Your bed is more than just another piece of furniture in your home, and as the place you spend over ⅓ of your lifetime laying in, it’s essential that you’re creating a comfortable and supportive haven where you can truly rest and rejuvenate. From thick and cozy blankets to ultra-plush pillows, there are a number of ways you can improve and upgrade your personal space, but the main factor that determines your overall sleep quality is your mattress. An old, lumpy, or sagging mattress is one of the worst things for your nighttime slumbers, and it can leave you waking up feeling unrested, sore, and cranky. Unfortunately, purchasing a brand new mattress isn’t always a realistic option though, and with price tags up in the thousands, most people simply choose to suffer through the night with a mattress that has well exceeded its intended lifespan. 

But night after night of uncomfortable rest doesn’t have to be your reality forever, and if you’ve been searching for an easy, convenient, and affordable way to bring new life to your mattress, then there is a perfect solution that exists - mattress toppers. Adding inches of softness and support to your old mattress, the right topper can instantly make you feel like you’re spending the night at a 5-star resort, and you won’t have to break the bank to achieve this level of comfort. Whether you're seeking relief from an aging mattress, striving for enhanced comfort and support, or desiring a luxurious upgrade, mattress toppers have got you covered, and this article will dive deep into all of their benefits and features so you can find the ideal option for your home. 

Picking the Right Material

Choosing the right material for your mattress topper is a crucial step in the journey to sleep nirvana, and just like with a standard mattress purchase, there are a few different styles, options, and designs that you’ll want to explore before you settle on the right one for your needs. The best way to begin this shopping experience is to first identify what it is that you’re hoping to achieve with a mattress topper, as this will give you a solid starting direction for which material might work best. Have you found that you’re waking up with aches and pains and require something that is going to provide you with better support throughout the night? Or do you toss and turn, unable to get comfortable, because your old mattress is full of unbearable lumps and bumps? Regardless of what you’re hoping to achieve, there are a number of different materials that are available to you, and some of the most common and popular options are:

Easily one of the most recognizable materials in the world of mattresses and toppers, memory foam has revolutionized how people enjoy their sleep every night, and this versatile and affordable option does an amazing job of offering both comfort and support to its users. Created by NASA in the 1960s for cushioning in aircraft seats, memory foam is designed to perfectly contour to the natural shape of your body while you slumber, and it offers unparalleled pressure relief as well as even weight distribution. Where memory foam falls a bit short, however, is that it does tend to retain heat which can be uncomfortable for individuals who sleep hot, and it can also create a sinking feeling throughout the night which not everyone enjoys. With that said, memory foam continues to be one of the most common mattress topper materials on the market, and it is a low-cost solution that can be a game-changer for those with back or joint discomfort.

Another popular choice that seamlessly blends together both comfort and support, latex toppers effectively create a responsive and adaptive surface that will gently cushion you without leaving you feeling like you’re sinking as you sleep. For those who tend to toss and turn throughout the night, latex can be the best option as it easily adjusts to movements without leaving indentations behind, and this makes it the ideal material for combo sleepers or couples. In addition to being plush, durable, and supportive, latex also stands out as a naturally hypoallergenic material, and this is important if you’re someone who is prone to allergies or other sensitivities. The downside to latex, though, is that it is noticeably firmer than options such as memory foam, and it can also be much more expensive and harder to find. But if you’re looking for a topper that will last for years, and you enjoy a cooler, more supportive sleeping surface, then it’s impossible to go wrong with a latex model.

Much less common than memory foam or latex, feather and down alternative toppers are a unique option that provide a distinct level of comfort that some people prefer. While they may not offer much in terms of overall support, these specialized options are some of the most comfortable available, and they can create a plush and luxurious sleeping space that makes you feel like you’re being enveloped by a cloud. Highly breathable, feather and down alternatives will also prevent you from overheating throughout the night, and if you tend to run hot while you sleep then this can be a great way to better balance the temperature even on sweaty summer nights. With that said, feather and down alternative toppers do require more work than other materials, and in order to keep them plush and comfy, you will need to regularly fluff them to prevent them from becoming flat or clumped. 

