Ok, we’ll share a slightly gross little secret: our master bedroom mattress was ancient. It was a hand-me-down — John’s sister generously passed it along when we moved to Richmond three years ago after years of her own use. As mattresses age they tend to stiffen, and ours had become as hard and uncomfortable as a brick. Still, it served its purpose during our phased home renovation: paint, primer, new furnishings, and even a kitchen remodel took priority, so replacing the mattress waited. Every night we climbed into bed sore and exhausted, only to wake up even achier the next morning. John and Burger could clearly demonstrate how unpleasant that old mattress was.
Finally, three years later, we were ready to say goodbye to that relic and welcome a new, healthier mattress. I wanted something eco-friendly and chemical-free — a mattress made from natural materials without fire-retardant chemicals, and one that was better for both people and the planet. After a lot of online research and comparisons, we chose the Organic Serenity Natural Dunlop Latex Mattress by Savvy Rest. It ranked highly in organic mattress reviews and offered customization options that appealed to us.
At $1,999 for a queen, the price tag wasn’t small — in fact, it cost more than any other piece of furniture in the house. But when you consider the amount of time you spend sleeping and the 20-year warranty, the investment made sense. We set up a “mattress fund” and saved until we could buy it. Delivery arrived in three separate boxes, and yes, I did my happy squeal-and-clap routine when they showed up.
One of the best features of the Organic Serenity mattress is the ability to customize firmness. The mattress is built from three 3-inch layers of natural Dunlop latex inside a certified organic cotton and wool cover. Each layer arrived in its own box, which was convenient — and it shipped from nearby Charlottesville, Virginia, reducing travel miles to our door. During ordering we chose the density for each layer (soft, medium, or firm) and could even split layers down the middle for different firmnesses on each side of the bed. That’s a great option for couples who prefer different feels.
Because we both prefer a moderately firm surface — not the rock-hard feel of our previous mattress, but not overly soft since we sleep on our backs and bellies — we spoke with a consultant and selected two medium layers and one soft layer. When the three latex layers arrived, we were excited to assemble them. First we removed and donated our old mattress through Freecycle and cleared the bed frame. Then we followed the simple instructions included in the package.
We set out the bottom of the organic cotton and wool cover, then slid the bottom medium latex layer into place, wiggling it until it centered. A single 3-inch layer of perforated natural latex immediately felt worlds better than our creaky 6-inch innerspring. Next we stacked the middle medium layer and finally the top soft layer. Each layer lined up neatly inside the cover.
Once the layers were aligned, we brought the top of the cover up and zipped it closed, securing all three pieces for long-term use. The assembled mattress ended up being a luxurious 11 inches thick when accounting for the quilted organic wool and cotton cover — a big step up from our previous 6-inch innerspring. We celebrated our new mattress like you’d see in commercials: smiling, relaxed, and yes, even balancing a pretend wine glass in our imaginations.
Since switching to the organic Dunlop latex mattress, our sleep has improved dramatically. Our backs hurt less, we wake feeling refreshed, and even Burger approved almost immediately, happily lounging on the new surface just hours after setup. Choosing a natural, organic mattress felt like the right decision for our health and for the environment, and the customizable layers ensured we got the exact feel we wanted.
Are you considering a new mattress or another household staple like a couch? Do you have an anniversary coming up that might inspire a gift like this? Share what you’re thinking — sometimes investing in quality sleep is one of the best purchases you can make.
Psst — for an update on how we feel about our mattress after more time sleeping on it, check the follow-up post on our site where we share our long-term experience with the big mattress switcheroo.