Good sleep and the path to the ideal mattress with the right mattress advice

We spend around a third of our lives sleeping, because our body and mind depend on the nightly rest phase: While information is processed and stored on a cognitive level, our body tries to compensate for the work-related fatigue of the day overnight. To do this, the body should be able to lie as relaxed as possible so that the spine is relieved and the pressure is taken off the vulnerable intervertebral discs.

If you want to buy a mattress today, there are many questions to consider. We would like to make it easier for you to find the right mattress and provide you with the knowledge you need to prevent a bad purchase.

What should a mattress do?

An optimally fitting mattress should guarantee restful, restorative sleep. During the night’s rest, the hips and shoulders should sink far enough into the sleeping surface while the spine remains horizontal. This allows the muscles and ligaments to relax and the sensitive intervertebral discs to regenerate. Conversely, an unsuitable mattress can lead to sleep problems and physical damage. Choosing the right mattress therefore depends on individual criteria such as body shape, weight and sleeping habits.

Which mattress material is right for me?

The choice of material is a decision that should be made on the basis of individual criteria. Each individual mattress type has different materials with individual properties and advantages.

• Natural latex: high-priced variant for comfortable nights

Natural latex mattresses mould well to the body of the person lying on them and promise comfortable nights. However, these mattresses are very heavy and therefore difficult to turn over. They are also one of the most expensive mattresses in the mattress segment.

• Barrel pocket spring cores ensure good ventilation

Innerspring mattresses consist of numerous metal springs that are connected to each other. The advantage of the spring core lies first of all in its basic property of supporting the body with spring elements. The springs on which most of the body weight rests are pressed downwards. At the same time, the lighter parts of the body are supported when lying down and thus find the right support. The spring core quickly wicks away moisture and heat and ensures good ventilation and a dry sleeping environment. Spring core mattresses are particularly recommended for people who sweat a lot at night.

• Cold foam moulds to the body and retains heat well

The particular advantage of cold foam lies in its composition. On the one hand, the material is open-pored with high breathability, on the other hand it is nevertheless stable with high permanent elasticity and enormous adjustment behaviour. Although the material wicks away moisture, it retains heat better than the innerspring version and is therefore suitable for people who tend to shiver at night. When buying, you should pay attention to the so-called density: This indicates the density of the foam used and the higher it is, the higher the quality of the mattress.

• Memory foam: high-tech core with unique properties

The advantage of a viscoelastic foam core is that it reacts to body heat. In addition to the head, the shoulders and buttocks are the heaviest parts of the human body. It is therefore important that these areas can sink into a mattress when lying down, while the lighter parts of the body need to be supported. As viscoelastic foams only give way where heat is released, only the heavier parts of the body sink into the mattress.

You can find more detailed information here:

• Barrel pocket spring core mattresses
• Natural latex mattress
• Cold foam mattress
• Comfort foam mattress
• Memory foam mattress

Mattresses – perfectly tailored to your sleeping needs

Sleeping positions and back posture

As individual as people and their sleeping habits are, so should your mattress be. Sleeping behaviour and physical characteristics play a major role in choosing the right mattress.

For back sleepers, the mattress should ideally support the lumbar spine and neck area. They do not sink in too deeply and the natural S-shape of the spine is maintained. For side sleepers, the sleeping surface should give way at the shoulders and pelvis. They sink in slightly at these points and the spine remains straight. In principle, therefore, different selection criteria apply for back sleepers than for side sleepers. However, most people change their sleeping position several times during the night, so the mattress should be comfortable in both sleeping positions.

Your sleeping positions

• Back sleeper

In this sleeping position, the pressure can be reduced very well and, if the bed system is adjusted correctly, the spine can stretch again overnight. In contrast to the side sleeping position, the pressure points are distributed over a larger area and do not have to sink in as deeply.

• Side sleepers

Side sleepers achieve relief when the mattress gives way in the pelvic and shoulder area and supports the lumbar spine and legs – the right pillow is also essential for a relaxed neck in the lateral position.

• Stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers are usually advised to get into the habit of sleeping on their side or back, as the stomach position is considered the unhealthiest sleeping position. However, with a flat pillow and an appropriately firm bed system, you can also sleep comfortably in the prone position.

