5 Ways On How To Make a Mattress Softer

June 15, 2021 | Casper Editorial Team

The night is quiet, the lights are dim, and after a long day, your mind and body are ready to fall into sleep’s warm embrace. But if your transportation to dream station is a stiff, uncomfortable mattress, you may find it difficult to get the good night’s sleep your body needs to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.  

So, how do you deal with a mattress too firm? Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of tips for how to make a mattress softer, including adding a mattress topper and finding the perfect bed base. 

In fact, by following our top five mattress-softening suggestions, you can transform your bed into a cozy, cloud-like carriage ideal for whisking you off to dreamland. 

#1 Break in Your Mattress 

When you purchase a new mattress, you may find yourself daydreaming about leaping into its plushy comfort layer as soon as it arrives. But often, new firm mattresses will feel firm because they haven’t been slept on yet. This is especially true in the case of mattresses that are delivered in boxes and need time to decompress after their long (and cramped) journey.

All mattresses require a breaking-in period to soften as they adjust to your body weight and sleep position. Keep in mind that mattress firmness can also have to do with material. Therefore, the type of material your mattress is made of can impact the amount of time needed to break it in.

For a general idea of the break-in period for your mattress type, here’s a quick guide: 

  • Memory foam – A memory foam mattress, which is composed of multiple layers, often requires a longer breaking-in period. For this mattress type, ideal softness is typically reached by around the sixty-day mark.1 
  • Spring – Because spring mattresses are designed to adjust to your body weight, their breaking-in period should only last about thirty days.1
  • Latex – Due to the amount of air they contain, latex mattresses boast the shortest breaking-in times, reaching peak levels of softness in about 2 to 14 days.1 

While your mattress takes some time to get used to your body weight, your body is also adjusting to your new mattress. In fact, whether you’re a side, back, or stomach sleeper, your body may take thirty days to adjust to a new Casper mattress. The reason? Many people have adopted poor posture, and firm mattresses that offer proper support to the spine, hips, and back take some getting used to.

#2 Support Your Mattress with a Bed Base 

The bed frame you choose can also aid in achieving a softer mattress. When determining how to make your sleep surface softer, mattress material isn’t the only factor to consider. Overall mattress support also plays a significant role in achieving softness. And just as your mattress supports your body, a bed base can likewise support your mattress. 

The most common bed bases are: 

  • Box springs – A box spring, which is often hollow and made of wood or metal, are designed to lift and support an innerspring mattress, allowing for added bounce and comfort. 
  • Bed slats – Bed slats can be made of wood or metal planks.. They typically come in two forms—standard and sprung. While standard planks are flat and sturdy, sprung planks are curved and flexible. For a softer mattress feel, choose sprung planks spaced no more than three inches apart.2 

With perfectly spaced slats, our strong and sturdy Mattress Foundation is the perfect box spring alternative for mattress support. It’s the perfect base for your mattress and ensures that your mattress stays comfortable.

#3 Add a Mattress Topper or Mattress Pad 

If you’re looking to sleep smarter (and harder) and wonder how to make a firm mattress softer, consider adding a mattress topper or mattress pad to your existing mattress. By adding a topper that adds to mattress thickness, you can experience enhanced pressure point relief and optimal spinal alignment to avoid waking up with aches and pains. 

Mattress toppers are available in various materials, so you can choose the best mattress topper that’s tailored to your comfort needs. Our Casper Foam Mattress Topper is created for deep relaxation. With three inches of breathable comfort, you’ll be kept cool and snug all night long.

Our luxuriously plush topper adds Casper comfort to any type of mattress. Sleep comfortably through the night with an extra layer of soft support.

#4 Rotate or Flip Your Mattress 

In addition to understanding how to make a mattress more comfortable, you can also benefit from understanding how to keep a mattress comfortable. After all, your mattress is an investment and should last for years of dozing, dreaming, and even the occasional drooling. 

Ever wondered, how to fix a sagging mattress or prevent indents from forming that can ultimately lead to sagging? Rotating or flipping your mattress is one way! But, how often should you rotate your mattress? To make the most out of your new mattress, and keep it soft for years to come, rotate or flip it every 3 to 6 months.1 

  • Rotating a firmer mattress – To rotate a mattress, spin the bed 180 degrees. The sleep surface that once supported your feet should now be supporting your head, while the area once supporting your head will now be supporting your feet. 
  • Flipping a mattress – To flip a mattress, turn the entire mattress upside-down so that the top side now faces the floor. However, before flipping a mattress, be mindful that some mattresses shouldn’t be flipped. If you flip a pillow top mattress, for instance, you lose its top layer of added plushness.

#5 Adjust the Temperature 

If If you’re sleeping on a new memory foam mattress that feels a bit too stiff, the issue may be the temperature of your room. This is because memory foam is affected by heat. In fact, body heat makes this foam material more pliable, allowing it to effectively contour to the shape of our bodies.

Wondering how to make your mattress softer when you’re sleeping on a memory foam bed?  

Try raising the thermostat to help warm up your room, as well as your mattress to capture a good night’s sleep. 

For the Dreamiest Sleep, Choose Casper

By snuggling into a soft, yet supportive mattress, you can guarantee nights of satisfying sleep and mornings of feeling like you’re on cloud nine. But if our mattress-softening suggestions aren’t providing any pressure relief, it may be time for a total replacement. 

For that, we can help. 

Made from layers of breathable, ergonomically designed foam, all of our Casper mattresses cradle your body while keeping you cool to achieve ultimate sleep comfort. And if you’re looking to add even more softness without sacrificing the support your spine and hips need, the Nova Hybrid Mattress comes with a velvety soft top comfort layer to give you that supportive cloud-like sensation you’ve been searching for. 

When it comes to finding the right mattress, go ahead and relax. You have Casper.

Sources: 

  1. Cnet. How to break in a new mattress: What to do and how long it takes. https://www.cnet.com/health/sleep/how-to-break-in-your-new-mattress-what-to-do-and-how-long-it-takes/ 
  2. Sleep Advisor. What Can You Do To Make A Hard Bed Softer & More Comfortable? https://www.sleepadvisor.org/how-to-make-mattress-softer/