fbpx
Header burger open
Search Logo

Jump To

Currently Viewing:

Plush Bed 101 – All You Need to Know!

image of our writer Filip Maric

Written By Filip

Sleep Advisor

Woman sleeping comfortably

2 April 2024 5 min read

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words plush bed? Let's see what this bed type is all about and determine whether it's perfect for you!

What does โ€œplushโ€ mean when it comes to beds?ย Why would you want a plush bed? Or a mattress? Are these two the same thing?
So, we'll let you in on a little secret โ€“ they're not.

Although often used to describe soft mattresses, a plush bed could also be a velvety, soft bed frame coupled with a plush mattress.ย That combo's so luxurious and sumptuous, and just so inviting that even the hardest workers couldn't resist taking a nap on one of them.

So, seeing how there are two sides to this coin,ย we've decided to write a mini-guide on this topic and teach you everything there is to know about plush beds.ย Okay? Let's go.

What does plush bed mean?

An image of a man pressing plush mattress with hand.

The word โ€œplushโ€ comes from a French word โ€“ peluche.ย Peluche is a smooth fabric with a cut nap or pile that resembles fustian or velvet. The term โ€œplushโ€ was coined to describe something as delicate, luxurious or sumptuous as this lovely fabric. So, plush beds are soft, delicate, and sumptuous. And, let's not forget โ€“ luxurious.

These luxury beds can be quite expensive โ€“ just look at the Silver Plush bed. But, their price is justified as they provide a level of cloud-like comfort that's unrivalled. And, trust us when we say this โ€“ once you've slept on one of these babies, you'll never want to get out of bed again. That is if you prefer soothing softness.

To be fair, you could couple a plush bed frame with a cushioned headboard and medium-firm or even a firm mattress, but that would just be ludicrous, wouldn't it? So, these plushies are often soft all the way throughout.

Now that we've established what a plush bed is, let's move on and see what the advantages of sleeping on one are. After all, there must be some reason why these beds are so popular, right? It can't be the headboard height or footboard height, can it? No, it's these things.

The advantages of a plush bed

There are several reasons why people love to see plush beds and mattresses in their bedroom. We've listed some of them below:

More comfort for side sleepers

sleep on side to avoid snoring

If you're a side sleeper, then you know that finding a mattress that's soft enough to provide you with the necessary support and comfort is quite difficult.ย Too soft โ€“ and you'll feel like you're sinking.

Too firm โ€“ and your hips and shoulders will start to hurt. However, plush beds are just perfect for side sleepers as they provide the right amount of sinkage and support.

Soothes hip pain

A young woman holding her hip due to pain

If you suffer from hip pain, then a plush bed might be just what the doctor ordered.ย These beds conform to the shape of your body and provide support and more importantly, pressure relief, where it's needed the most โ€“ at your hips.

This way, your spine stays aligned, and you won't wake up feeling stiff and sore. We also found some of theย best mattresses for hip pain treatmentย so you might want to check them out as well.

Low motion transfer

An image of a couple sleeping on Dormeo Octaspring Classic mattress topper.

This is an advantage that's shared by all soft beds.ย Even if you share a King-size bed with a partner โ€“ you know that their tossing and turning can often disrupt your sleep. Well, plush velvet beds have got you covered as they isolate motion quite well โ€“ especially when they're made from tender memory foam.

So, even if your partner is a restless sleeper, you'll still be able to get a good night's rest, even if you were to lie on a Small Double. Okay, maybe not a small double, but a Double.

Whoโ€™s a plush bed not for?

Now that we've seen some of the advantages of sleeping on a plush bed, it's time to take a look at the other side of the coin. Let's see who these beds are not suitable for:

Stomach sleepers

As we've mentioned before, plush beds are soft all the way through. However, this also means that they lack the necessary support for stomach sleepers โ€“ especially around the hips. So, if you're a tummy sleeper, then a plush bed is not the right option for you.

People who suffer from back pain

Just like with stomach sleepers, people who suffer from back pain need a mattress that provides them with proper support. And, unfortunately, plush beds don't offer that. Instead, they conform to the shape of your body which can sometimes exacerbate back pain.

