The Best Mattress for Couples with Different Preferences

Finding the perfect mattress when you share a bed can feel like an impossible compromise. One partner might prefer a firmer, more supportive sleep surface, whilst the other craves something softer with a deeper sink.

Perhaps there’s a significant weight difference between you, or you simply have different sleeping positions that require varying levels of support. The reality is that the mass-produced mattress industry has spent decades convincing couples that they need to settle for a “one size fits all” solution, typically offering a medium-firm mattress that supposedly suits everyone.

This approach might keep manufacturing costs low for major retailers, but it rarely delivers the personalised comfort that couples actually need for a genuinely restorative night’s sleep.

What Are The Consequences of a Mattress That Doesn’t Suit Both Sleepers?

Sleep deprivation from a bad night’s sleep can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. However, while the importance of getting enough sleep is well-documented, what’s less obvious is that a lack of sleep can also have serious consequences for your relationship.

When one or both of you aren’t sleeping properly, problems can occur. Sleep deprivation makes people more irritable and emotional, meaning you’re both far more likely to snap at each other or get into unnecessary arguments. Because of the resulting tiredness and lack of energy, you may also start losing interest in doing things together, which can lead to less intimacy and a poorer quality of life for you both.

Even if one of you sleeps soundly while the other suffers in silence, this can quietly create resentment and tension that builds over time. Therefore, choosing a mattress that suits both sleepers isn’t just about comfort; it’s about protecting your wellbeing and your relationship.

Why Split Tension Mattresses Transform Sleep for Couples

When two people with different body weights or firmness preferences share a standard mattress, the heavier partner typically sinks deeper whilst the lighter partner doesn’t receive adequate support, creating a slope effect that causes both to roll towards the middle. Split tension technology solves this fundamental problem through proper engineering:

i) Individual Spring Calibration for Each Partner: Each side of the mattress features pocket springs gauged specifically to your body weight, ensuring proper spinal alignment regardless of whether you weigh nine stone or seventeen stone.

ii) Elimination of the Roll-Together Effect: Standard mattresses create an uncomfortable valley when partners have different weights, but split tensions maintain a level sleeping surface by providing appropriate resistance on each side.

iii) No Compromise on Comfort Layers: Unlike “one size fits all” spring units that force both partners to share the same inadequate support level, split tensions allow you to maintain identical luxury comfort layers on top whilst the support system underneath works independently for each sleeper.

iv) Superior Motion Isolation: Because each side’s springs are calibrated differently, movement from your partner’s side has even less transfer, as their springs respond to their weight whilst yours remain undisturbed.

v) Long-Term Performance: Mass-produced mattresses with standard tensions typically develop premature sagging on the heavier partner’s side, but split tensions distribute wear appropriately, extending the mattress’s lifespan considerably.

At John Ryan By Design, we’ve been listening to couples describe this frustration for years, and we’ve developed proper solutions rather than compromises. The answer isn’t found in the marketing gimmicks of boxed mattresses or the limited options on high street showroom floors. Instead, it lies in understanding mattress construction at a fundamental level and offering genuinely bespoke options that independent mattress specialists like ourselves can provide.

We offer a variety of mattresses with split-tension options, but three of our most popular models are:

Artisan Bespoke Luxury Mattress

• Our flagship design, handcrafted using the finest natural materials.
• Available with dual tensions for personalised comfort on each side.
• Offers a truly luxurious, supportive feel for all sleeping styles.

Artisan Bespoke 002

• A firmer mattress with deep natural fillings for enhanced support.
• Ideal for those who prefer a slightly more structured sleeping surface.
• Built to provide excellent longevity and spinal alignment.

Artisan Bespoke 003

• Offers a softer, more indulgent comfort without sacrificing support.
• Perfect for side sleepers or anyone seeking a gentle, cushioned feel.
• Combines traditional craftsmanship with premium natural fibres.

Understanding Why Couples Struggle with Standard Mattresses

The problem with most mattresses sold by major retailers is that they’re designed around theoretical “average” sleepers who don’t actually exist. When you walk into a high street showroom and lie on a display mattress for a few minutes, you’re testing a bed that has been softened by countless other shoppers before you. More importantly, you’re making a decision based on a brief moment rather than the eight hours you’ll actually spend on that mattress each night.