Influence of physical characteristics

In order for the mattress to take account of the individual body shape, body size, length ratios and physical characteristics play a role in the choice of mattress. Always make sure that the right lying zone covers the right part of your body. Taller and shorter people should therefore pay particular attention to their usual lying position in bed and choose the mattress and slatted frame setting accordingly.

Back posture

• Flat back

The motto “less is more” applies to a flat back. Many zones of varying firmness and strong support in the lumbar spine area tend to be detrimental. The subjective feeling of comfort should be the deciding factor when choosing the degree of firmness.

• Round back

To minimise pressure on the upper back, the mattress should be higher and softer. In addition to the right mattress, a suitable pillow is crucial to counteract neck problems.

• Hollow back

Gentle support for the lower back can help here. It is important that the supporting elements of the mattress and slatted frame are matched to the body size and positioned accordingly.

The right mattress selection – body type and heat type are decisive

HEIA body types:

Body shape is crucial for women and men when buying a mattress

Just like weight and height, body shape should also be taken into account when choosing a mattress, as the requirements for the mattress also change depending on your build. Below we have listed an overview of the most common body types, which are labelled with the letters H, E, I and A:

H-body type:

• This body type is usually a man who is tall and powerfully built. The upper body has a compact shape with broad shoulders and stomach. The hips, on the other hand, are narrower in proportion. The mattress for H-types should optimally support the rather heavy upper body and relieve pressure.

E-body type:

• E-types are also tall, rather heavy and usually male. They are slim or of normal build and have broad shoulders and a narrow pelvis. Overall, however, their build is very uniform. E-types need a mattress that supports and relieves the whole body to the same extent.

I-body type:

• I-types have a rather petite build and are relatively light. They are generally not too tall. Their shoulders and pelvis are not protruding, but rather narrow and uniform. Mattresses for I-types should not be too firm but should still support the body gently.

A-body type:

• A-types are characterised by rather narrow shoulders and a pronounced pelvis. The centre of gravity of A-types is in the lower body area around the pelvis and thighs. They therefore need a mattress that allows the pelvis to sink in slightly while supporting the thigh area.

There are also the following body types for all those who do not fit into the above body shapes:

O-body type:

• The O-body type is normally somewhat heavier, has a rounded build and has its centre of gravity in the middle. A firmer mattress should be chosen here, which nevertheless ensures pleasant pressure behaviour. This can be achieved with a soft cover or a separate mattress topper, for example.

V-body type:

• This often muscular body type is characterised by broad shoulders and narrow hips. While the shoulder zone should allow the shoulders to sink in, the lumbar area should be gently supported.

X-body type:

• For this body type, the main pressure points are in the pelvic and shoulder areas, which are roughly the same width. An even mattress and the correct adjustment of the slat base will provide the desired level of comfort.

Which mattress firmness level is right for you?

The firmness level reflects the firmness of the mattress. It results from factors such as the material and the height of the mattress. Firmness levels are often specified in several stages from soft to hard. However, the degree of firmness cannot be measured or standardised. Each manufacturer has its own categorisation. However, it is important that body size and individual comfort levels are taken into account in addition to weight. For this reason, the firmness levels should be used as an approximate guide. Your personal, subjective lying comfort may therefore differ slightly from the recommendation. The most common firmness grades are H2 and H3.

Our recommendation as a rough guide is as follows:

• Firmness level 2 = medium firm up to approx. 80 kg body weight
• Firmness level 3 = firm approx. 81-110 kg body weight
• Firmness level 4 = very firm approx. 111-130 kg body weight

Heat types

If you tend to sweat easily, you should pay attention to the breathability of your mattress. Pocket spring mattresses are a good choice here, but modern cold foam mattresses also have good ventilation.
On the other hand, people who get cold easily at night will make a good choice with a visco foam mattress. The heat retention of pocket spring core or cold foam mattresses can be further increased with a topper.

Experts advise: Two mattresses for the double bed

Couples should buy two separate mattresses for their double bed. This is because if one of the two partners is heavier than the other on a double mattress, the mattress will sink to their side and can no longer properly support the other partner. In addition, each person turns several times a night. This movement is important so that the intervertebral discs can recover, but it disturbs the partner’s sleep.