How to Choose a Natural Filling Mattress – Natural filling mattresses do away with chemicals for a healthy, eco-friendly night’s sleep. Rather than synthetic foams and polyester fibres, these mattresses use natural materials like cotton, wool, latex, and bamboo. From the unbeatable loftiness of wool to the responsiveness of latex foam, natural fillings bring distinct benefits to the bedroom. But how do you go about choosing one? We provide expert tips and recommendations below.
How to Choose a Natural Filling Mattress
Natural Filling Mattress
First things first, let’s run through the main natural fillings:
Cotton
Organic cotton is one of the most popular natural mattress fillings. It creates a soft, breathable layer that feels more luxurious than polyester. Look for organic cotton that is grown sustainably without pesticides or other chemicals. Cotton excels in moisture-wicking abilities, keeping you cool and dry overnight.
Wool
Wool mattress fillings, often from sheep, provide unmatched comfort and insulation. The natural lanolin in wool makes it antimicrobial, antibacterial, mould-resistant, and dust mite-resistant. Wool regulates temperature excellently, keeping you warm in winter yet cool in summer. It’s also quite firm and supportive.
Latex
Natural latex foam comes from rubber tree sap and offers body-contouring pressure relief. It’s more responsive than memory foam, so you won’t feel stuck. Latex is durable, antimicrobial, and resistant to mould, mildew, and dust mites. Those with latex allergies should avoid this material. Latex provides both comfort and support.
Bamboo
A sustainable option, bamboo makes a breathable, thermoregulating addition to a mattress. Bamboo is antimicrobial, resistant to dust mites, and wicks moisture to keep you dry. As a filling, bamboo adds subtle firmness and structure. Bamboo can be blended with materials like cotton for enhanced benefits.
Mohair
For a luxurious feel, mohair from Angora goats is fluffier and softer than sheep’s wool. It’s also hypoallergenic. Mohair excels in temperature regulation and makes an excellent transitional layer between firm support foams and soft comfort layers. Due to its delicate texture, mohair is often blended with stronger fibres.
Silk
Silk makes a cool, smooth, hypoallergenic mattress filling. It comes from silkworm cocoons, with the thin, delicate fibre allowing excellent airflow to help hot sleepers stay cool. It’s very lightweight working best when blended with cotton or wool.
Other natural options include horsehair, flax, hemp, and more – in any case, you should focus on responsibly sourced materials.
The Benefits of Natural Mattresses
- Lack of chemical odours from synthetic foams and adhesives thanks to all-natural construction.
- Enhanced breathability thanks to natural fibres like cotton, wool, and bamboo that allow more airflow than synthetic foams or fibres.
- Thanks to absorbent materials like cotton, bamboo, and hemp, moisture-wicking properties keep sleepers dry through the night.
- Hypoallergenic and anti-allergy options for those sensitive to chemicals and natural allergens like latex.
- Natural materials like wool and latex naturally resist mould, mildew, bacteria buildup, and dust mites, creating a cleaner mattress.
Choosing the Perfect Firmness Level
It’s important to note that mattress firmness is subjective and relative. What feels soft to one person may feel medium firm to another. Factors like your body type, weight, and personal preference play a role. If you sleep with a partner, you’ll want a mattress accommodating both your firmness preferences.
We recommend the following comfort ratings based on body weight:
- Medium soft mattresses (under 130 lbs).
- Medium mattresses (130 – 180 lbs).
- Medium firm mattresses (180 – 220 lbs).
- Firm mattresses (over 220 lbs).
Side sleepers need softer mattresses to cushion shoulders and hips. Back and stomach sleepers require firmer options to keep the spine aligned. Combination sleepers can benefit from a medium feel.
Most people do best with a medium or medium-firm mattress. Firm mattresses also work great for front sleepers and people with reduced mobility because the mattress has more edge support and little to no give.
Mattress Features and Construction
Consider edge support and motion isolation in a natural mattress, along with firmness. Edge support refers to reinforcement around the perimeter of the mattress, allowing you to sleep or sit near the edge without sinking excessively.
Motion isolation means limiting the transfer of movement across the mattress surface, ensuring you don’t disturb your sleeping partner.
For the best edge support and motion isolation in a natural mattress, look for these technologies:
- Pocket springs – Individual fabric pockets wrap each coil separately for targeted contouring and minimal motion transfer. Pocket coils paired with natural latex or wool make an exceptional combination.
- Hybrid design – This combines the support of pocket and micro-coils with the comfort of natural latex or wool upholstery layers. The coils and natural fillings work together to isolate motion very well.
Need a mattress fast? Check out the full range next day delivery mattresses from Bedstar.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
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