For couples with different body weights, the challenge becomes even more pronounced. A lighter sleeper, perhaps weighing around nine stone, requires different spring tensions and comfort layers compared to a heavier sleeper at sixteen stone or more. Put them both on a standard medium-firm mattress, and you’ll find that one person is sleeping on what feels like a table whilst the other is sinking too deeply, creating a slope effect where both partners end up rolling towards the middle of the bed.

The John Ryan Approach to Couples with Different Needs

Independent mattress retailers operate in a fundamentally different way to the mass-market chains, and this distinction makes all the difference when addressing the specific challenge of couples with varying preferences. We don’t have to shift volume to justify large showroom overheads or satisfy shareholders. Instead, our internet-based company model allows us to invest in proper craftsmanship and premium materials, and crucially, the flexibility to tailor each mattress to the specific requirements of our customers.

Our expertise comes from decades of working with natural fibres, understanding pocket spring technology, and genuinely listening to what our customers need. We’re members of the Institute of Spring Technology and the Guild of Master Craftsmen, which reflects our commitment to understanding mattress construction at the deepest technical level. When you speak to our team, you’re talking to people who understand the difference between a 1.28mm gauge spring and a 1.4mm spring, who know why Calico encased pocket springs outperform polyester wrapped alternatives, and who can explain exactly how horsehair and cashmere behave differently in the top comfort layers of a mattress.

The Artisan Bespoke: For Couples Seeking Firmer Support with 100% Natural Luxury

The Artisan Bespoke represents the pinnacle of natural fibre mattress construction, featuring an impressive 5100GSM of 100% natural fillings including horsetail, horsehair, and cashmere. This mattress delivers a firm but forgiving feel in the upholstery layers, making it the ideal choice for couples where one or both partners require substantial back support or prefer a more stable, supportive sleep surface.

The construction begins with 500GSM British wool, followed by 1200GSM blended British fleece wool and cotton that provides a slight sink whilst maintaining that firm character. Below this sits the remarkable combination of 1200GSM pure horsetail and 1200GSM horsehair, topped with a 1000GSM white cashmere insulator that gives the mattress its distinctive firmer feel in the top upholstery comfort layers. These 100% natural materials work together to create a sleep surface that’s supportive yet never harsh, providing the kind of quality you’d expect from luxury brands like Vi-Spring but at roughly half the price.

The 1600 Calico encased pocket springs (49mm, 1.28mm gauge) can be specified in different tensions for each side at no additional charge. This means if you’re a couple where one partner weighs eleven stone and the other weighs sixteen stone, we can build your Artisan Bespoke with a medium tension on one side and a firm tension on the other. The three rows of genuine hand side stitching ensure that the mattress maintains its structural integrity even with different spring tensions working independently, whilst the eight padded turning handles on a king size model make the regular maintenance routine considerably easier.

Artisan Bespoke

Heavier sleepers particularly appreciate how the quality of the materials and construction prevents that sinking feeling that cheaper mattresses develop within months. The chemical-free cover uses natural plant-based fire retardancy protection, and the entire mattress is designed as a two-sided construction that can be flipped and rotated regularly, distributing wear evenly and extending its lifespan well beyond what one-sided pillow top mattresses can offer.

The Artisan Naturals: Medium Feel Excellence with 85% Natural Fibres

For couples seeking a medium feel mattress that provides more of a welcoming sink whilst still delivering excellent support, the Artisan Naturals offers exceptional value and comfort. This mattress features 3950GSM of predominantly natural fibres (85% natural content), with the upholstery layers creating a forgiving, comfortable feel that many couples find ideal when they want support without excessive firmness.

The top layer comprises 1200GSM blended British fleece wool and cotton, providing a high loft for a deep sink that allows you to settle into the mattress comfortably. A hairproof cambric cover prevents fibre migration, followed by 1250GSM rebound polycotton that adds both support and responsiveness. The 1500GSM pure mohair insulating layer provides robust properties that work beautifully with the 1600 Calico encased pocket springs (49mm, 1.28mm gauge) beneath.

Like the Artisan Bespoke, the Artisan Naturals can be manufactured with split tensions at no additional charge, making it perfect for couples with different body weights who both prefer a medium feel in the comfort layers but need personalised support underneath. The predominantly natural fibre construction means you still benefit from the breathability and temperature regulation that synthetic foam mattresses simply cannot provide, whilst the more accessible price point makes this an excellent choice for couples who want quality without stretching to the absolute top of their budget.

