A filling is the layers between the cover and the core of a mattress; they decide what the surface will be like: firm or soft, warm or cool. There is no best filling — there are combinations that suit you and ones that do not. So look not at one “fashionable” material but at which layers are put together and in what order.
How to read the composition of a mattress
In the specification of each model the layers are listed. To make sense of the list, divide the layers into three groups.
- The base. What carries the weight: a spring unit or a thick layer of foam or latex.
- Firmness and comfort layers. Coir adds firmness, latex and foam add springiness and softness. The closer a layer is to the surface, the more you feel it.
- Service and climate layers. Felt separates the springs from the soft layers; cotton and wool in the cover are responsible for warmth.
Coconut fibre
Latexed coir is a slab of coconut-palm fibre bonded with latex. It is firm, springy and lets air through well. Coir is placed where a hard, level surface is wanted: in firm and double-sided models and in children's mattresses.
What coir does not like is bending and rolling. A mattress with a thick layer of coir must not be folded in half — the slab can break. In Veneto specifications this material is listed as Cocos Shield.
Latex
Latex is a springy, elastic material: it gives under the body and returns to shape the moment you change position. That makes it easy to turn over on latex. Natural latex is made from the foamed sap of the hevea tree; there are also latex foams with similar properties. Veneto models use natural latex Latex Care and the latex foam Aero Latex.
An example of latex combined with coir is the springless Veneto Grand Soft Mattress: Latex Care and Cocos Shield, 190 mm high, medium firmness, a removable cover. The same two materials, but over an independent Multi Pocket Spring unit, are found in the Veneto Special Bio Mattress, which is 230 mm high.
People with a latex allergy should consult a doctor before buying.
Polyurethane foam
This is the most common material in modern mattresses. The density of the foam decides whether it is firm or soft and how long it holds its shape, so “foam” in a cheap mattress and in a good one are different things. In the specifications of Veneto models the foam is listed as the orthopaedic foam Ecofoam.
Foam works well together with springs: the Veneto Family Style Plus Mattress, for example, consists of a Multi Pocket Spring unit, ReFiberMix thermal felt and Ecofoam foam — with no coir or latex. Height 230 mm, medium firmness, load up to 110 kg.
Memory foam
Memory foam sinks slowly under the weight and warmth of the body and follows its contours, and when you get up it slowly recovers. Not everyone likes the “hugging” feel, so you really must lie on it before buying.
Points to weigh: the surface is soft, it is slightly harder to turn over on, and it is usually warmer than latex. This layer is found, for one, in the soft Veneto Lux Multi Soft Mattress (280 mm high, load up to 100 kg). If you want to try the memory effect without changing your mattress, there is the Veneto Aero Topper: soft, 40 mm high, made of Memoryfoam.
Felt and fibre layers
Thermal felt is a dense sheet of pressed fibres. You do not lie on it: it lies on the springs and stops them wearing through the soft layers, while also spreading the load. In Veneto models this is ReFiberMix. If you see felt in the composition of a spring mattress, it is a sign of a considered construction, not of a “cheap filling”.
Cotton, wool, hemp
These materials work closest to the body — in the cover or just under it — and are responsible for warmth and moisture. Cotton is cooler, wool is warmer. “Winter/summer” mattresses are built on this: the sides differ, and the mattress is turned with the season.
The Veneto Wellness Mattress, for example, has cotton in the cover on the “summer” side and wool on the “winter” one, and inside it Aero Latex foam and a layer of Hemp Vital hemp fibre. In Lux Multi Soft, Cottonterm cotton and Woolterm wool are part of the composition as well.
If you are allergic to wool, choose models without it — this can be seen in the composition.
Comparing the materials
| Material | How it feels | Who it suits | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut fibre | Firm, level | Those who like a hard surface; children's mattresses | Must not be bent |
| Latex | Springy, elastic | Those who turn over often | Latex allergy |
| Polyurethane foam | From soft to firm | An all-purpose layer | Quality depends on density |
| Memory foam | Soft, hugs the body | Those who like to “sink in” | Warmer, harder to turn over on |
| Felt | Not felt | Needed in spring mattresses | — |
| Cotton | Cooler | For the warm season, for those who get hot | — |
| Wool | Warmer | For the cold season | Wool allergy |
How to choose in practice
- Decide on firmness first: it narrows the choice of layers. Firm — look for coir closer to the surface; soft — latex or memory foam. We have a separate article on choosing firmness.
- Think about warmth: if you get hot at night, look at cotton in the cover and at “winter/summer” models.
- Check the cover: a removable one is easier to look after.
- Lie down. A description of the composition will point the way, but it does not replace trying the mattress yourself.
All models with their full composition are in the mattresses collection, and if you want to adjust the feel of the mattress you have, see the toppers collection.
In short
- The firmness and warmth of a mattress are set by its layers, not by one “main” material.
- Coir makes the surface firmer, latex springy, memory foam soft and hugging.
- Felt is a service layer; cotton and wool are climate layers.
- If you are allergic to latex or wool, check the composition and consult a doctor.
- Make the final choice lying down, not from a list of materials.
Frequently asked questions
Are natural fillings better than synthetic ones?
Not always. Natural coir or latex has its advantages, but good foam also holds its shape well and is usually more affordable. What matters more is how the layers are combined and whether you are comfortable lying on them.
Which filling is the firmest?
Coconut fibre. The thicker its layer and the closer it is to the surface, the firmer the mattress.
Is it hot to sleep on memory foam?
It is usually warmer than latex or a spring unit. If you often get hot, try the model in a showroom and pay attention to the cover.
What good does felt do in a mattress?
It protects the soft layers from the springs and spreads the load, so the mattress holds its shape for longer.
