Are Tight Top Mattresses The Perfect Solution For Support And Texture?

Is a good night's sleep something you can only seem to find in your dreams? If so, it may be time to upgrade your mattress. Sleep is about more than just rest. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), getting enough high-quality sleep helps to reduce stress, improve heart health, and increase attention span. Many different elements go into designing the perfect bedroom for a good night's sleep, and selecting the right mattress is among the most important — but it can be overwhelming. From pillow tops to innerspring coils, memory foam to waterbeds, when you head out shopping for a new mattress, all the options may make you feel like taking a long nap. If you're a plus-size or back sleeper, though, the lesser-known tight top mattress is a perfect solution that provides great support and an ideal texture.

So, what is a tight top mattress? Unlike the pillow top you may be used to, tight top mattresses don't have a thick extra cushioning layer. Instead, a thin layer of heavyweight fabric is stretched directly across the innerspring coils inside to provide firmer support. Fewer materials are used to create tight top mattresses, making them an affordable option compared to plush pillow tops that often have several layers of foam, wool, or fiberfill between the innerspring and your sheets. The approach also makes a tight top mattress bouncier than a pillow top or Euro mattress, both of which offer a squishier texture.

Along with understanding the different style and material options available, it's important to consider your preferences in terms of firmness and which side you typically sleep on while trying to choose the best mattress. Despite the pleasant sinking feeling many of us get when first crawling onto a pillow top mattress, it's not always the best option. The plush texture can be so soft that it cradles your spine in a way that leads to misalignment, causing back pain that worsens over time. Eventually, the material can compress under your weight, becoming lumpy instead of offering uniform support. Pillow top mattresses can also harbor dust mites and other allergens, especially if you don't remember to vacuum your mattress regularly.

Tight top mattresses, on the other hand, are a perfect solution for anyone who needs firmer support. It's all about alignment. Back sleepers need to avoid softer mattresses because hips sink into the plush texture, a recipe for chronic lower back pain. Plus-size sleepers also benefit from a firmer tight top mattress because the bouncy support from the coils can withstand higher weights better than soft filler that easily compresses. 

There are a few people who should probably avoid tight top mattresses, though. If you're a side sleeper who frequently experiences hip pain, a tight top mattress probably won't provide enough cushioning around your joints. And if you're especially thin or suffer from osteoporosis, a plusher option is probably going to be the mattress of your sweet dreams.