All about sofa mattresses

Finding a good mattress for sleeping on a sofa-book or "American folding bed" is a task that should be solved even when choosing the piece of furniture itself. Otherwise, you will have to forget about comfortable rest at night. An overview of leveling sofa mattresses - from simple to orthopedic and other models that are convenient to use and store - will help to understand which topper is best for you.

A mattress on a sofa, or a topper, is a thin, not more than 10 cm, layer that is laid on a bed of folding furniture. Such bases can have orthopedic properties or memory effect, depending on the filler. But the main purpose of the toppers is to level the bed in those areas where the joints in individual parts of the sofa structure fall. Mattresses of this type are not permanently left in place. In the daytime, they are rolled up, and the furniture itself is transformed. This is convenient when it comes to a guest bed that is not used daily.

Among the obvious advantages of sofa toppers are a number of factors.

1. Extending the service life of furniture upholstery. A thin mattress will prevent abrasion and help to evenly distribute the pressure on the filler. Accordingly, the sofa seat and backrest are less deformed during operation.

2. Adjust the hardness level. Even in the highest quality sofa, the filler is not designed for a comfortable sleep. This is furniture for short-term rest. Toppers solve this problem by allowing you to choose the level of back support, desired firmness and other characteristics based on the individual preferences of the wearer.

3. Sleeping place update. Sofas that have already been in use, but still do not require constriction, often have traces of deformation of the filler, irregularities. A thin mattress laid over the upholstery will help smooth out discomfort during sleep.

4. Elimination of differences between modular and sliding elements. It is they who most often make sleeping on the couch so uncomfortable. With the topper in place, you can even out problem areas in book sofas and folding beds.

5. Giving the sleeping place orthopedic properties... This point will be relevant if problems with the musculoskeletal system require replacing the usual sofa base with a stiffer or softer one.

Of course, a topper doesn't solve all problems. You also need to choose it correctly.

All existing sofa mattresses for sleeping can be divided into groups based on their purpose, filling, additional functions. This is what a simple classification looks like.

• By the method of attachment. There are mattresses with Velcro, with loop loops at the corners or with elastic bands. The second option is considered universal. It is easier to adapt to a “book” or “folding” sofa bed. Velcro is used where it is impossible to secure the mattress with elastic bands. Mostly in structures of complex shapes, on corner sofas.

• By the presence of an orthopedic effect. There are simply options for leveling irregularities that do not carry additional functions. They solve their problems. Orthopedic models are not only suitable for surface leveling.They are able to provide a comfortable back position during sleep, relieve stress from the spine, guaranteeing quality rest and relaxation.

• By the number of working parties. Mattresses are one-sided, with a certain degree of firmness, as well as two-layer, with different types of surfaces. For example, one half will be latex and the other half coconut coir.

• Spring loaded... This additional overhead mattress is equipped with a special block inside. It contains dependent or independent springs that provide an additional supporting effect.

• Springless... These mattresses are soft and firm, with different types of filling - from foam to options with a memory effect. Some models do not imply twisting action with them, for example, if there is a slab of coconut coir inside. Rolls can be stored and transported rolled up, they are light, rather soft and resilient.

• Inflatable... Rarely used removable option. Does not provide sufficient supportive effect, but may help to level the surface. For permanent use, such models are poorly suited.

Toppers are a special group of mattresses that are intended to be used in conjunction with the main bunk... They are used on a bed, if 2 different blocks are laid there, on a sofa with several sections. All toppers do not have a spring block, most of them are soft or medium in hardness. Different materials can be used as filler here.

1. Artificial latex... Hypoallergenic, hard, made from polymer raw materials. It has a service life of about 5-10 years and is relatively cheap.

2. PPU. Soft filler with good thermal conductivity. Polyurethane foam deforms faster than other fillers, the service life of mattresses with it does not exceed 2-3 years.

3. Memory foam... It is a “shape memory” foam that allows you to adapt the topper to the individual characteristics of the body. Mattresses with this filling are expensive but provide a high level of comfort while sleeping.

4. Coconut coir... Mattresses with this filling must not be rolled up. They can be produced in one-sided and double-sided versions. The coconut coir itself is quite tough, the material is considered orthopedic. The compressed fibers are very fragile; it is not recommended to exert significant mechanical stress on them.

5. Natural latex... Foamed resilient material made from natural raw materials. This filling is expensive and provides good back support during sleep. Keep in mind that direct contact with latex can cause allergic reactions in some people.