People who prefer a firm mattress

We know that some people just love firm mattresses and there's nothing wrong with that. However, if you're one of those people, then a plush bed is not the right choice for you as it's just too soft.

How firm is a plush bed?

An image of linenspa plush mattress front view.

Here's the thing, a plush bed is as soft as the mattress on top of it. So, the better question is โ€“ย how firm is a plush mattress?

Well, that's not an easy question. To try and answer it, we'll have to look at four types of plush mattresses: innerspring/coil, memory foam, hybrid, and a mattress with a pillow top. So, here it goes.

A plush innerspring is a medium to a soft mattress, suitable for side and back sleepers.ย So, about a four on the firmness scale.

Plush foam and hybrid mattresses are noticeably softer. They're usually reserved for side sleepers and side sleepers only, although some featherweight back sleepers could probably catch some rest on these ones as well. We'd give these ones about a three on the firmness scale.

The plush mattresses with additional pillow tops are extra soft. They're called ultra-plush, so you get the idea of how soft they actually are. They're basically clouds at this point, and unless you're resting on your side โ€“ you'll have a hard time finding this comfortable. However, this may not be the end of the story for pillow topsโ€ฆ We'll delve into these a bit more in a minute. But now, let's see how to properly take care of your plush bed.

How to care for the plush bed?

an image of a man cleaning a mattress

The thing about plush beds is that they're not as durable as other mattresses out there. So, you have to be careful with them if you want them to last. Here are a few tips on how to properly take care of your plush bed:

  • Use a mattress protectorย โ€“ This is an absolute must if you want to prolong the life of your mattress. A mattress protector will protect your mattress from spills, sweat, dirt, and dust mites. Just make sure to wash it regularly.
  • Rotate and flip your mattressย โ€“ This is something you should do with all mattresses, not just plush ones. By flipping and rotating your mattress, you'll evenly distribute the wear and tear, which will significantly prolong its lifespan and save you some money in the long run.

To conclude

Following these tips should help you prolong the life of your plush bed. However, even with proper care, don't expect these to last over a decade. Frames will stand the test of time, but mattresses won't. So, keep that in mind when making your purchase.

Now, let's get into some head-to-head battles.

Plush vs firm

a woman checking the firmness of a mattress

Which one is better? This is a tough question as it all depends on your personal preferences and your sleeping position. However, we'll try to give you a general idea of which one might be better for you.

If you like a soft mattress and you sleep on your side, then, by all means, go for a plush bed.ย These are specifically designed to fit you flawlessly, and as long as they're good quality โ€“ they'll suit you.
If you need a firm mattress and you sleep on your stomach (or even your back), then, unfortunately, a plush bed is not the right choice for you. Instead, opt for something firmer, like a firm pocket spring or memory foam mattress.

If you suffer from back pain โ€“ then, once again, aย firm orthopaedic mattress is the way to goย as it will provide you with the support you need.ย Plush beds, on the other hand, are not as supportive and might actually make your back pain worse.

So, there you have it. These are the main differences between plush and firm mattresses. As you can see, it all comes down to personal preferences in the end. Just make sure to pick the right one for you and you'll be good to go!

Plush vs ultra-plush

Now, here's where it gets really tricky and delicate.

Ultra-plush beds are, simply put, too soft for most people. Unless you're a side sleeper or you have very specific needs, we would generally advise against getting an ultra-plush bed. They're at the rock bottom of a firmness scale, rated usually as 1 or 2, so basically, sleeping on these is like sleeping on bubbles.

These are designed for people who want the absolute softest. So, unless you're sure that's what you need โ€“ we suggest staying away from them.

Plush vs pillow top

An image of a plush pillow top mattress.

We will say that pillow tops tend to feel softer than regular plush beds. They may even be as soft as an ultra-plush โ€“ especially if you put the two together. However, this is not necessarily always the case.

