Depending on the type of sofa bed you’ve purchased and how often you sleep on it, a mattress topper might offer some additional comfort and support. Some customers find the cushions of a sofa bed too firm or too warm, preventing them from getting a good night’s sleep.
If this sounds familiar, then a mattress topper may be the solution. But with so many different options out there, which is the best choice for helping you stay asleep without tossing and turning and waking up groggy with a stiff back?
The Benefits of Sleeping on a Mattress Topper
Modern sofa beds are designed for double duty as both a sofa and a bed, which means long-lasting dependability is a top priority in the design and manufacture of these products.
Since the seat cushions of the sofa also act as the sleeping surface of the bed, they are made to be firm and resilient, able to withstand elevated levels of wear and tear as a result of the multifunctionality of this type of furniture.
Adding a mattress topper can give you options for adjusting the sleeping surface to make the area softer, so that it conforms to your body shape and provides a more natural contour and flexibility as you rest. On the other hand, a sofa bed with cushions that are too soft can be made firmer with the right mattress topper in place.
Furthermore, a mattress topper can offer you support at the areas along the body that need it most. A little extra thickness, roughly one to four inches more, can make a world of difference to protect the spine, the neck,and your joints from pain and soreness due to inadequate support and pressure distribution.
When choosing a mattress topper, you’ll find many different materials offering a range of firmness levels. So you don’t need to settle for a one-size-fits-all surface adjustment to your sofa bed, you can purchase a topper in a range of firmness levels much like you would a traditional bed mattress.
Mattress Topper Options
It’s all about the level of comfort that you prefer and there are a number of options from which to choose. Selecting the mattress topper that’s right for you might take a little trial and error at first, but let’s review some of the most popular choices that are currently available to help you decide which is best.
Memory Foam
Memory foam mattress toppers are extremely popular because of their malleability, conforming to the outline of the body for a snug fit. The soft texture and flexible foam surface can be very inviting at first, but some consumers might find memory foam too soft and too flexible, offering less contour support than other options on the list.
On the plus side, memory foam toppers are among the most affordable options out there which might explain why these versions are so popular.
Latex
Many of the drawbacks that you may find with memory foam do not exist with latex mattress toppers. For starters, the material offers far more support for the spine by contouring instead of conforming to the shape of your body. You can still enjoy that malleable flexibility but with added thickness for those who prefer a bit more firmness in their mattress topper.
This option is also ideal for consumers who want something that won’t make them sleep hot in the middle of the night. Latex offers more breathability than memory foam so it won’t retain body heat and keep you feeling too warm. Even more of an advantage to latex, it’s one of the most durable materials on the list to withstand the level of wear and tear that comes from consistent use.
Gel Memory Foam
All right, maybe you’re sold on the idea of memory foam but you still want the cooling properties and pressure relief that traditional memory foam toppers fail to provide. You’re in luck, because a gel memory foam mattress topper offers many of the same advantages of a standard version but the gel component provides a cooler material that won’t trap heat against your body while you sleep.
That cooling gel is also better at distributing your body weight more evenly across the surface of the mattress topper, that means fewer pressure points and less pain and soreness when you wake up the next morning.
Gel infused memory foam tends to cost more than standard memory foam mattress toppers so keep that in mind when you start searching for the product that fits best for you and your sofa bed.
Pillowtop
Sometimes all you need for a restful sleep is a thin layer of extra comfort that will tuck in well under a fitted sheet and offers enough support without the added expense that comes with some of the other options on our list. If that’s what you’re looking for, then what you really need is a pillowtop mattress topper.
These are thinner options with less lower firmness levels than memory foam or latex, but instead, pillowtop mattress toppers bring a luxurious softness to an otherwise firm sofa bed surface for a cozy, comfortable night’s sleep.
Pillowtop options are also known as down or feather toppers but you can also find versions that contain cotton or wool filling. Depending on the type you select, some materials have better cooling properties, heat retention, and air flow than other materials=. This all comes down to personal preference but, in every instance, don’t expect a pillowtop to bring added support for the neck and spine.
The Best Mattress Topper for You
If your sofa bed is more comfortable as a sofa than a bed, you can do something about it with one of the sofa bed mattress topper options on this list. You don’t need to sacrifice good quality sleep for the space-saving convenience and functionality that a sofa bed provides.
Consider all of the options and the advantages that a sofa bed mattress topper offers and see for yourself how much better you can sleep with just a little extra comfort.
