Quick Answer: If your mattress is too firm, the most effective fixes are adding a soft mattress topper (memory foam or pillow-top), switching from a solid platform base to a box spring foundation, and allowing a 30-60 day break-in period for new mattresses. Most new mattresses soften somewhat with use before you need to take further action.
In This Guide
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Is Your Mattress Actually Too Firm?
Before taking action, it is worth knowing whether the mattress is genuinely too firm for your body, or whether it is new and simply needs time to settle. These are different problems with different solutions.
Signs that a mattress is too firm for your sleep position and body type:
- You wake with pressure pain at your hips, shoulders, or knees
- You feel like you are sleeping on top of the mattress rather than in it
- Side sleepers: your shoulder feels pushed up, causing neck and upper back strain
- The mattress has been in use for six or more months, so it is past the break-in period
Firmness and Pressure Relief: The Research
Research published in Applied Ergonomics (Verhaert et al., 2011) found that the ideal mattress maintains spinal alignment while distributing pressure evenly at contact points. Side sleepers require more pressure relief at the shoulder and hip than back or stomach sleepers. An overly firm mattress for a side sleeper can increase pressure at the shoulder and hip joint, reducing blood flow and causing the discomfort that leads to tossing and turning. The goal is not softness for its own sake, but appropriate pressure distribution for your body weight and sleep position.
8 min read
5 Ways to Make a Mattress Softer
1. Add a Soft Mattress Topper
A topper is the most effective and immediate way to add softness to a firm mattress. The right type depends on what kind of softness you want:
Topper Types for Softening
- Memory foam (2-4 inches, 3-5 lb density): Conforms to body shape and relieves pressure points. Best for side sleepers with hip or shoulder pain on a firm mattress. Goes softer than you expect after a few weeks of use.
- Soft latex (Talalay, ILD 14-24): Responsive and naturally breathable. Adds cushioning without the sinking feeling of memory foam. Good for those who find memory foam too enveloping.
- Pillow-top or down-alternative toppers: Adds loft and softness at the surface without changing the underlying support significantly. Good for people who just want a more plush feel without deep contouring.
Dorothy, Sleep Specialist: "When someone comes in saying their mattress is too hard, I ask what they sleep on and how long they have had it. If it is a new mattress, sometimes we just tell them to give it another month. If it has been there a while and it genuinely feels hard, a 2-3 inch memory foam topper can make a real difference for under a hundred dollars."
2. Switch from a Solid Platform to a Box Spring Foundation
The foundation under your mattress affects how it feels. A solid platform base creates a rigid, flat surface that transfers firmness upward. A box spring has an internal spring mechanism that adds a small amount of give. Switching from platform to box spring can make your mattress feel noticeably softer and more buoyant.
This works well for traditional innerspring mattresses but is less effective for memory foam and latex, which are generally designed for solid platforms. Check your mattress manufacturer's foundation recommendations before switching.
3. Raise Room Temperature Slightly
Memory foam and foam-heavy hybrid mattresses soften in warmer temperatures. The viscoelastic foam responds to both body heat and ambient temperature. If your bedroom is consistently cool (below 18°C), the mattress may feel harder than it would in a warmer room.
Raising the bedroom temperature to 19-21°C, or warming the bed with an electric blanket before getting in, can make a memory foam mattress feel noticeably softer without any physical changes to the mattress. This is a free fix worth trying first.
4. Rotate the Mattress
If one area of your mattress has broken in slightly from regular use and the rest remains firmer, rotating 180 degrees (head to foot) can distribute softening more evenly. This is most useful for mattresses less than two years old that have uneven wear patterns.
Flipping is also an option if your mattress is double-sided. Some single-sided mattresses are manufactured with different firmness levels on each side (comfort on top, firmer support underneath). Check the label and manufacturer before flipping, as most modern mattresses are single-sided.
Flippable Mattresses from Mattress Miracle
Our Sleep In flippable mattresses, Canadian-made and available at our Brantford West Street store, are designed to be used on both sides. One side is typically slightly softer than the other. If you bought a flippable mattress that feels too firm, try flipping it before trying any other fix. Call us at (519) 770-0001 if you are not sure whether your mattress is flippable.
5. Break It In Systematically
New mattresses, particularly those with high-density foam layers, can feel significantly firmer in the first few weeks than they will after regular use. Most manufacturers expect a 30-60 day break-in period. Some customers find the mattress feels significantly different at week six than it did on day one.
To speed up the break-in process: sleep on the mattress every night (not just occasionally), and you can also walk carefully across the surface to help compress the foam layers. This is especially relevant for all-foam mattresses where the foam needs repeated compression to reach its intended feel.
Special Case: A New Mattress That Feels Too Hard
If you bought a mattress recently and it feels harder than it felt in the showroom, there are a few likely explanations:
- Break-in effect: The showroom mattress has been slept on by hundreds of visitors. Yours is new and has not broken in.
- Different foundation: The showroom mattress was on a specific base. Your home foundation may be firmer, making the mattress feel harder than it did in store.
- Room temperature: Showrooms are often warm. A cooler bedroom will make foam feel firmer.
If you are within a sleep trial period (many Canadian mattress retailers offer 30-100 night trials), give the mattress the full trial period before requesting an exchange. Most mattresses that feel too firm on day one are noticeably different by week four.
When Softening Fixes Are Not Enough
If the mattress is simply wrong for your body type or sleep position, no amount of toppers or rotation will make it right long-term. Signs you need a different mattress rather than a softer one:
- Pain that has not improved after 60 days of use
- The mattress was selected primarily on price without testing for pressure relief
- Your sleep position or body weight has changed significantly since purchase
- You had no issues with your previous mattress and this one has never felt right
In these cases, the right answer is to discuss an exchange or upgrade. Talia, our showroom specialist, is good at identifying what firmness profile will work for your sleep position based on a brief conversation and a few minutes trying different options in-store.
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Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a new firm mattress to soften?
Most mattresses reach their intended feel within 30-60 days of regular nightly use. High-density foam mattresses can take closer to 60-90 days. If the mattress still feels too hard after 60 days of sleeping on it every night, it is likely not the right firmness for your body and a topper or exchange may be needed.
What kind of topper makes a mattress softer?
For pressure relief, a 2-3 inch medium-density memory foam topper (3-5 lb per cubic foot) is the most effective. For a softer feel without deep contouring, a soft Talalay latex topper (ILD 14-20) or a down-alternative pillow-top topper works well. Avoid high-density foam or latex with an ILD above 28, which will add firmness rather than softness.
Can I soften a spring mattress?
Yes. A soft memory foam or pillow-top topper is effective on any innerspring or hybrid mattress. You can also try adding a box spring if you are on a platform base, which adds a small amount of give to the feel. Rotating a spring mattress regularly ensures even break-in across the surface.
My mattress is firm and I wake with shoulder pain. What should I do?
Shoulder pain in a side sleeper is a common sign that the mattress does not have enough pressure relief at the shoulder. A 2-3 inch memory foam topper is usually the quickest fix. If the pain persists after trying a topper, the mattress may be wrong for your weight and sleep position and a consultation with a sleep specialist is the next step.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle , 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON · (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.