Generally, discussions of sleep positions are a total snooze-fest. Unless, that is, you’re looking for a mattress that specifically supports you while you’re sleeping. Then, we’re all ears.
The vast majority of people prefer curling up on their side. It’s the most comfortable way to sleep for your spine and also keeps the airways open, which cuts the risk of snoring and sleep apnea. Your digestive system and brain health win from side-sleeping over snoozing on your back or stomach, clearing waste and toxins far more effectively.
Dave Gibson, founder of thesleepsite.co.uk, recommends sleeping on the side or back to ease back pain. He says: “When sleeping on your side to relieve pain, the aim is to lie on your pain-free side, with top leg bent at the knee and supported with a pillow underneath to stop your pelvis from rolling. This basically is the foetal position with support to keep the pelvis in alignment with the rest of the spine - especially important with lower back pain.”
And if you’re pregnant, side sleeping is the safest position for you and your baby as it aids blood circulation and relieves stress in high-pressure areas.
Most adults know their preferred sleep position, so it’s wise to invest in a mattress that supports properly. While the choice spans everything from memory foam and hybrids to pocket spring mattresses, the Sleep Foundation states that “medium firm mattresses have been demonstrated to reduce pain in side sleepers.”
It stands to reason, really. If a mattress is too soft, the heavier parts of your body will sink down into it, throwing your spine out of shape and causing aches when you get up. Choose a mattress that’s too hard, and it’s not comfortable to sleep on which can lead to further spinal misalignment as your body wiggles around trying to feel at ease enough to slide into oblivion. Side sleepers, who make up the majority of the population, require the Goldilocks standard.
Does this mean forking out on a specialist mattress? Alison Jones, Sleep Expert at Sealy, makes the case for an orthopaedic model: “Many people don’t realise the connection between back pain, their mattress and their overall health. Choosing an orthopaedically-designed mattress is essential for great back health, as they’re designed specifically to help distribute body weight more evenly and relieve pressure points.”
Of course, other bedding plays a part too - especially the pillow you choose to rest your head on - while duvet togs and bed linen largley come down to personal preference.
If you’re in the market for a new mattress that prioritises and supports side sleepers in particular, you’ve landed on the right page. We’ll guide you through the best options below, all in the name of getting your sweetest shuteye ever.
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Relyon Taunton Dunlopillo Latex Mattress - double
As the Director of Commerical Buying at Dreams, Fabio Perrotta has slept on a lot of beds. He says: “Relyon is one of our new brands at Dreams and they produce some fantastic quality mattresses. Made from sustainably sourced Dunlopillo latex, the mattresses have plenty of elasticity and bounce, plus 33 per cent more pressure-relief than traditional memory foam. There are also some great extra benefits when you buy a Relyon, including breathability, temperature regulation, anti-allergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties.
My top pick is the Relyon Taunton Dunlopillo Mattress – it’s firm, with 1122 individually wrapped pocket-springs that help ensure even bodyweight distribution and superior overall support.” Sounds like a bed you can rely on.
Buy now £1199.00, Dreams
Simba Hybrid Luxe Mattress - king
Bringing together the best of both worlds in 10 delightfully luxe layers, Simba’s plush mattress will provide sweet relief to anyone feeling the achy effects of sitting all day by a WFH desk on an ill-fitting chair.
It uses 6,000 titanium Aerocoil springs set over three layers with slices of open-cell foam, bamboo wool and high definition edge support layers in between to create a comfortable layer on which to spend eight hours a night.
It all sits on a zoned Simba-pure support base, giving your limbs and joints support from the foundation up. In terms of tension, it’s firm, but not hard.
Foam can often make you overheat, especially if you’re a hot sleeper to start with, but Simba has engineered the layers to allow for air flow throughout so sweaty mornings are a thing of the past. Free delivery.
Buy now £2359.00, Simba
Silentnight Miracoil Geltex Mattress - King Size
Standing 31cm high, this mattress from Silentnight offers a medium-to-firm level of comfort. Under the soft knit cover is a 4cm layer of Geltex for comfort followed by a Miracoil support system and an open cell structure that allows for air flow, keeping everything feeling breathable. Free delivery is available on the mattresses too.
Buy now £859.00, Silentnight
Emma Premium Mattress - King Size
After a little more support in the mattress department? Emma’s Premium Mattress range uses high performance Halo memory foam as well as 12.5cm tall CarbonFlex pocket springs in five targeted zones to offer a feeling of weightlessness as you drift off into the land of nod.
