I slept on Ikea's Nisseholm mattress topper for a week – this is why I think it's the best firm topper on the market

For this Ikea Nisseholm mattress topper review, I put the brand's firmest mattress topper to the test to see how it performed, and I was impressed.

The Ideal Home team has tested a whole host of mattress pads to find the best mattress toppers on the market, but the one thing we had (until this point) struggled to find was a good firm mattress topper.

It's perhaps no surprise as mattress toppers are generally designed to add comfort and cushioning to the bed, but not everyone likes a super-soft feel, including me.

As a front sleeper, I need a firm and supportive sleep surface, and most mattress toppers are too cushioned for me to sleep comfortably on. However, I had a great week's sleep on the Ikea Nisseholm mattress topper and really appreciated its added support. Even better, as a hot sleeper, I didn't overheat on its foam construction.

Ikea Nisseholm mattress topper specifications

• RRP: £59 / £79 / £99 / £129
• Sizes: single / double / king / super-king
• Depth: 5cm
• Construction: high-resilience foam
• Care instructions: removable machine-washable cover
• Manufacturer sleep trial: no

Attaching the topper to the bed

Most of the mattress toppers we've tested have wide elasticated straps at each corner to attach them securely to the mattress, but the Nisseholm topper does not.

Neither does it feature an anti-slip base as the topper is double-sided so that you can flip it and sleep on either side.

This isn't a huge problem in practice, the woven polyester cover is textured to help give it some purchase on the mattress, and by the time I'd added a fitted sheet over the top, I didn't find it moved about too much during the night.

If you're using a flat sheet or your more prone to tossing and turning at night it would be nice to have the option to secure it a little more though.

Comfort

For me, the main advantage the Nisseholm has over other mattress toppers is its firmness.

Most mattress toppers are designed to add cushioning to a sleep surface – like a mattress or sofa bed – that's too firm. This is why a lot of them are made from memory foam, which cushions and cradles the body.

However, not everyone likes the feeling of sinking into a topper, and I'm one of them. I'm someone who changes my sleep position during the night, often starting off resting on my side or back, but usually switching to sleeping on my front at some point during the night.

This means I need a sleep surface that offers me good support and that allows my body to rest on it, not sink into it. Which is exactly what the Nisseholm topper does.

Made from 5cm deep high-resilience foam, for me, this turned out to be a great tension, offering a firm feel but with no hint of hardness.

I didn't sink into this topper, I was definitely laid on top of it at all times, and there was none of the moulding around my body that's common with memory foam toppers.

That means the Nisseholm is great for anyone who changes position frequently during the night or who struggles with mobility as it's very easy to turn over on this topper with none of the 'lag' you tend to get with memory foam.

Temperature regulation

I'm a hot sleeper, and I've found I'm prone to overheating on synthetic fabrics, so I was a little worried I was going to find this foam topper with its polyester cover a hot and sweaty sleep experience.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by the Nisseholm topper's temperature regulation.

I used the topper over the Hypnos Pillow Top Select mattress (one of the most breathable mattresses I've slept on thanks to its construction from predominantly natural materials) and whilst the Nisseholm topper did feel warmer to sleep on, it didn't at any point cause me to overheat or wake up in a hot and sticky mess.

In fact, I found this topper much cooler than the surface of the memory foam mattress I'd previously been testing, so if you're looking for a cooling mattress topper that has a firm tension, the Nisseholm is a great option.

Care instructions

Although I'd still recommend using a mattress protector over this topper and your mattress for added peace of mind, the Nisseholm topper has a removable cover that unzips so you can pop it in the washing machine to freshen it up.

The cover can be washed at 60°C making it very easy to care for, although it does need to be line dried rather than tumble dried.

Sleep trial

Beyond the fact that this topper doesn't have straps to secure it to the bed, the only other real downside I came across when testing the Nisseholm is that Ikea doesn't offer a sleep trial on it.

That's a shame as it means you can't test it out at home before you commit to keeping it, but, on the plus side, Ikea's stores are plentiful. So if you want to try before you buy, you're never too far from an Ikea showroom where you can test out the Nisseholm topper in person.

Verdict

All in all, this is by far the best firm mattress topper I've tested.

If you're a side sleeper looking for added comfort you may be best opting for a memory foam mattress topper – like the Simba Hybrid Topper or Panda Topper – that both offer more cushioning for a side sleeper's hips and shoulder to sink into. But, if you're a back, or in particular a stomach sleeper, this firmer feel topper is a great option for you.

It's also a good choice for anyone who wants some added comfort to disguise an uncomfortable mattress but wants a sleep surface they won't sink into and that will still be easy to change position on.

The bonus is that this topper is also relatively affordable, and offers decent temperature regulation, meaning you shouldn't overheat at night, even if you're a hot sleeper, like me.