Padding

• Plush-firm mattresses are made with soft padding on top; comprised of cotton, foam or polyester fiber, this padding creates a soft and comfortable sleeping surface. Typically there are 1 to 4 inches of padding on the top of a plush-firm mattress. The padding layers are what make the mattress feel as though it is sinking beneath you when you lay down. Select a mattress with cotton padding for the most breathable surface. It will maintain consistent comfort as the mattress wears over time.
  
  

Support

• The support in a plush-firm mattress is important; it comes from the innerspring system. The right level of support will keep your spine in correct alignment and reduce muscle soreness. The support system will eventually begin to wear out and not provide the same level of comfort that it once did, but springs made from quality materials will last longer. Select a mattress with more than an average number of coils (at least 375 for a queen size), wire with a 15-gauge thickness or less (more durable) and coils with five or more rotations for durable support.
  
  

Considerations

• Plush-firm mattresses are often too thick for standard pocket-fitted sheets; measure the thickness of your mattress before buying sheets to ensure they will fit. If yours is thick, look for deep-pocket fitted sheets. If the padding of a plush-firm mattress is very thick, it can make the bed so tall that getting into and out of bed is difficult or the mattress is too thick for the headboard to show. If yours is too thick, use a step stool or purchase a foundation with a lower thickness to compensate for the extra height.
  
  

Suggested Users

• Plush-firm mattresses are ideal for side sleepers because they conform to your body and absorb the weight of pressure points. Some back sleepers are comfortable on plush-firm mattresses due to the good support and soft cushion. Most stomach sleepers are not comfortable on these mattresses because there is too much padding. People who are heavy find that plush-firm mattresses wear out and sag sooner than firmer beds do.