6. Wool... This type of filler is environmentally friendly, has good thermal conductivity, and is comfortable to sleep on. Hypoallergenic sheep or camel wool is used as stuffing.

Most of the mattress toppers have standard dimensions. Their width varies from 140 to 180 cm with a length of 1.8-2 m. You need to select a model for a specific sofa by manually measuring its unfolded berth. Some manufacturers have custom topper options. For example, on sofas without a folding mechanism with a depth of 70 cm or more, it is quite possible to find a suitable single mattress.

One-and-a-half toppers are available in a width range of 120-140 cm. They are best suited for book sofas and accordions. Special mattresses are produced for furniture with a round bed customized with a diameter of 200-230 cm.

The height of the product varies from 3 to 12 cm. For some manufacturers, the line is limited to a height of 20-100 mm.

Most manufacturers have their own models of thin mattresses up to 10 cm high, without springs. The rating of the best will allow you not to be mistaken with the choice of a company when buying a topper.

• "Promtex-Orient"... The company has many options for toppers of different rigidity, single and combined. This Russian manufacturer is ready to make custom-made mattresses. The size range of models is represented mainly by one and a half and double options.

• Comfort Line. The brand offers a personal touch for sofa owners. He even has special toppers for corner upholstered furniture. Most of the products can be bought in a different size range. There are natural and artificial fillers.

• Ascona. One of the most famous manufacturers of mattresses in Russia. The factory has a fairly wide range of thin sofa mattresses, there are even children's toppers for games and relaxation.

• Ormatek. The company manufactures a wide range of toppers. You can choose inexpensive options, taking into account the type of berth and the mechanism for transforming the sofa.

• Lonax... The brand pays great attention to comfort when creating mattresses. The main models in its line are soft or semi-rigid, with a thickness of 3 to 10 cm. There are options with natural latex inside, budget PPU-models with a thickness of 100 mm. Double layer toppers with 1 side of coconut fiber and perforated latex foam are perfect for a guest sofa.

• Sontelle... The firm specializes in the premium segment of the market. Its range includes thin mattresses-toppers made of natural latex and coconut coir, as well as with a memory effect for maximum comfort of a sleeping person.

• Mattress... The company produces the so-called futons - roll-up mattresses with PU foam filling. They are quite tall, but comfortable, they help to level out height differences.

And also high-quality, but not the cheapest, thin mattresses produced by brands Consul, IKEA. In the middle price segment, you should pay attention to products DreamLine, Dormeo, Senator and RollMatraz.

The type of sofa transformation mechanism does not have much effect on the selection of the mattress. For a “book” and for a folding version with a box for linen, it is better to choose curling models that can be easily stored inside a piece of furniture during the daytime.

In addition, there are other points to consider when choosing a mattress.

1. The degree of hardness. Here it is worth relying on the age of the people for whom the mattress is purchased. The elderly need a soft base, children, adolescents, people weighing more than 120 kg - hard, semi-soft models are considered universal, suitable for adults.

2. Density and elasticity. Toppers should not be too soft - they will deform easily, and the leveling effect will quickly disappear. It is important that the base is elastic, dense. Such mattresses are durable, they are not afraid of significant loads.

3. Appointment... For constant sleep on a daily basis, it is better to purchase a thin sofa mattress filled with memory foam or natural latex, which is convenient for rolling into a roll. It is definitely not worth saving on comfort. For a guest berth, curling models with PU foam or artificial latex inside are suitable - they are inexpensive, but quite comfortable.

4. Product weight. Since the mattress on the sofa has to be removed and cleaned daily, this factor must also be taken into account. The best toppers are lightweight and can be twisted and carried by one person.

5. Matching the size of the sofa... To obtain the desired leveling or orthopedic effect, the additional mattress must strictly correspond to them. The edges of the topper sticking out on the sides are difficult to fix properly if their dimensions are larger than the bed itself.

6. The presence of individual allergic reactions. They can be latex, dust, animal hair. There are fillers that are suitable for people with such disabilities.

7. Cover included. Of course, the product already has a mattress topper.But an additional protective layer of fabric that can be removed and washed will definitely not be superfluous. It is most convenient to choose toppers with covers with a zipper.

8. Budget... The most affordable mattresses are PU-filled mattresses. In the middle price category - artificial latex and combined solutions based on struttofiber, coconut coir. Premium fillings significantly increase the cost of the topper. This includes natural latex and memory foam.

Different types of fasteners are used to fix toppers. These can be elastic bands, Velcro or anti-slip loops. They must be fixed on the surface of the bed itself or on the frame before the bed is made.