Top mattresses and tips on how to get a good night’s sleep

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Our expert tests prove time and time again that the quality of your mattress can have a massive impact on how well you sleep. To help you shop smart, we’ve just tested more mattresses from Argos, John Lewis, Silentnight and several other big-name brands.

In our latest round of expert tests, we’ve scored 16 different mattresses on the features that can help you sleep soundly – body support, breathability and stability. Out of that group of mattresses, a handful of them impressed us enough to earn a Which? Best Buy title.

Keep scrolling for more details on the latest mattresses to reach our test lab, plus find out the most common cause of insomnia and read our top tips for drifting off at night.

Best Buy mattresses – our top-scoring mattresses offer plenty of support for your whole body

Just tested: mattresses under £500

You don’t necessarily need to dig deep into your pocket to invest in a mattress that’s going to offer the right amount of support.

Prices for our newly tested mattresses start at a tempting £200 and zoom up to an eyebrow-raising £1,699. If you’re a buyer on a budget, we’ve picked out three different mattresses for less than £500 to help you get started.

Click through to our full reviews to see how each mattress performed for overall body support.

Argos home Hybrid 900 double mattress (£199)

This affordable mattress from Argos comes with a one-year guarantee. The retailer proudly describes it as ‘exquisitely comfortable’, so we went hands-on to see just how true that is.

The Argos home Hybrid 900 double mattress has a central core made up of springs, along with a further layer of mini pocket-springs that are positioned closer to the surface you lie on. Those smaller springs are designed to ‘absorb the pressures of your body’s movement throughout the night.’

It’s a single-sided mattress, which means you won’t need to flip it over, although Argos suggests rotating it head-to-foot on a regular basis.

Can you really get a good night’s sleep from a budget-priced mattress? Our full Argos home Hybrid 900 double mattress review reveals all.

Dormeo Octasmart Essentials Memory – Plush Comfort (£299)

This single-sided mattress combines foam springs with pressure-relieving memory foam, which is meant to mould to the contours of your body when you lie on it.

You get your choice of two different comfort grades: Aerocell for slightly firmer support, or Plush Comfort for a softer feel. It’s the Plush Comfort version that we took a closer look at in the Which? test lab.

The Plush Comfort mattress comes with a removable, washable cover. It’s also available on a ’60 Night Comfort Trial’, which gives you some time to experience the memory foam before you decide whether to part with your money.

Can this Dormeo mattress guarantee a peaceful sleep? Read our full Dormeo Octasmart Essentials Memory – Plush Comfort review for the answer.

MattressNextDay Coolflex Adapt V60 Mattress (£450)

A sub-£500 mattress made up of orthopaedic and memory foam. The manufacturer very boldly claims you’re looking at ‘one of the most comfortable and high-tech memory foam mattresses around.’ That’s an ambitious claim that only our expert mattress tests can get to the bottom of.

The Coolflex Adapt V60 mattress has a base formed from orthopaedic foam. Above that, there’s a layer of memory foam to support your weight and relieve pressure points along your spine, shoulders and hips.

This single-sided mattress doesn’t need to be flipped over (it comes with a removable, washable cover), but there are no grips or handles to help you move it around.

This mattress is marketed as a medium to firm mattress. See how our independent lab tests rated firmness with our full MattressNextDay Coolflex Adapt V60 Mattress review.

Alongside the mattresses we’ve listed above, we’ve also recently reviewed the following alternatives:

Does a mattress really affect sleep?

Absolutely. Most adults need between six and nine hours of sleep a night, but if you’re trying to snooze on a mattress that’s uncomfortable, you’ll have trouble drifting off.

Remember – quantity of sleep and quality of sleep are two very different things. A poor-quality mattress won’t give your body the support it needs, which can potentially cause you to sleep in an unnatural position. Sleeping awkwardly could lead to back pain and general soreness, which is the last thing you want to be dealing with if you’re in need of a decent night’s rest.

While some people prefer a firmer mattress to rest on, others will appreciate that cradled feeling you can get from a soft memory foam mattress. Our expert mattress tests assess firmness so you can filter based on your own personal preference.