Sizes & Thickness

Once you’ve managed to settle on the topper material that you are most interested in, the next step in the shopping process will be finding the right size and thickness for your bed. Thankfully, this part of the journey is one of the easiest, as most mattress toppers are marketed to perfectly match with the size of mattress you currently own. For example, if you already have a queen-sized bed and a queen-sized mattress, then all you will need to do is browse the queen-sized toppers that are readily available in stores. Depending on the brand, most mattress toppers will range from singles all the way up to kings, and you may also be able to find California kings, split kings, and even RV-specific sizes that can perfectly fit with your existing space. 

While the dimensions of the toppers are easy to understand, there can be some confusion when it comes to thickness, as this measurement isn’t dependent on the mattress you currently own and what you require will vary from person to person. In general, most mattress toppers are available in either a 1”, 2”, 3”, or 4” thickness, and while it may initially be tempting to just go with the least expensive option available and call it a day, it is important that you consider all available choices to ensure that you walk away with the ideal topper that will actually address your sleep concerns. While thicker may be more expensive, it can also be a lot more comfortable and supportive, so striking that perfect balance between cost and performance is crucial. Overall, most individuals ultimately find that 3” tends to offer the most noticeable improvement for a lackluster mattress, and at this height you’ll enjoy on-going pain relief, added plushness, and a better nightly sleep, without breaking the bank in the process. 

Key Features

Deciding on the perfect material, size, and thickness for your mattress topper is just the beginning of your journey towards achieving the ultimate sleep experience, and to ensure you're able to get the most out of your investment, there are some additional factors that you’re going to want to consider. From how hot you tend to run at night, to whether or not you sleep alone or with a partner, some of the final factors you’ll want to pay attention to as you shop include:

One of the biggest complaints people tend to have at nighttime is that their bed can leave them feeling overheated and sweaty, especially in those summer months. With piles of blankets surrounding you and your body temperature rising, it can be a challenge to get a good night's sleep, and this is where a cooling topper can become a necessity. If you’re hoping to better dissipate some of that building heat every night then toppers that include unique gel layers or ventilated designs can be a welcome relief, and you may even find options with specialized cool-to-the-touch covers that can create a chilled sensation against your skin. Bamboo, cotton, and latex tend to be the best materials for those wanting cooling properties, while memory foam or other dense foams tends to be the least effective.

Sleeping with a partner can be a comforting experience, but it can also become increasingly frustrating throughout the night if they tend to toss and turn repeatedly. Thankfully, certain mattress toppers can actually reduce how much of that motion you feel as you try and get a good night’s sleep, and materials like memory foam are able to absorb those movements so you aren’t woken up and disturbed. Denser foams also are ideal when frequent movement is a problem, so opting for a thicker mattress topper will provide you with better results than the thinner models that are available. 

Mattress toppers are most often sought out by individuals who have found their current mattress to be lacking when it comes to comfort or support, but they can also serve as a valuable solution for those who suffer from allergies. Allergies can significantly impact sleep quality, causing discomfort, congestion, and even exacerbating conditions like asthma, but the right topper can serve as an effective barrier, putting a stop to dust, mites, mold, or mildew. If this is your main goal, and you want something that can provide you with on-going allergy relief, then opting for naturally hypoallergenic material like latex can be an excellent choice, and it will create a comfortable and supportive environment that won’t trigger your personal sensitivities. 

Bottom Line

Choosing a mattress topper may feel like an overwhelming and complicated task, but the truth is it can be very simple, as long as you identify what your personal goals are. Whether you’re hoping to create a more comfortable, cloud-like sleeping area, or you’re trying to tackle daily aches and pains, the right topper can completely revolutionize your sleeping experience, and can leave you feeling more well rested and content than ever before. In order to achieve your goals, however, you need to spend some time evaluating your unique needs and preferences, and this will help you determine what material is best for you, what thickness you require, and even what key features are worth having. In the end, the key to choosing the perfect mattress topper is understanding your own sleep needs and tailoring your selection to meet them, and when done correctly, will leave you with an upgraded bed that can provide you with the rejuvenating and relaxing sleep you deserve.