Shoulders and the pelvis area are the two part of the body that need the most support when you sleep, so Emma’s designers have reinforced the mattress with this in mind. And while memory foam offers superior comfort, it’s not always the coolest thing to sleep on at night, absorbing and retaining the body’s natural heat. Emma counteracts this through a two-pronged approach, with AeroFlex spring technology, and open-pored foam to encourage air circulation, leaving you cool and dry.
The bonus is that the Emma is a bed in a box, which means delivery to your chosen room is easier than with a traditional spring mattress. Each purchase comes with a 200 night trial so you can really put it through its paces, plus a 10 year guarantee and free delivery.
Buy now £698.85, Emma
Brook + Wilde Elite mattress - King Size
All of Brook + Wilde’s mattresses feature its signature Wave Technology which ensures the best possible comfort and specialised zonal support to ease joints and alleviate pressure in all the right places.
We reckon the Elite model is best for side sleeping; the third layer uses a next-generation high density foam to support the spine and ease stress on pressure points. In all, there are eight layers at play, all designed to give you the sleep of your life.
One of those layers is made up of 2,500 pocket springs which offer blissful support whether you’re snoozing solo or with a friend. You can set your mattress tension when ordering too: soft, medium or firm.
Like other bed brands, Brook + Wilde offers a no-quibble 200-night trial as well as a 10 year guarantee and free delivery (in a box) to your door.
Buy now £1399.00, Brook + Wilde
The Cotswold Company Ortho Support Mattress
Handmade in the UK, The Cotswold Company’s range of Ortho Support Mattresses feature one thousand pocket springs for heightened levels of support. Above the springs sits a plush layer of recycled polyester for high tension comfort, which will leave you feeling like you’re sleeping on cloud nine. The mattresses are available in standard UK sizes (single, small double, double and king) with each wrapped in a micro-quilted fabric that’s breathable and hypo-allergenic.
Buy now £329.00, The Cotswold Company
Flaxby Nature’s Dawn All Seasons Pocket Sprung Mattress - double
Going one better than the bestselling Flaxby Nature’s Halo mattress, this model features up to 3520 super strong springs helping to keep you and your back supported all through the night.
A layer of mini springs give extra support and the mattress benefits from thick layers of moisture-wicking, climate-controlling British wool and cotton, helping you feel cool and comfortable every time you climb into bed. The feeling of supreme comfort is furthered with a soft damask cover surrounding the top of the design.
This mattress is single-sided which means it requires rotation once a week for the first three months, but then just once a month. Everything is handmade right here in the UK and it comes with a 40-Night Sleep Guarantee as well as a one-year guarantee.
Buy now £999.00, Dreams
Country Living Hamsterley Mattress - king
Like a bed with a bit of bounce? Look no further than Country Living’s premium Hamsterley Mattress which uses a double layer of 1881 steel alloy springs to offer deluxe, heightened support. Tired joints will feel rested and revived by the morning thanks to these coils which work individually to support weight, giving zoned comfort.
Combined with 14 layers of high quality natural fillings (think lambswool and mohair) and a 100 per cent natural Belgian damask cover, the mattress has been put together by highly skilled tradespeople in the UK, helping to support the industry. This is a real investment bed that will see you through all seasons, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A five-year guarantee is included with the purchase, helping you rest even more easily.
Buy now £4499.00, Dreams
Signature Crystal 3000 Pocket Sprung Orthopaedic Natural Fillings Mattress - king
It’s a myth that being green is wildly expensive. When it comes to a budget option for a natural bed, Happy Beds is ready to put a smile on your face with this Signature Crystal option. Packed with natural fibres (including cashmere), 3000 pocket springs work to keep your back supported all through the night. A wool-enriched top layer helps to keep you warm in the winter and breathable during the warmer months.
Buy now £379.99, Happy Beds
Silentnight Miracoil Geltex Mattress - King Size
Standing 31cm high, this mattress from Silentnight offers a medium-to-firm level of comfort. Under the soft knit cover is a 4cm layer of Geltex for comfort followed by a Miracoil support system and an open cell structure that allows for air flow, keeping everything feeling breathable. Free delivery is available on the mattresses too.
Buy now £859.00, Silentnight