You see, a pillow top is basically a super soft topper sewn onto a mattress. That means that the mattress underneath a pillow top could be medium, medium-firm, or even firm, and a pillow top could just serve as a comfy, cosy top layer to make sleeping a bit cosier while retaining a supportive base underneath the pillow top. So, when it comes to pillow tops,ย you actually have a massive range of firmness options to choose from.

Conclusion

Overall, we'd say that a plush bed is ideal for some people – and rather mediocre for others. So, which group do you belong to? Make sure to let us know in the comments and feel free to share your experience if you've ever had a plush bed.

Spread the word

Related products:

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet

Related Posts

Best of our Blog

deep-sleep-fi
14 June 2024

Deep Sleep

Deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, is a state of sleep that occurs during the later stages of the sleep cycle. It is characterised b...
stop-restless-legs-fi
14 June 2024

How To Stop Restless Legs Immediately?

There are many potential causes and risk factors for RLS. Also, RLS does not have to be associated with any underlying medical problem. Both...
Don't Miss Out!
Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and moreโ€ฆ
@thesleepadvisors
'The Luxe Cooling Mattress' by @emmasleepuk  is award-winning!

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Mattress for Side Sleepers'๐Ÿ†

Click the link in the bio for more ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿฅธ

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #emmasleepuk  #mattressreviews
'Award Winning Softness' by @hypniauk 

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Soft Mattress'๐Ÿ†

Click the link in bio to read the full review ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿฅธ

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #hypnia #mattressreviews

#
The Sleep Advisors cover all the benefits of Panda Products ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿผ

Click the link in the bio for more๐Ÿ”—

#ษชษดsแด›แด€ส€แด‡แด‡สŸs #instareelsdaily #PandaMattress #thesleepadvisorsuk
The awards continue! @silentnightbeds 'Just Breathe Eco Comfort' receives one today ๐Ÿฅณ

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Pocket Sprung Mattress'๐Ÿ†

#thesleepadvisors #silentnightbeds #thesleepadvisors #comfortmattress
Details are key for TheSleepAdvisors... especially for those close-ups ๐Ÿ‘

We look at every nook and cranky to capture every detail when reviewing mattress and bedding๐ŸŽฅ

For our Latest reviews head over to our website via the link in the bio ๐Ÿ”—

#thesleepadvisors #mattressreview #thesleepadvisorsuk
If you want Luxury check out @nectarsleep Premier Hybrid Mattress!๐Ÿ˜Ž

Tried and Tested by The Sleep Advisors, we've awarded them the 'Best Luxury Mattress'๐Ÿ†

Click the link in bio to read the full review ๐Ÿ“–๐Ÿฅธ

#thesleepadvisorsuk #awardwinningmattress #nectarsleep #mattressreviews
We know how hard it is to find the best mattress online!๐Ÿง

Don't worry, The Sleep Advisors are here to solve your problem and it has never been easier to compare mattresses thanks to our Mattress Comparison Tool!

Click the Link in our bio to find the mattress brand that suits your individual needs ๐Ÿคฉ
For all your bedding needs, TheSleepAdvisors have you covered! ๐Ÿ˜

From Price to Quality, we look at all aspects to enable you to make the best purchase for your needs.

#ษชษดsแด›แด€ส€แด‡แด‡สŸs #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #BeddingEssentials #TheSleepAdvisors
Sent an embarrassing text? Just say you were asleep ๐Ÿ˜†

Turns out, our brains can get so wired even while catching Z's that we end up sending messages without even waking up! 

 #funfacts #sleepadvisors #TheSleepAdvisors  #DidYouKnow #DidYouKnowThis
Mattress Toppers are key! ๐Ÿ”‘  They can bring your mattress to life. Want to learn more? 

The Sleep Advisors have got you covered!๐Ÿ˜Ž

#ษชษดsแด›แด€ส€แด‡แด‡สŸs #instareelsdaily #instareels #sleepadvisorsuk #reelsofinstagram #MATTRESSTOPPERS
Close button

Don't Miss Out!

Get the latest reviews, special offers, new releases and moreโ€ฆ

By submitting this form, you are opting into our mailing lists.
See our privacy policy.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.