What Is a Plush-Top Mattress?

Characteristics

• Plush beds are in the middle range of comfort options available in mattresses today. They typically have 1 to 4 inches of foam padding. By increasing the layers of soft foams, plush mattresses have improved comfort over firm mattresses. Tight-top, pillow-top and Euro-top mattresses sometimes have a plush or ultra-plush label to indicate the softness of the bed. Those that have a plush pillow- or Euro-top are generally softer than a plush tight-top mattress.

Soft Layers

• The soft padding of a plush mattress is comprised of the padding, cushion and quilting. The padding is a layer of synthetic foam or natural wool or horsehair that keeps the coils from poking through the soft layers. The cushion layer largely affects how firm the mattress will feel depending on the density. It is typically made from memory foam, latex, polyester, convoluted egg-crate foam, wool or other natural materials. The quilting is the outermost layer of padding that gives a plush-top mattress its soft feel.

Considerations

• Certain plush pillow-top mattresses will often show signs of wear more quickly than a plush tight-top mattress. The pillow-top cushioning forms impressions that won't go away, leaving you with a lumpy mattress after only a few years. For this reason, many people prefer to buy a standard plush-top mattress that can be flipped and will last longer. If extra padding is desired, add a soft mattress topper that will be less expensive to replace.

Pain Relief

• Plush tight-top mattresses are ideal for those with aches and pains. The firm support of a mattress is felt while the soft cushioning eases painful pressure points. Since back pain and aches from pressure points are two of the largest complaints about mattresses, a supportive plush mattress is the best choice for many sufferers to alleviate these problems. Most people can find a plush-top mattress they find comfortable if they take the time to test a number of beds.