Can a mattress cause insomnia?

If you suffer from insomnia, you’re likely to find it hard to getting to sleep, staying asleep or both. Lying wide awake in the middle of the night when you need an early start can be very frustrating, but making some changes to your bed could have a positive effect.

According to the NHS website, an uncomfortable bed is one of the most common causes of insomnia. Ensuring that your mattress, pillows and covers all offer plenty of support and comfort is crucial in making sure you can sleep peacefully.

Five tips on falling asleep

1. Listen to relaxing music

Unwinding with some calming music can help to clear your mind of any distractions or stress that has built up during the day.

You have plenty of options in terms of where you listen to your music. You could buy a physical CD, or download some relaxation melodies for free through music streaming services such as Apple Music or Spotify. Shopping for some noise-cancelling headphones could help you drown out loud noises if other people in the house are still awake.

If you own a smart speaker that sits at the side of your bed, you can try using some voice-activated relaxation apps. Headspace is a popular one for this – create an account and you have instant access to daily meditation and sleep exercises.

Invest in a wireless speaker to help you catch some Zs. See our full range of wireless, smart and Bluetooth speaker reviews.

2. Exercise during the day

Keeping active during the day will leave you feeling sleepier once the evening rolls around. Muscles that have been working hard need time to recover and your body knows it.

With many of us working from home and unable to go to the gym due to restrictions, exercising in the living room is often more convenient (and cheaper, potentially). If you’ve got the space, consider investing in an exercise bike, treadmill, rowing machine or cross trainer. These machines can help to improve your cardio fitness and strengthen your arms and legs.

If you don’t want to spend money on larger home gym equipment, think about picking up some smaller exercise accessories. You could try foam rollers (to improve blood circulation), resistance bands (for working specific muscle groups), skipping ropes or weights.

Our expert exercise equipment guides explain everything you need to know about setting up a workout space in your home.

3. Stick to a schedule

NHS guidance suggests going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Stick to a pattern and, before long, your body will adjust to this new routine. Committing to a strict schedule will ensure you’re suitably tired in the evening when it’s time to wind down.

To help you stay relaxed, try to avoid big meals at night. Keep your hands away from the TV remote right before going to bed, too – the bright light from the TV will make you feel alert.

4. Try yoga

Studies suggest that practising yoga is a stress-busting activity that can help you get some shut-eye in the evenings. Most types of yoga are centred around breath control, with some incorporating meditation techniques.

It’s easy to get started. All you need is a flat, open space and a yoga mat to provide a comfortable surface. Typically, yoga mats measure around 173cm (68 inches) long and 61cm (24 inches) wide, so bear that in mind when you’re picking a spot to stretch out in.

Grab your yoga mat, put on your yoga pants and read through our expert guide on how to set up a home yoga studio for beginners.

5. Make sure your bedroom is a suitable temperature

Trying to get some much-needed rest in a room that’s too hot or too cold is tricky – make sure your room is cool (not cold) if you want a good night’s sleep.

So, what sort of temperature is ideal? Since your body heat peaks in the evening and drops when you’re asleep, studies suggest that somewhere between 16°C to 18°C is ideal.

Temperature aside, you’ll also want to make sure your bedroom is kitted out with thick curtains or blinds to block out light. Eye masks and ear plugs can also help.

What is the best mattress for a good night’s sleep?

To pick out the best mattress money can buy, every model we score is sent off to the Which? test lab.

From there, we run a series of tests to see how the mattress holds up over time. We roll heavy barrels over each mattress 30,000 times to simulate 10 years of use, so you can pick a bed that best suits your needs and you have a good understanding of how it will fare over time.

To test how well a mattress supports your back while you sleep, we also analyse the shape of a person’s spine at 36 different points while they lay flat on the mattress.

Find out which mattresses have soared through our rigorous lab tests. Head over to our mattress reviews to compare options whatever your budget.



source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/01/top-mattresses-and-tips-on-how-to-get-a-good-nights-sleep/
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