Artisan Naturals

Many of our customers have reported that the Artisan Naturals proved ideal when they found firmer mattresses too unyielding but didn’t want to sacrifice the natural materials and pocket sprung construction that deliver long-term comfort and durability. The medium feel works particularly well for side sleepers and lighter-weight individuals, though the ability to specify different spring tensions means that heavier partners can still receive proper support on their side of the bed.

Zip and Link: The Ultimate Flexibility for Dramatically Different Preferences

For couples with more substantially different preferences, both the Artisan Bespoke and Artisan Naturals are available in zip and link configurations. This option transforms a king size or super king mattress into two separate mattresses that zip together seamlessly, allowing you to specify completely different builds for each side. It’s worth noting that you cannot simply zip two random mattresses together because they would never be exactly the same depth or settle at a uniform rate. However, when we manufacture a zip and link mattress, we build both halves specifically to work together.

The zip and link option opens up possibilities that simply don’t exist with standard mattresses. You could have an Artisan Bespoke on one side with its firmer 100% natural feel and an Artisan Naturals on the other with its medium 85% natural feel, or maintain the same model but with different spring tensions and even different top comfort layers if required. For couples where one partner is significantly heavier or has specific back support needs, this level of customisation removes the need for compromise entirely.

Additionally, zip and link configurations make practical sense beyond just comfort preferences. They’re significantly easier to manoeuvre up narrow staircases or around awkward corners, which is a considerable advantage in older properties with challenging access. Each half weighs substantially less than a full king or super king mattress, making the monthly turning and rotating routine more manageable for one person if needed.

Why Independent Retailers Offer So Much More

The fundamental difference between independent mattress specialists and mass-produced retailers lies in our ability to truly customise rather than simply offering a limited range of preset options. When you buy from a major high street chain, you’re selecting from whatever models their suppliers have manufactured in bulk. These mattresses are designed around keeping costs low and maximising profit margins, which typically means synthetic fillings, one-sided construction that can’t be flipped, and pillow tops that create an illusion of luxury whilst drastically reducing the mattress’s lifespan.

Independent retailers like John Ryan By Design operate with a completely different philosophy. Because every mattress is handmade to order, we’re not constrained by the limitations of mass production. We can source the finest natural materials, from British wool to horsetail and cashmere, and we can adjust the configuration of each mattress based on the customer’s requirements. Our pricing reflects the actual cost of premium materials and skilled craftsmanship rather than inflated recommended retail prices designed to be perpetually “on sale”.

Our customers consistently mention in their reviews that the buying experience itself was dramatically different from what they encountered in traditional showrooms. Rather than high-pressure sales tactics and artificial time-limited discounts, they found patient, knowledgeable advice focused on ensuring they ordered the right mattress for their needs. We actively recommend less expensive options when they’re more suitable, because our reputation depends on customer satisfaction rather than maximising individual transaction values.

The Evidence: What Our Customers Say

The proof of our approach can be found in our extensive customer reviews on Trustpilot, where we maintain an “Excellent” rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Couples regularly describe how they were initially nervous about investing in a mattress without trying it first, only to discover that the combination of our detailed guidance, the 60-day “love it or return it” guarantee, and the quality of the final product exceeded their expectations.

One customer described purchasing an Artisan Naturals with half medium and half firm spring tension, explaining that after trying various high street options and expensive memory foam alternatives, they finally found a mattress where both partners genuinely sleep well. Another couple mentioned that despite their significant weight difference, the split tension Artisan Bespoke provided perfect support for both of them without any compromise.

The longevity of our mattresses also features prominently in customer reviews. Unlike one-sided pillow top mattresses that develop dips and lose their support within a few years, our two-sided construction allows for regular turning and rotating, which distributes wear evenly and extends the mattress’s lifespan considerably. Several customers have reported that their John Ryan mattresses remained comfortable and supportive for well over a decade, with some returning to purchase additional mattresses for other bedrooms or for their grown children.

Natural Fibres and Proper Construction

Both the Artisan Bespoke (100% natural) and Artisan Naturals (85% natural) feature predominantly natural fibre fillings and pocket sprung construction, which fundamentally differentiates them from the synthetic foam mattresses that dominate the mass market. Natural fibres like wool, horsehair, horsetail, and cashmere are breathable and high wicking, meaning they allow air to flow between your body and the mattress whilst drawing moisture away. This creates a considerably cooler sleeping environment compared to memory foam and other man-made materials.

