Something utterly amazing has happened at Design Sheppard HQ. I’m a bit loathed to write it down here in case I jinx it but here goes….My youngest daughter has started sleeping through the night!!!! I was almost starting to think that it was never going to happen, but a few days before she turned three she suddenly stopped waking up at night. Just like that. No warnings, no build-up, just bam! A whole night’s uninterrupted sleep.
And my god, it’s amazing! Isn’t it amazing? Any parents out there, or any insomniacs for that matter, will tell you just how badly a lack of sleep can break a person. There is a reason why sleep deprivation is used as a form of torture. But you’ll never truly understand just how badly it can mess you up until you have lived through it.
Now that I’ve been sleeping through the night for about two weeks, I feel like a new person. Actually that’s not exactly true, a more accurate description would be that I feel like my old self again. My drive, motivation, and ambition have returned. I wake up excited to start a new day and no longer feel utterly overwhelmed by absolutely everything. I just generally feel like I can take on the world and I’m so excited by what the future has in store now that I’m back.
This may sound a bit dramatic to anyone who hasn’t experienced this, but I literally feel like I’ve been living in a weird haze for the past six years and that haze has finally lifted and I’m now able to think straight and see clearly again. It’s such a relief to feel like I’m finally living again and not just surviving.
Anyway, over the past few months, my husband and I have been making a few small changes in our bedroom with a view to finally cracking on with the bedroom makeover we started back in 2014! (I kid you not, four years later and we’re still going!). You can see the bedroom moodboard I made here, the blinds we’ve added here, the artwork we added here, the new bedding we have here, how we’ve cosied the space up with some LED candles here and some steps we have taken to transform the bedroom into a happy haven here.
Not long ago we finally got our dream bed from Made.com (affiliate link) with a beautiful upholstered headboard. I feel like a proper grown-up now. So it seemed like a really good time to get a new mattress and pillows for the bed. Particularly as I recently researched how our beds can trigger allergies due to the dust mites that live in them.
Remember those hideous statistics I shared? That our beds can harbour up to two million house dust mites and the average pillow can double in weight over a period of six months due to dust mite faeces? That according to The Sleep Council the average adult loses 284ml of fluid each night and sheds around 520g of dead skin over the course of a year, much of which ends up in our beds? I was positively sickened by all of this.
We were actually really happy with our old mattress. It was super comfy and still had a good four years of life left in it, but once I’d seen those stats I just couldn’t unsee them. So we decided it was the right time to get a new one. Now I’ve probably been asked to review most mattress brands over the past few years but I finally decided to go with OTTY.
So what made me opt for OTTY? Well, some of the other bed in box brands have worked quite extensively with interiors bloggers and influencers but I hadn’t come across anyone who had worked with OTTY yet. So I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to try out a different brand and share my thoughts with you. Plus the CEO and founder of OTTY is a Polish guy called Michal Szlas, (he moved to Yorkshire with his family at the age of 14) and I have a bit of a soft spot for Poles.
Also, OTTY is a hybrid mattress, which means it combines the support of pocket springs with the comfort of memory foam. I’d never slept on a hybrid mattress before. Our last mattress was memory foam and all the others before that only had springs, so I was really interested to see how this combination would compare in terms of comfort and support.
As with all bed in a box brands, the OTTY mattress arrived vacuum packed in a box. It was actually super heavy so I’m glad my husband was around to manoeuvre it into the bedroom and remove it from the box, although I could have done this alone if necessary.
Inside the box was a handy little tool that was designed to help remove the packaging. I thought this was a great idea as using scissors has the potential to damage the mattress. Once you’ve sliced down through that first layer of packaging you can unfurl the mattress and get it into position on the bed.
You then need to remove the final layer of plastic packaging so that the mattress can inflate itself. It is then recommended to leave it for up to four hours so it can expand fully to its usable size. But it may take 24-48 hours for it to reach optimum comfort levels. And it’s worth noting that the corners and edges may be the last parts to fully expand.
Once we’d unpackaged it and watched it slowly expand we were both really eager to get on and test it out. I had my fingers crossed it would be more comfortable than our previous mattress as nobody wants to replace a really comfy mattress with something that’s not as comfy regardless of how many dust mites have taken up residence in it.
My husband was instantly impressed and said it was definitely more comfortable. However, he was worried that he was going to roll off the side as there seemed to be absolutely no resistance on the edge. However, once we had given the mattress adequate time to expand and settle this was no longer the case, which was a relief.
My first impression was that it was a little firmer than our memory foam mattress and I did worry that I might not find it quite as comfortable. I used to sink into the old mattress a little more whereas this one doesn’t seem quite as soft.
