Ever since we wrote about buying our new organic, natural latex mattress — the Organic Serenity Natural Dunlop Latex Mattress by Savvy Rest — readers have been asking for a one-month update. So here it is. My drive for eco-friendly choices led us to hunt for a mattress made from 100% natural materials, without synthetic fire-retardant chemicals. We saved for months (we even had a dedicated mattress fund) to make this purchase, hoping the mattress would meet our expectations long after the first night. A month in, we’re happy to report that the mattress has exceeded those hopes. Even our dog, Burger, seems to sleep more soundly. If you’ve wondered whether mattress encasements protect against bed bugs, our experience suggests they can help keep your mattress safe and clean for years.
Evaluating a mattress can feel subjective, so we judged ours on three practical criteria: comfort, quality of sleep, and morning-after aches. Here’s how our old hand-me-down spring mattress compared to the new natural latex mattress after using each for a significant period:
- Comfort (old spring): 3 — The old mattress felt hard and unsupportive. A featherbed made it a bit better, but it still lacked true comfort.
- Quality of Sleep (old spring): 5 — We woke up several times during the night to toss and turn and try to get comfortable again.
- Morning-After Aches (old spring): 8 — Frequent stiffness and aches were the norm, especially around shoulders and lower back.
And here’s how our new natural Dunlop latex mattress, encased in organic wool and cotton, measures up now that we’ve slept on it for a month:
- Comfort (new latex): 9 — The mattress is supportive yet offers a gentle sink-in feel. We settle into it quickly and wake feeling well-rested.
- Quality of Sleep (new latex): 8 — We often sleep straight through the night and only wake when the alarm goes off.
- Morning-After Aches (new latex): 1 — We rarely wake with bed-related soreness. Any stiffness we experience is usually from activities like painting or moving rather than the mattress itself. Our bodies did take a couple of nights to adjust to the mattress’s different level of support.
Safety was a concern for some readers who wondered about skipping conventional flame-retardant chemicals. We checked with the manufacturer: the wool encasement and natural materials meet federal burn test standards while avoiding the controversial additives many people prefer to avoid. That made us feel more confident that choosing natural materials didn’t mean sacrificing safety.
Another common worry was buying a mattress online without testing it in a showroom. We were pleasantly surprised by the company’s helpful phone support. Their staff walked us through choosing the density of each latex layer based on our preferences and sleeping habits. Natural Dunlop latex can be firmer than people expect, so getting the right combination of layers matters. We chose a configuration with a medium layer, another medium layer, and a soft top layer. It might sound like it would be quite firm, but in practice it provides a balanced, moderately firm feel that suits our preference for support with a little give.
For anyone who prefers an extra-plush surface, the staff suggested using three soft layers for a noticeably plusher result. Our experience confirms that mixing medium and soft layers creates a supportive mattress that still allows for some sink-in comfort. The customization option was a key reason we felt comfortable buying without trying the mattress first.
Overall, a month in, the mattress is one of our best home upgrades. The sleep improvements, reduced morning stiffness, and the peace of mind from choosing natural materials make the purchase worthwhile. If you’ve recently upgraded your sleep setup — new pillows, a featherbed, or a fresh sheet set — we’d love to hear what you changed and how it affected your rest. Small investments in bedding can make a big difference in daily energy and comfort.
On a related note, we recently picked up a new accent pillow that we love for its crisp black-on-white lettering — a small touch that refreshed our bedroom decor and made the room feel cozier. Little details like that, combined with a mattress that helps you sleep better, can transform how a bedroom feels and functions.