Soft Mattresses

What is a soft mattress?

As the name implies, soft mattresses are supremely comfortable and luxuriously cushioning, providing you with a delicate sleeping surface that moulds to your body shape as you lie down for the night.

Offering the lowest mattress firmness rating available, soft and ultra-soft mattresses let you sink in just the right amount into the mattress surface to let you feel like you're sleeping on a cloud. The opposite of a firm mattress, soft mattresses are indulgently cushioning and have the plushest sleep surface available.

Why choose a soft mattress?

Soft mattresses are a great investment for anyone looking to indulge in a plush mattress for a blissful night of rest. Ideal for sleepers of a lighter build who don’t need the extra support firmer mattresses provide, a soft mattress is also perfect for anyone who loves to lie 'in' their bed rather than 'on' it.

But it’s not just enhanced comfort that soft and ultra-soft mattresses offer. Owning to their squishy nature, they’re also capable of providing a surprising amount of pressure relief for sleepers with joint and muscle pain; with specialist pocket-sprung technology and modern mattress innovation, soft mattresses are more than capable of offering essential support to your entire body. A soft mattress does not have to equal back pain as long as you ensure you get the right one for you, your body type, and your sleeping preferences!

Who are soft mattresses best for?

While anyone can sleep on a soft mattress, a low mattress firmness level like this arguably makes them the best type of mattress for side sleepers. This is because soft mattresses give your bed the sort of flexibility needed for your shoulders and hips to sink while aligning your spine correctly to avoid waking up with a sore neck or back. However, bear in mind that if you're of a heavier build, it's best to go for a mattress suited to heavy people rather than a soft mattress, which is best for light people. This prevents your hips and shoulders from dipping too far into the mattress' surface.

But it’s not just adults who can enjoy a soft mattress, as this firmness rating can be a great choice for children’s beds, especially if they’re old enough to switch to their first full-sized frame.

What is the softest type of mattress?

Although the majority of mattress types can be manufactured with a soft firmness rating, certain filling options are definitely softer than others. For example, latex mattresses are one of the most popular types of soft mattresses available due to their pliable nature and supportive characteristics.

However, a good memory foam mattress can provide unparalleled levels of comfort by innovatively contouring to the shape of your body while you sleep; a soft memory foam mattress is perfect for offering personalised levels of support and comfort.

Natural mattresses are also known for their exceptional softness, with plush layers of wool, cotton, cashmere, and even silk offering indulgent cushioning. Pillow top mattresses come with what is essentially a built-in mattress topper, making them some of the best soft mattress available.

How soft should my mattress be?

As comfortable as a soft mattress can be, it’s certainly worth asking yourself the question of how soft is too soft for a mattress. Because while ultra-soft mattresses do exist, their firmness rating certainly isn’t for everyone.

At the end of the day, the right mattress firmness is a very personal choice, one that depends on your size, weight, sleeping position, and orthopaedic needs, and a firmer mattress may help give you the additional support you need to avoid chronic pain.

Take a look at our firmness table below to see what sort of mattress firmness might be best for you.

And remember, whether you prefer a mattress you can sink into, or one which holds your body up, there are plenty of other ways to provide a soft touch to your bed, such as with a plump mattress topper. Plus, there are ways of making your mattress softer if you feel it is currently too firm, too!