What goes inside a mattress?
Last updated: November 2023
The three most common layers in a mattress
- Support
- Comfort
- Cover
1. The support layer
The support layer of a mattresses makes up the core and sits beneath the comfort and cover layers. This is where the support for your spine is upheld, along with helping the comfort layers to distribute your body weight. Support layers are most often made from springs or foam.
Springs
Either made with traditional or pocket springs, this type of support layer helps to hold your body up from edge to edge.
Foam
A foam support layer is usually high in density for extra strength and durability. They are also often made with hypoallergenic properties.
2. The comfort layer
The comfort layer forms the middle section of the mattress – the part that gives you cushioning and luxuriousness. If your mattress is double sided, you’ll get two comfort layers on either side of the mattress. Comfort layers are most often made from memory foam, latex, gel, natural, or synthetic fibres.
Memory foam
Memory foam is what gives you a soothing, sinking-in feeling when you relax into the comfort layer. It adjusts to the contours of your body for pressure relief.
Natural
There are many different types of natural fillings, but our most popular comfort layer fibres include: cotton, silk, wool, mohair, hemp and cashmere. Fibres such as these contain natural temperature-regulating properties and luxurious softness.
Latex
Latex is a natural material that’s responsive, hypoallergenic, resistant to mould, mildew and even dust mites. It also helps ease pressure points.
Gel
Our Gel mattresses contain a comfort foam layer that’s infused with gel for a cooling experience and a relaxing sinking-in feeling.
Synthetic
Synthetic comfort layers are mostly made of polyester. Polyester is our budget friendly option but with great durability, breathability, and it can be recycled too.
3. The cover
The cover layer of a mattress makes up the top layer – the sleeping surface. Covers are typically hardwearing yet soft to the touch and can sometimes be removed for machine washing.
Damask covers
A majority of our mattresses are finished with a Belgian damask cover that’s made from viscose. This plant-based material is breathable and woven with a soft-to-the-touch finish that doesn’t bobble or stretch.
Knitted covers
Knitted mattress cover provide a cosy and soft finish with breathability at the same time, thanks to the open-weave structure.
Cover finishes
These extras provide added comfort and durability.
Quilted
Quilting provides a soft and tactile finish that’s smooth to sleep on.
Handtufted
This traditional method of finishing a mattress ensures that the layers remain in tact and aligned. It also gives the mattress a bouncy, contoured finish. Tufting pulls together each layer throughout the mattress and then binds it at the top, usually with a fabric petal.
Pillow top
Some of our more high-end mattresses come with an added layer – a pillow top. This is a cushioned piece on top of the mattress for extra luxuriousness.