling are almost never produced. nine0011

Mattress covers with latex coconut coir fibers inside are more practical, reliable and elastic. Coir in combination with latex is not deformable and provides a good orthopedic effect. The harder you need to make the existing sleeping surface, the higher the layer of coconut coir you need to choose. For a small correction - 2-3 cm, for a more significant one - 6 cm. The purchase of such an accessory is a profitable and successful alternative to buying a new sleeping surface. This is a real life hack for those who want to change the firmness of their mattress! nine0011

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