Pillow top mattresses are a modern invention. These mattresses serve as a great and kind of luxurious alternative to bed toppers, as you end up paying more in the first place but you’ll be getting a higher standard of quality as a consequence of it. In any case, this article will guide you through the most important things you should know about pillow-top mattresses and why you might want one right now.
How to Know if You Need a Pillow Top Mattress
If you’ve never heard of pillow top mattresses before, then it’s hard for you to tell whether or not you might need one. However, there are three basic questions that you may ask yourself to find out if it’s time for you to give one of these super comfortable beds a try.
How do You Sleep?
You’d be surprised to see how some people sleep. Some sleeping positions seem so uncomfortable than they might appear unfathomable for some people. However, if you’re one of those who likes to sleep on very awkward positions, then you might want to give one of these mattresses a try.
Pillow top mattresses are known to increase the comfort that people feel when they sleep, mainly because of the incredible extra layer of support that they offer to sleepers. If you sleep on your sides but you change to your back during the night, then you might want to give one of these beds a try. The results will surprise you for good.
Consider Your Price Range
If you’ve tried to shop for a good hybrid mattress before but you’ve been put out by the price, then you’ll want to take a look at some of the best pillow tops on the market. Even though these beds are not as cheap as other models, you’ll still end up paying less for a pillow top mattress than you would pay for a coil and latex hybrid.
This is mainly because the added layer is on top of the bed, which takes away incorporation costs to the build.
Have You Tried Toppers?
The best way to know whether you need a pillow top mattress is to try a bed topper first. Pillow top mattresses tend to be like a better version of toppers, as they provide even more comfort than any topper on the market would. This is because the added layer on top of a pillow top bed is far thicker than a regular bed topper, which allows you to sink and contour better on the bed.
In any case, it’s always going to be more expensive to buy a pillow top bed rather than a regular bed with a topper, so it’s up to you to decide which one to get. Do keep in mind that pillow tops offer better comfort, though.
Types of Pillow Top Mattresses
Now that you know whether you might want to try a pillow top bed or not, it’s time to learn which types of pillow top beds exist. In fact, there’s a consideration that you might want to know in terms of lingo: some people refer to Euro top mattresses to those that have an attached top, while the term or pillow top refers to both beds that have attached tops as well as loosely fit ones.
Each type of bed has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, but it ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference and convenience. Some people would rather have a loose top so they can remove it whenever they like, while others prefer attached tops to prevent unwanted detaching. Euro top beds do look like the added layer is part of the build, and some people definitely prefer that.
Loosely Fit Top
Don’t get us wrong, with loosely fit we don’t mean that it will come off in the middle of the night. A loosely fit top means that you can clearly see the layer of comfort being placed on top of the mattress itself, as if it was a bed topper being placed on your mattress. Loosely fit tops are very common and high-quality beds with these tops are extremely popular in the modern market.
Attached Top – Euro Top Mattress
Beds with an attached top are the most commonly known types of pillow top mattresses in the world. These are the most bought as well, as the attached top serves as an extra layer to the mattress that creates comfort and stays there to form part of the bed’s build.
You might even own one of these and you haven’t even realized, because Euro tops aim to mimic the extra layer as if it was part of the mattress as a whole.
What You Should Know Before Buying a Pillow Top Mattress
Sure, buying a pillow top mattress seems to be the most advantageous thing in the world. However, you might want to take a couple of factors into consideration before making your purchase. With every advantage also comes a negative point, and failing to consider them might lead to leaving you unsatisfied after trying out your new mattress.
Don’t worry, though – there aren’t too many negatives about the pillow top mattress, and the pros far outweigh the cons!
They Retain Heat
This is not really a negative for everyone, as it depends on personal preference. However, the added layer on top of the mattress makes the bed retain more heat as a whole, which can lead to people sleeping warmer even when you use no covers at night. Those who sleep in cold areas might want to buy one of these beds, though.
However, the heating of a pillow top mattress can be easily counteracted by sleeping in a cool environment. This will prevent the overall bed from retaining heat, so the top will most likely remain cool during the night.
They Need Extra Care
Having an extra layer on top of an already assembled bed means that you’ll need to take a lot of care for it when washing it as well as when you put on the sheets and take them off. This is especially true for beds that aren’t the traditional Euro top design. You’ll need to be careful with how you deal with the mattress if you wish for it to remain useful for a long amount of time.
The main source of concern for the care of a pillow top mattress comes with moving it. You need to be extremely careful if you don’t want it to receive unnecessary damage.
Why Purchase a Pillow Top Mattress?
Now that you know the downsides of a pillow top mattress, you might want to consider why some people would rather buy one of these over a regular bed.
Let’s face it, pillow tops have a lot of advantages and they make your sleep much more comfortable, but you’ll want to know the exact reasons why before you decide to make your purchase. There are three main advantages when purchasing a pillow top mattress, and those are:
It Feels Better Than a Topper
A Pillow top mattress’ top layer feels much better and provides a lot more comfort than a regular bed topper. That’s because the upper layer which stands above the mattress is thicker, and given that in most cases it’s made out of cotton, the way in which the mattress contours around your body tends to be a lot better and provides a much more natural feel to your body.
Some people might prefer toppers if their bed is already contouring enough, but an added layer of extra comfort is generally a good decision.
Provides Better Motion Isolation
Mattresses with coils on the inside usually require an extra layer on top to provide better motion isolation. Coils tend to make motion reverberate across the bed, which can be extremely inconvenient at times – especially if you sleep with a partner. In any case, an extra layer on top of the bed usually diminishes the motion isolation issues of coils while keeping the bounciness and extra comfort provided.
Motion isolation is usually an issue in most innerspring beds, so purchasing an innerspring mattress with a pillow top can be one of the smartest decisions that you’ll make for your quality of life. In any case, you could also opt for a high-quality hybrid, but the purchase will end up being much more expensive.
Softens the Coils and Reliefs Pain
This added layer on top of the mattress doesn’t only help you reduce motion; it will also increase the softness of the bed. This is also very useful on latex and coils beds, which tend to be generally firmer than pure foam mattresses.
This also reliefs a lot of pain on your sides if you’re a side sleeper, as it will allow you to sink more and prevent shoulder and arm pains from developing during the night. Pillow top mattresses aren’t as effective in dealing with back pain, though, as the upper layer isn’t firm enough to keep your spine aligned.
