Have you ever wondered what makes luxury hotel beds so comfortable? Surely the secret of many of them is the topper. If you don’t know what a mattress topper or how to find the one that best suits you, you just have to keep reading this practical guide.
One of the best ways to improve the comfort of your bed without spending a lot of money is to add a topper. Without a doubt, it is the ideal complement for your bed since it consists of a slightly thick mattress pad or mattress topper that is placed on the bed mattress to improve your rest and provide you with a much more restful sleep. Among its main advantages are:
- It allows you to sleep more comfortably and with an optimal degree of firmness.
- You can choose from various fillings and materials to ensure that it perfectly adapts to the shape and weight of your body.
- It contributes to prolonging the useful life of the mattress, as it keeps it in perfect condition for longer.
- It can be removed for ventilation and easy cleaning.
How to choose a mattress topper
The main purpose of a mattress topper is to provide an extra level of comfort and support to help you sleep soundly throughout the night. There are so many options on the market that it may be difficult for us to know how to choose the most suitable topper for our bed. To get it right, we must look at a series of aspects that will be detailed below.
- bed dimensions
- Mattress attachment system
- most suitable thickness
- Materials with which it is made
- Base mattress type
What size topper to choose?
Although it seems obvious that you should choose a topper the same size as the mattress, this is not always the case. One of the main advantages of having a mattress topper is that you can choose the material and thickness that best suits our comfort. In the case of couples who sleep together, these needs may be different.
That is why for double beds it is sometimes more interesting to place two toppers, one for each half of the bed, which completely cover the surface of the mattress but provide independence of beds. If you can’t find a certain size, you can turn to manufacturers who will make the topper to the exact size you need.
Types of hitch system
The hooking system of a mattress will make it stay attached to the mattress and not move while we sleep, no matter how many turns you make in bed. The most common ways to attach it to the mattress are:
- With some rubber bands in its corners. This system is ideal for single and small mattresses.
- Forming part of a cover, as if it were a bottom sheet. This option is more appropriate for double beds, since the support achieved is firmer than with rubber bands.
- With a zipper so that one side of the zipper is sewn to the topper and the other to the mattress. This system is ideal in cases where there are 2 mattress covers for the same bed. Alternatively, the zipper can be replaced by Velcro.
How tall should a topper be?
The vast majority of mattress toppers are between 5 and 10 centimeters thick, choosing it more or less thick will depend on the firmness you want to obtain. If you like the feeling of firmness of your bed, but want to provide extra support to the body, opt for a topper between 5 and 7 cm high. Keep in mind that it is a thickness that will not make you notice big changes, but it will create a greater feeling of comfort.
On the other hand, if what you are looking for is comfort or you are one of those people who normally sleep on your side, the ideal is a mattress topper with a thickness of 7 cm or more. This provides greater comfort at pressure points and will help you get a good night’s sleep.
What is the best material for a mattress topper?
The most common materials used to make toppers are foam, feathers or fibers and viscoelastic foam, which is usually the most popular. Each of these materials have their advantages and disadvantages:
- Latex ones follow the curves of the body and eliminate pressure points.
- Down, feathers, cotton and bamboo are soft, comfortable and breathable.
- Viscoelastic foam or polyurethane foam behave differently depending on the temperature at which it is, being harder when it is cold and softer with body heat. This property makes it adapt to the shape of the body and reduce pressure points.
Regardless of the type of padding, the topper has a washable cover that makes it very comfortable and hygienic.
What topper to choose if my mattress is very hard or very soft?
A mattress topper can add softness to a mattress that is too hard or firmness to a mattress that is too soft. Therefore, in general, for a newer and firmer mattress, a topper between 5 and 7 cm thick will suffice. On the other hand, an older one will require a topper from 7 cm thick.
Regarding the material, it must be taken into account that the feather ones are softer than the latex or viscoelastic ones, although among the latter it is possible to find different degrees of firmness.
What type of topper is better?
As has already been mentioned, there is no ideal mattress topper, but there are a series of tips that you should take into account if you want to make the right choice:
- It must be breathable to protect the mattress and prevent the proliferation of mold and bacteria
- Make it washable and shrink resistant
- It must provide maximum sleeping comfort and pressure point relief
- It must adapt perfectly to the shape and weight of the body
Definitely, a mattress topper will make you sleep like in a luxury hotel and, in addition, it will complement your mattress and extend its useful life. If you liked this practical guide, don’t forget that you can find many more guides on DIY and decoration at and on .
