I was tired of waking up with a bad lower back - this mattress changed that overnight

Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress: £1,399 at Dreams

The Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress starts at £1,099 for a single and goes up to £1,599 for a super king. These costs include delivery, and you can specifically ask for the mattress to be taken to a room for your ease.

£1,399 at Dreams

It's strange how long we put up with bad sleep for. Waking up with aches and pains, practically crawling to our coffee machines is no way to live. And I'm speaking from experience. That's why it's more than worth investing in your sleep and owning a mattress that will aid your rest, not disrupt it.

That's where the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress comes in. I'd never really thought of myself as a firm mattress sleeper. Most of us think firm means hard and uncomfortable. Whereas it actually offers support and minimal motion transfer, both things I desperately needed with my chronically bad lower back.

Thanks to its temperature-regulating wool filling, it also belongs on the best cooling mattresses list. With its 2,988 micro springs and medium firm design, this mattress is built to support you through your slumber and help you wake up actually feeling refreshed. But the question still remains, for such a high price point, did this mattress actually help me not only sleep better but wake up better too?

Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress

• RRP: From £1,099
• Type: pocket-sprung
• Warranty: 1 year
• Sizes: Single, Small Double, Double, King Size, Super King Size
• Depth: 25cm
• Filling: British wool, damask cover, 2988 micro pocket springs
• Comfort: Medium firm
• Trial Period: Try it for 100 nights with Dreams Comfort Guarantee

How we tested the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress?

This mattress was put to the test by Emily Smith, a member of our Homes team. Here's a little more about her...

Emily Smith

Emily's review of the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress is based on her first-hand experience with the product, which was provided by the brand free of charge. She slept with this mattress on her bed for about three weeks before reaching her verdict. She struggles with lower back pain and frequent night sweats, so finding a mattress that could offer both support and temperature regulation was the aim.

For more insight into our head-on review process, refer to our how we test guidelines

What's the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress made from?

With such a high price point, it's no surprise that the mattress's composition is anything but premium. It has an impressive nine sandwiched layers, beginning and ending with a soft, natural cotton-viscose blend cover. This top layer is incredibly soft, and after removing the protective plastic the mattress was delivered in, I knew this was a high-quality product.

Inside, there's the temperature-regulating natural British wool blend that's layered next to a recyclable platinum 3D foam comfort layer, which adds breathability. Both provide noticeable comfort and temperature-balancing relief, both in warmer weather and cooler climates. As someone who often suffers with disruptive sleep due to getting too hot, I was thrilled this mattress had a wool layer, a material which is game-changing for hot-sleepers.

Then it's the adaptive micro pocket springs and the individually wrapped pocket springs, which are designed to provide targeted support and be responsive to even the smallest of tossing and turning. I can confidently say I've noticed a solid difference with how I'm waking up less during the night, and my usually fidgety behaviour has lessened, helping me sleep longer without waking up.

Who would the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress suit?

As mentioned previously, there are a few design pointers that make this mattress perfect for hot sleepers and anyone suffering from painful bones and joints. Thanks especially to its medium to firm comfort level, the amount of springs, both micro and regular and the foam layer, your body will be completely supported all night. The micro springs also make it a great choice for co-sleepers who don't want to be affected by their partners tossing and turning.

There's also the temperature-regulating benefits, provided by both the natural British wool layer and breathable cotton cover. Through summer and winter, your body temperature will be kept at a comfortable level, and the fabric will wick away moisture when you need it most. So anyone suffering from night sweats will find relief sleeping on the mattress; however, for added help, I'd recommend pairing it with some of the best cooling bed sheets.

I actually layered my Woolroom Deluxe mattress topper on the mattress, and it's a match made in heaven. So if you really struggle with being a hot sleeper, I'd recommend opting for wool sleep products like the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress; you won't be disappointed.

Delivery and unboxing the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress

I was somewhat a little dubious about how my mattress was going to get to me, as I live on the second floor of an apartment building with both the lift and stairs being incredibly narrow. But the Dreams delivery team not only rang me half an hour before delivery, but they also efficiently brought the double mattress straight to my door and into the room I wanted it in.

