I’ve always slept on terrible, mostly preowned mattresses. Any new mattress I purchased, I did so on a budget or had to opt for a smaller bed to fit in a tiny New York City apartment. As a matter of fact, I’ve always coveted my time away from home, when I’ve had the pleasure of sleeping in a hotel bed. I assumed all hotel beds use magical mattresses unavailable to the public (how do they feel cozy and firm and cool and comfortable all at the same time?!) I dreamt often of purchasing my own bed with a dreamy hotel-mattress feel, knowing I’d have to spend upwards of $2,000 for the experience. Luckily, the full-size Layla Hybrid Mattress carries a price tag of $1,599 at full retail price (full disclosure, I was gifted the mattress for review). Now, I have vacation-level comfort in my own home.
I chose Layla because I was intrigued by two things: The hybrid quality is not due to an amorphous mix of softness and firmness to create a happy medium on either side of the bed; instead, the mattress is flippable—one side of the Layla is soft, the other is firm. I selected the firm side of the mattress for my needs, and I still feel like I get a soft, luxurious sleep experience. The softer side will offer the lush, sinking experience, if that’s what you’re after.
Second, the mattress utilizes both foam and individually wrapped coil springs to create a bounce, flexibility, and cradling softness all in one. The springs offer the edge support and firmness you need, while the memory foam is infused with copper, which is also naturally antimicrobial, and provides the cooling technology necessary to help stave off overheating. To top it off, the foam cradles your body in your most comfortable position, even if you choose the firm side. Because of the coils, no matter which option you go with, you will have strong edge support, and, with the foam, your sleep should go undisturbed, if you share the bed. I sleep alone, so, admittedly, motion transfer is not my concern.
Even though I’m a side sleeper, I’ve accidentally fallen asleep on my back since receiving the mattress and still manage to wake up after a full night’s sleep with no problems. As a side sleeper, the cradling effect of the foam helps. If you’re like me and don’t know what to do with your hands when you sleep, or have issues with circulation, this mattress is great for creating that perfect mold for your natural body position.
As for the unboxing experience, the Layla Hybrid Mattress is delivered in a large duffle-like bag that would also make a great laundry bag. It’s a dense and heavy lift, so two people may be needed to transport it upstairs. Once freed from the compressed plastic, the mattress expanded quickly, and I was able to sleep on it the same night. The mattress is covered in a breathable fabric, with handles that will assist you with flipping the mattress when you want to change your experience. The antimicrobial copper and breathable cover meant I didn’t have to purchase a mattress cover, which saved me money on my full sleeping experience—and it’s machine washable, which will save time and effort.
If brand loyalty is still a thing, I will say I may be signing on to a lifelong relationship with the Layla team for all of my mattress purchasing needs. I look forward to this mattress lasting through the years, but, if I upgrade to a home with a guest room, I know exactly which mattress I will purchase to impress my guests with a quality night’s sleep.
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