Best Plush Mattress Topper

One of the best things you can do for your spinal health and sleep quality is getting a supportive, orthopedic mattress. However, to provide that support and sturdiness, these mattresses can often be too firm for comfort and might end up being counterproductive, especially for people that prefer sleeping on their side. Enter the plush mattress topper. Designed to give you a few inches of soft cushioning between you and the mattress, it will make sure that you get all the benefits of your firm mattress without having to sacrifice comfort.

A plush mattress topper is also a great way to minimize the wear and tear on your mattress as it also acts as a barrier between your body and the mattress’ surface- using a topper can significantly prolong the service life of your mattress. But, for a plush mattress topper to serve both as a cushioning base that provides comfort and a protective layer that keeps away signs of wear and tear from your mattress, it has to be made with the right materials.

It’s not always easy figuring out which mattress toppers will suit your preferences while fitting in your budget – especially if you want them to be durable and hold shape well on top of all that. To help you find the right match for your sleeping preferences as well as make sure you’re getting a high-quality topper that will last you a good long while, we’ve handpicked the best plush mattress toppers on the market today. Read on to find your own cloud nine!

Best Plush Mattress Topper

What Is a Plush Mattress Topper And Do You Need One?

Mattress toppers come in all kinds of designs, but the main thing that differs between them is the firmness level and the thickness. A plush mattress topper should be at a comfort level between completely soft and medium- somewhat of a golden mean in the world of mattress toppers. As a result, it will “soften” the firm mattress below it without completely sinking under your weight, which could happen if it was too soft. When it comes to materials, a plush mattress topper is usually made either with memory foam, down-alternative fill, and polyfill. This choice of materials ensures that the mattress topper stays plush throughout the night.

If you’ve just bought a new mattress and it turns out it’s too firm for your liking, a plush mattress topper will help you sleep more comfortably. It will provide cushioning without compromising the supportive firmness of the mattress- so you’ll get the best out of both worlds without breaking the bank. Similarly, if your mattress is starting to show signs of wear and tear, you can rely on a mattress topper to prolong its life for at least a few more months until you can buy a new mattress. A topper will make the old mattress comfier and fill in any smaller sags or soften the springs that started to feel through the mattress’s cushioning.

A plush mattress topper can also be a great choice for anyone that prefers sleeping on their side. While back or stomach sleepers need a firmer surface for better support and comfort, side sleepers require cushioning to minimize the stress and pressure on their key points- hips and shoulders.

So when you want an orthopedic mattress to prevent back pain but you sleep on your side, a plush mattress topper is a great way to reap all the benefits of a firm mattress without being uncomfortable. A cradling memory foam mattress topper will relieve pressure and make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud- all the while your spine is being properly supported and aligned for a healthy sleep posture.

What to Look for In a Plush Mattress Topper

Needless to say, each mattress topper design has its pros and cons- what works for some sleepers, might not necessarily work for your own needs. Your sleeping preferences, body type, and position you sleep in will all influence your choice, so make sure to thoroughly consider the factors before buying a plush mattress topper.

• Material

Mattress toppers can be made from a variety of materials, but to retain that plushness, manufacturers usually decide on using memory foam, polyfoam, polyfill, or down-alternatives to make plush mattress toppers. Pillowtop mattress toppers usually opt for polyfill or down-alternative, as this fluffy filling is evenly distributed in baffle boxes in the fabric for a cloud-like softness. While the fluffiness and plushness of these types of toppers is undeniable, their main con is that they usually don’t hold their shape too well. Depending on the type of down-alternative and the construction, these toppers can retain their form for up to a year or two max, less if you are a plus-size person or the craftsmanship isn’t up to par.

For side sleepers, plus size sleepers, or anyone that wants a bit more support with the comfort that comes with a plush mattress topper, memory foam or polyfoam are a better choice than polyfill or down-alternatives. Thanks to the unique properties of memory foam and polyfoam, these mattress toppers are both plush and supportive, and they’ll adjust to your unique body shape, cradling it while ensuring a proper spinal position. The potential downside to standard memory foam or polyfoam can be that they tend to trap heat, so they can cause a hot sleeper to feel too toasty for comfort. In this case, a great alternative is so-called gel-infused foam toppers, as they are designed to draw away heat from the body and dissipate it. The gel-infused microbeads are designed to dissipate heat, and the process of infusing them changes the cell structure of foam, making it more breathable and cooler, so this type of foam is most recommended for hot sleepers or anyone that prefers a cool, crisp bed to sleep on.

• Thickness

A plush mattress topper can be anywhere from 1 to 4 inches thick- naturally, this will greatly impact the comfort levels. If you need just a slight, minor change to the feel of your mattress, or want a barrier to minimize the wear and tear, an inch of cushioning will suffice. However, if it’s the comfort that you’re after, a thicker topper will be required. Side sleepers, heavier sleepers, and those whose mattress is too firm would benefit from at least 3 inches of padding between them and the mattress to ensure cradling without sinking.

• Pain and pressure relief

If you are buying a topper for your mattress in hopes you won’t wake up sore and stiff every morning, it’s important to consider the thickness and the materials. To make sure pressure is relieved and that your spine is in a healthy position while you sleep, opt for thicker mattress toppers made from memory foam. These will contour to your body- but won’t sink- and as such, give you the support and comfort you need for a good night’s rest.

Bottom Line 

Whether you have an old mattress that will need to be replaced soon or you’ve just bought a new mattress that turned out to be too firm, a plush mattress topper can help you make the most out of it. Soft but not too soft, it will provide plush cushioning between your body and the mattress, ensuring comfort and minimizing the wear and tear on the mattress itself. The plush firmness makes these toppers ideal for side sleepers or anyone that prefers to sleep on a slightly softer surface- but doesn’t want to compromise on the support and sturdiness that a firm mattress gives them.