With a thick plastic covering over it, the mattress was protected and didn't have a single mark on it from transport. It might seem like the bare minimum, but with such a large item, it can be quite common that marks and tears to either the item or the packaging are present.

Unboxing was as simple as carefully cutting off the plastic packaging and removing the protective pads that were attached to each corner of the mattress. The real star of the show, however were the handles attached to each side of the mattress, which made all the difference with moving it around and onto my bedframe. Mattresses are incredibly heavy as it is, but they're also an awkward shape to get a grip on, so these handles were a godsend.

What's the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress like to sleep on?

As I said before, I was somewhat worried about this mattress being medium to firm comfort; it turns out that was exactly what my body needed during sleep. The second you lie down on the Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress, you feel instantly supported; there's no sinking into the abyss or rolling around over springs.

I've been sleeping on it for around a month now and have been waking up feeling fully rested regularly. Even on my busiest weeks through moving and work, I've had no trouble falling asleep on the mattress and waking up without sleepless fidgeting.

It's certainly improved my hot sleeping; however, I won't say it's completely cured it. I have still suffered a few nights with being overly warm through the night and waking up because of it. However, thanks to the British wool layer, my sleep temperature has certainly improved, which I'm more than happy with.

I always tend to sleep on my side with one of my legs bent, which has more often than not caused issues with my lower back and hips. And yet after sleeping on this mattress, my joints and spine feel supported, so I don't need to worry about forcing myself to change sleeping positions. Instead of waking up stiff with dull back pain, my body actually feels normal, rested and ready for the day.

Another noticeable benefit is how the firmness makes the mattress feel even bigger. As I said before, there's no worry of rolling or sliding around, which is particularly great when sharing the bed. You can be right at the edge of the bed without it dipping and dropping you off the side.

Is the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress good value?

This is by no means a cheap mattress; for many, it won't be affordable either, with its high price point. However, if you're able to splurge a little on your sleep, I would 100% say this is worth it. Mattresses are one of those purchases that really make a difference in our day-to-day lives, so having one that properly aids your sleep and supports your body's needs should be a top priority.

Of course, there's also the premium service you get with a premium product. Dreams is an incredibly trustworthy brand, with impressive green credentials that offer a great guarantee on their items and provide a respectable service from ordering to delivery. With such a high-quality item, you've also got something that's built to last, so the investment will stretch that much further, especially with this being a double-sided design.

Should you buy the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress?

If you've been shopping around for the best mattresses for some time now, you'll probably already know what you're looking for and what your sleep type requires. Whilst there are more trendy, modern brands that may offer you a supernatural mattress that claims to do just about everything, there's nothing like a trusted brand who are good at what they do.

Whether you're a hot sleeper, suffer from joint pain or simply prefer a supportive, firm mattress, the Dreams Sophie Conran Solace Pocket Wool Mattress is seriously worth a try. With the Dreams 100 Night Comfort Guarantee, you can easily return it should you find the mattress isn't a match for you. But after enjoying consistent, undisruptive rest for the past month, I'm quite confident you'll be more than happy with the mattress.

How we test mattresses

At woman&home, we have a series of standardised tests that we put all of our mattresses through. We make sure that our experts have slept on the mattress for at least a month before we look for feedback, because this is the amount of time that a physiotherapist recommends for noticing real change.

Emily has been sleeping on this mattress since March, and her feedback remains the same. She looks at everything from comfort to motion transfer to make sure that we are giving you a complete picture of what the mattress is like to sleep on. We also talk about value, composition, and we'll talk about who we think the mattress will suit and why.

By the end of the review, you should have a really clear idea of what this mattress is like to use. If you want to find out more, you can read more on our dedicated page for how we test mattresses.

Should you be looking for some more comfort and support whilst you sleep but not have the budget for a whole new mattress, we recommend investing in one of the best mattress toppers. They can significantly improve your sleep and give your mattress a much-needed upgrade.