I thought this cheap firm mattress would never suit side sleepers but after a week of retesting, I’ve been forced to eat my words

On the left, a close up of mattress tester Nicola Appleton lying on her side on the Siena Signature Mattress in our sleep studio, with a laser line indicating the straightness of her spine. On the right, the Siena Signature Mattress in the bedroom of our sleep writer Ruth Jones.

For the past six months I've been testing the Siena Signature and I've long rated it among the best mattresses you can buy, particularly with a queen just $294 at Siena. However, there was always a caveat: due to the firm feel, I struggled to recommend the mattress to side sleepers.

Last week changed all that, when circumstances forced me to sleep on my side and I discovered 'hey, this is actually pretty comfortable — you just need a little patience.'