For couples, temperature regulation becomes even more important because you have two bodies generating heat in close proximity. We regularly hear from customers who discovered that their previous mattress wasn’t actually the problem; rather, they were overheating because of synthetic materials that didn’t allow proper air circulation. The natural fibres in our mattresses work with your body rather than against it, maintaining a comfortable sleeping temperature throughout the night regardless of the season.

The pocket spring construction uses 1600 individually Calico encased springs that work independently in both mattresses. This means that when one partner moves during the night, the motion is isolated to their side of the bed rather than transferring across the entire surface. The springs are also hand nested into a honeycomb pattern and zoned around the perimeter with slightly firmer springs for enhanced edge support, ensuring the mattress remains stable even when sitting on the side.

Making the Right Choice for Your Relationship

Selecting a mattress when you have different preferences doesn’t need to involve compromise or resignation to an uncomfortable night’s sleep. The key lies in moving beyond the limited options offered by mass-market retailers and discovering what independent specialists can provide through genuine customisation. Whether you opt for the firmer support and 100% natural luxury of the Artisan Bespoke, or the medium feel and excellent value of the 85% natural Artisan Naturals, both mattresses can be tailored with split tensions or manufactured as zip and link configurations to suit your specific requirements.

Our expertise, developed through years of working with natural materials and understanding the precise engineering of pocket sprung mattresses, allows us to guide couples towards solutions that genuinely work rather than marketing compromises that don’t. We encourage you to speak with our team, who can discuss your individual body weights, sleeping positions, and comfort preferences to recommend the ideal configuration. The 60-day guarantee provides reassurance that if the mattress doesn’t meet your expectations, we’ll work with you to find the right solution or provide a full refund.

The investment in a properly constructed, natural fibre mattress with the correct spring tensions represents genuine value that extends far beyond the initial purchase price. When you consider the years of comfortable, restorative sleep you’ll enjoy, coupled with the durability that comes from two-sided construction and premium materials, the cost per night becomes remarkably affordable. For couples who are tired of compromise and ready to experience what genuinely tailored sleep comfort feels like, the difference is genuinely transformative.

Summary

For expert guidance on selecting natural fibres that match your specific sleep needs, contact our sleep specialists at 0161 437 4419. Our decades of hands-on manufacturing experience, combined with traditional Yorkshire craftsmanship techniques passed down through generations, ensure you receive a mattress worthy of our Guild of Master Craftsmen membership.

FAQs

What Are The Top Mattresses For Heavy Couples? 

When it comes to choosing the right mattress as a heavier couple, strength, stability, and durability are key. A mattress that isn’t designed to handle higher body weights can quickly lose its shape, leading to sagging, discomfort, and disrupted sleep. This is why it’s so important to choose a mattress that’s built with robust spring systems and high-density natural fillings that can deliver consistent support night after night.

At John Ryan By Design, our mattresses are handcrafted to ensure long-lasting comfort for every body type. For heavier couples, our Heavy Sleeper Collection contains the Resilience 2, which is a particularly strong choice. Designed specifically to support higher body weights, this mattress combines a firm and resilient core with softer comfort layers. The result is a cushioned mattress that resists sagging and provides exceptional spinal alignment without compromising on luxury.

Models such as the Artisan Bespoke 002 and Artisan 004 are also excellent options for heavier sleepers who want a more tailored feel. Both feature high spring counts and deep layers of natural upholstery, combining durability with sumptuous comfort.

Are Latex Mattresses Good For Couples?

In short, latex mattresses, such as our Origins Pocket Latex 1500 mattress, are a great option for most couples. Latex mattresses offer a balance of motion isolation and responsiveness, helping to minimise partner disturbance without sacrificing that all-important bouncy feel. 

They are also durable, breathable, hypoallergenic, and can even be a good choice for couples with different preferences. They work for eco-conscious buyers too, making them a great all-rounder for most couples.

What are the Best Mattresses for Couples Who Toss and Turn?

If one or both of you move around a lot at night, finding the right mattress can make a huge difference. A mattress with poor motion isolation means every turn or shift is felt by the other person, leading to broken sleep and tired mornings.