How to find out if mattress is one or two sided?

Hi Jonti,

Thanks for getting in touch and asking an excellent question!

The Artisan Naturals mattress - as are all of the Artisan range - is  a 2 sided mattress. That means that you use both sides and turn the mattress each month. A 2 sided mattress is seen in the industry as the best construction method for a mattress.

Though you may be asking why do certain retailers, Eve, Casper, Dreams, John Lewis and Hypnos make one sided mattresses? What's the point?

For some boxed and memory foam mattresses, they have to be one sided due to the foams used and their limited construction method. This is because memory foam mattresses are made by glueing layers on foam on top of the other from firm to soft. Meaning you always need a bottom and a top. If you flip it over you a) crush the top irreparably over time b) would be sleeping on rock hard support foam with no comfort layer.

The firm layer which is usually a reflex foam acts as the support. Then softer memory and other hybrid foams are layered up. These foams are far softer than reflex foam. If you were to make a two-sided memory foam mattress, like you do a traditional pocket sprung model, what you would quickly find is that the softer layers of foam would quickly compress and become crushed on the underside. Then when you turn it over they would be significantly compressed and not return to their original position. This is the downside with synthetic foams - not to be confused with 100% Natural Latex solid core mattresses.

The best well to tell if a mattress you're looking at is one or two sided is to check the label. All one sided mattresses should bare a label with 'No turn' or 'Rotate only'. Some may give a 'Turn free' label. Retailers try and describe this as a benefit to you but don't fall for it. No turn mattresses will sag far faster than a two sided model and there's no benefit to you not being able to turn over your mattress.

We also have our video guide here to buying a mattress which may help answer any other questions.

A two-sided model helps you even out wear during your mattresses lifetime and also allows you to use both sides. Equivalent to having an extra mattress when compared to a one-sided model.

Lastly, if you're spending over £600 on a kingsize mattress you should easily expect a 2 sided model that is unless youre choosing memory foam which sadly are always one sided.

If you need more guidance please give us a call on 0161 437 4419

John & Ryan