Your bed should be your safe haven, as you'll spend a considerable amount of time in it. Most people spend about one-third of their life asleep.

Given the amount of time you'll spend in bed, it's imperative that you find the ideal mattress for your sleep preferences. Pick the right mattress and enjoy quality sleep for years on end. Choose the wrong mattress and you'll find it difficult to get some much-need shut-eye.

A pillow top mattress is a popular choice. Many expect them to provide high-quality sleep, but they might not the right for you. Read on to learn all about them.

What is a Pillow Top Mattress?

Pillow tops are an ultra-plush mattress option. They feature innerspring construction like many typical mattresses but also contain an additional layer of soft padding on top.

These mattresses are among the softest mattresses on the market. Many consider them the height of luxurious sleeping and compare them to sleeping on a cloud. 

The padded layer that gives pillow tops their name is around two inches thick. It's sewed into the mattress itself so you won't have to worry about it shifting while you sleep. Of course, this also means that only certain kinds of pillow top mattresses should be flipped over.

Thanks to their innerspring construction, pillowtop mattresses can provide a respectable amount of support while remaining plush. This makes them a good option for a wide range of consumers.

Benefits of a Pillow Top Mattress

Buying a pillow top mattress has many benefits. They all contribute to a good night's sleep. 

Incredibly Soft

This is the main benefit of a pillow top mattress. They certainly live up to their reputation of being one of the softest mattresses on the market. Very few mattresses can compete with their padded layer.

You can even customize your pillow top. The best pillow top mattress features latex or memory foam as opposed to standard cotton.

Don't Disturb Your Partner

With a pillow top mattress, it's less likely that rolling over or leaving the bed will disturb your partner. This is especially true if you opt for a memory foam topper.

Affordability

High-end mattresses are too expensive for many to justify, but a pillow top mattress can offer similar comfort at a much lower price point. While they do cost a little more than a standard mattress, the difference in comfort level is worth it.

Weight Distribution

Pillow tops spread your body weight evenly over the top of the mattress. This takes the pressure off your joints, which can help you fall asleep sooner and improve the quality of your slumber.

Side sleepers will love the way that a pillow top mattress distributes their weight. These mattresses relieve the pressure a side sleeper puts on their hips and shoulders.

Back sleepers will also appreciate the support offered by a pillow top mattress. The mattress will conform to the shape of their back, providing good spinal support.

Limited Off-gassing

Some luxury mattresses like latex experience a phenomenon called "off-gassing" where dissolved gasses leak out of the mattress's material. This often creates an unpleasant odor.

Pillow top mattresses seldom experience this. Most users report no odors or evidence of off-gassing even if they opted for a latex topper.

Comfortable From the Start

Some mattresses require a break-in period before they contour to your body. With a pillow top mattress, you'll slumber in the utmost comfort on your very first night.

There's almost never a break-in period with these mattresses. It's an advantage of the plush topper.

Disadvantages of a Pillow Top Mattress

While pillow top mattresses have many incredible benefits, there are a few downsides to them. Consider these before investing in one.

Durability

Over time, the soft topper layer will exhibit some wear and tear. Your body eventually compresses this layer and gives it a saggy appearance. At this time, it may also feel less plush and offer less support.

Some also claim that pillow top mattresses won't last as long as traditional spring mattresses. This likely depends on the brand you purchase and the quality of materials used in the mattress's construction.

To keep your pillow top mattress soft and comfortable, you'll need to rotate the mattress regularly. This can help the topper layer retain its plushness. Plan to do this once every three months.

Warmer Sleep

If you're the kind of person that tends to overheat at night, then a pillow top mattress may not be for you. These mattresses have a tendency to retain body heat.

This is especially true if you purchase a pillow top with memory foam. Those toppers form to the body and won't let body heat dissipate.

May Not Offer Enough Support

Stomach sleepers may find that sleeping on a pillow top mattress isn't all it's cracked up to be. This kind of sleeper needs a firmer surface to keep the spine appropriately aligned. A pillow top won't offer enough support to do so.

Larger individuals may also find a pillow top mattress to be much too soft to support them. Like stomach sleepers, they should also look for a firmer mattress for the optimal amount of support.

Need Special Sheets

While many love their pillow topper for the comfort it provides, its unusual shape means you may need to buy new sheets. It may simply be too large to fit in your standard fitted bed sheets.

Is a Pillow Top Mattress Right for You?

A pillow top mattress is one of the softest mattresses available. You'll have to weigh their pros and cons before deciding to buy one.

Many love their plushness, the support they provide, and their affordability. Side and back sleepers can really benefit from one.

On the other hand, they are less durable than other kinds of mattresses and may not be suitable for stomach sleepers and larger individuals.

Are you in need of a new mattress? Nest Bedding has what you're looking for. You'll rest easy with their lifetime warranty. Check out their catalog of mattresses today.