Inflating an air mattress isn't the best way to accommodate guests, but sometimes it's the only option – especially if you're working with a smaller space or a tighter budget.
The question is how to make an air mattress more comfortable. As a host, the last thing you want is for your guests to wake up with aching backs and creaking joints, wishing they'd just checked into a hotel. The trick to making an air mattress more comfortable is to elevate the experience. When you treat your guests to the best bedding and a fully inflated air bed, they won't mind sleeping on the floor.
As H&G's resident sleep writer, I'm always looking to learn how to sleep better. Between camping trips and moving house, I've also slept on my fair share of air beds, and I want to share my hard-won wisdom with you so that you can make your air mattress more comfortable.
How to make an air mattress more comfortable
Setting up a well-dressed air bed is one of the best ways to host guests without a guest room. I asked an expert panel of interior designers to teach us how to style an air mattress to make a good first impression.
1. Ensure the mattress is fully inflated
'The most important thing is to ensure that your air mattress is adequately inflated,' says Tadas Pukas, bedding expert at Minimalistic Linen. 'You want to create a firm, supportive surface, but you don't want it to feel too stiff – otherwise, you might as well roll out a mat and let your guests sleep on the floor. A well-inflated mattress prevent backaches and ensures a stable sleeping environment.'
Before your guests arrive, inspect your air mattress for signs of damage. Pay special attention around the seams, where small cracks start to appear. Inflate your mattress and gently press down, listening out for any air that might escape through a hidden hole. If you find a leak, patch it up using the patch kit that came with your air mattress or a bike tire patch kit. In a pinch, you could make your own patch using any thin plastic material and adhesive tape.
2. Add a mattress topper
Perhaps you've heard complaints that your air bed feels firm and inflexible. Maybe it's the opposite problem and your air mattress is insufficiently supportive for your guests. Once you've checked for leaks and patched up any holes, your next move should be to invest in the best mattress topper. One of these thick layers of foam could totally transform the look and feel of your air mattress, making it more comfortable for your overnight guests.
As H&G's resident sleep writer, I'm often asked: 'can you use a mattress topper on an air mattress?' My answer is 'yes', so long as the topper comes with straps to ensure a secure fit. Bedding designer Parima Ijaz agrees: 'mattress toppers are designed to add support and plushness to your mattress, and they're so much easier to transport and store than a full-size bed.'
To save you time and money, I've picked out a few of my favorite mattress toppers to make your air mattress more comfortable. Each of these toppers is tried and tested by an H&G sleep expert for comfort, support, breathability, and motion isolation. Adding a mattress topper is such an easy way to elevate your air mattress, and it should only set you back $100-$200.
This medium-firm mattress topper is suitable for all sleep styles, so it's great for guest bedrooms and air mattresses. It's soft enough to cushion your joints yet sufficiently supportive to keep your spine aligned.
This is just the thing to toughen up a soft, sagging air mattress. Our expert tester, Jamie, slept on the Nolah Mattress Topper through the summer: she particularly rates the edge support and the motion isolation, which should help your guests to sleep undisturbed.
This memory foam mattress topper is infused with a cooling gel and ventilated for superior air flow. You get all the pressure relief and contouring comfort of memory foam with none of the heat retention – it's a great option for hot sleepers and summer nights.
3. Treat your guests with the best bedding
'You could layer your air mattress with the world's best mattress topper − but if you lumber your guests with a flat pillow and the spare set of sheets from the back of the linen closet, then you're undermining all your hard work,' says Parima.
'The best way to make an air mattress more comfortable is to treat your guests to the best bedding,' she continues. 'One of the best duvet inserts made from down or down alternative provides toasty warmth, ultra-soft comfort, and long-lasting wispy light fluff to soothe you right to sleep.'
For Stephanie Meyer, interior designer and owner of AVCO Design, it's all about the sheets. 'Properly fitted sheets won't slide or bunch,' she says. 'A set of the best bed sheets should offer all-season comfort. I like to offer two pillows per guest, as well as a middle-weight duvet and a couple of extra throw blankets to accommodate guests who run hot or cold.'
Made from long-staple cotton for strength and woven into silky-smooth sateen for softness, these sheets are an instant upgrade. They're the sort you'd expect to find in a high-end hotel or luxury spa, rather than on your air mattress.
Naturally thermoregulating and moisture-wicking, wool is a great option for hot sleepers. This wool is specially treated so it's machine-washable and dryer-safe for quick, convenient cleaning once your guests go home.
An adjustable pillow makes the perfect finishing touch to your air mattress. All you need to do is push and pull the zippers to let air into and out of the pillow until it reaches your ideal loft and firmness.
4. Move the mattress off the floor
There's something quite sad about the sight of an air mattress dropped in the middle of the floor. Founder of ML Interiors Mina Lisanin suggests raising your air mattress off the ground with a folding frame to – literally − elevate the experience.
'This makes your air mattress look more like a traditional bed, and it should stop your air mattress from sliding or shifting across the floor when you move,' explains Mina. She suggests the Zinus SmartBase Mattress Foundation for its durability and stability.
If you don't have the space for a frame, then Stephanie thinks you should situate your air mattress on a rug, instead. 'This eliminates creaking and movement as the vinyl bottom interacts with slick hard floors,' she explains. 'Just keep in mind that you should leave the air mattress pump or plug in an accessible spot for guests to reinflate as needed.'
5. Add throws and pillows
Mina encourages shoppers to 'incorporate decorative pillows and throws in co-ordinating colors and textures to complete the luxurious look of your elevated air mattress. Brands like West Elm and Pottery Barn offer a wide range of bedding accessories to complement your style and make your air bed feel more inviting.'
Interior designer and home blogger Elizabeth Grace suggests that you 'go the extra mile by providing your guests with thoughtful extras like a bedside table, a reading lamp, and a cozy throw blanket. These small details can make a big difference and help your guests feel more at home.'
FAQs
Why are air mattresses so uncomfortable?
Because they aren't designed for long-term use. An air mattress can comfortably accommodate a guest for a night or two, but not much longer. An air mattress doesn't have the same supportive coil of foam or springs as a real mattress – only air.
How long should an air mattress stay inflated?
A good air mattress, fully inflated and used correctly, should stay inflated for at least one week, possibly two if it's good quality. An air mattress that deflates any quicker than this may not have been inflated correctly, or may have a slow puncture that needs to be addressed to prevent backaches in the morning.
Final thoughts
If you find that your guests just can't get comfortable on an air mattress, you could consider a futon mattress, instead. Flexible, durable, and affordable, it's a great way to accommodate guests without using up too much floor space.