This extra firmness can be put down to the 1710 top quality encapsulated pocket springs that can be found in the double mattress (the number varies according to the size of the mattress). These springs are up to five times the size of some of the other brands of mattress on the market. This means they they provide a lot of extra support and stability.
The pocket springs are encapsulated in memory foam and this is then topped with an added layer of memory foam that has been injected with a special ‘Cool Blue Gel’. This cooling gel has been designed to regulate body temperature and keep you cool at night. One of the major complaints about memory foam is how hot it can get. We never found that our previous memory foam mattress got us all hot and bothered, so I knew that with the added cooling gel we’d have no problem with the OTTY. And I’m happy to report that it really does keep us nice and cool even in winter with the heating on.
The combination of pocket springs and foam not only makes the OTTY super supportive and comfortable, but it also minimises motion transfer and ensures that you are not affected by the movements of your partner in bed at night.
You can clearly see in the images above just how the mattress moulds to your body. And after I’d slept on the mattress for a few nights I didn’t find it as firm as I first thought. It really is extremely comfortable, and cradles your body nicely no matter what position you sleep in.
One thing I really like about the OTTY mattress though is the fact that it has a removable, washable cover. There is a zip on the underside of the mattress so you can detach the top and sides from the base of the cover and wash separately. You have to wash at max 40c and tumble dry on low heat to avoid shrinkage but this is a huge advantage over other mattress brands for me. Especially now I know how our beds are full of dust mite poo!
The underside of the mattress is also covered in these little raised dots to give it extra grip so that it doesn’t move or slide around. This is just another nice little design detail that you just don’t see on similar mattresses. Everything about this mattress is really well thought out. I feel like so much consideration has been given to even the smallest details and this just gives it the edge for me.
We were also sent a pair of the deluxe memory foam pillows to try out. From reading other reviews I could see that the pillows were getting a mixed reaction. Most people seemed to love them but there were a few customers who weren’t fans.
Personally I really like them. They are extremely supportive, as you would expect from memory foam, and they really do mould to the shape of your head and neck. When we first unpacked them I was a little bit apprehensive as they looked so solid and so thick. But as soon as I laid upon the pillow I knew that this was revolutionary. When sleeping on my back or side it is absolutely dreamy and I get the best night’s sleep.
However, if I end up inadvertently rolling onto my front then I wake up with a stiff neck and I think that’s because of how thick the pillows are. I’m obviously just not used to having such thick pillows. You might not have the same issue and actually a lot of the reviews I read found the exact opposite, that they weren’t deep enough. As I said before it’s a very personal thing. But if you’re a back or side sleeper then I can’t recommend these pillows enough.
My husband had been complaining about a sore neck and back for a few weeks and he was adamant that our old pillows were causing it. He’d started sleeping without any pillows at all but that hadn’t really helped either. After the first night sleeping with his new OTTY pillow all his aches and pains had disappeared. He loves the pillows and said that we are never buying another type of pillow again. He’s fully converted.
As an added bonus the pillows feature the same cooling gel as the mattress so they keep your head and neck nice and cool while sleeping. The cover is also removable just like the mattress so that makes it easy to keep clean.
As with most bed in a box brands, OTTY offers a 100 day trial and guarantees a full, no quibble refund if you are not 100% satisfied. That means it’s completely risk free and you can give it a go without worrying about whether or not you will like it. If you don’t you simply return it.
And if you do like it and decide to keep it, you benefit from a 10 year guarantee. Considering that the Sleep Council and the National Bed Federation both recommend you change your mattress every seven years, I think this is a pretty sound investment.
So that’s our OTTY mattress review after using it for about a month. Let me know if you have any questions I haven’t answered and I’ll do my best to answer them. Also let me know if you have an OTTY too and how you’ve got on with it.
Hi we’re thinking of ordering one of these next week and I found your review comprehensive and helpful thank you. Do you still have the mattress and if so how is it now please?
Hi, yes we do still have this mattress and we are still very pleased with it. We have experienced no sagging or deterioration in the mattress at all. I do not use the Otty Pillows to sleep on every night. As I said in the review they are great for side sleeping but I find them too high for back or front sleeping. I hope that helps.
Hello! We have just bought the Otty Pure and it arrived a few days ago. Funnily enough we are also waiting for a Made bed to arrive too! Same as yours only in yellow. Anyway – what I wanted to ask is how are you finding your mattress two years on? I am waking up in a lot of pain and haven’t been sleeping so well since getting the Otty. In total I have slept on it for 3 nights. Since reading up about ‘breaking mattresses in’ I know that 3 nights is not long enough so I am going to give it time. I just didn’t expect to be in pain after being so excited about it arriving (& spending so much money)! I wonder whether it is because my old mattress was so unsupportive that my back is just getting used to all this new support. I definitely don’t feel comfy or cosy in it yet but I do feel my posture has improved and my back almost feels stronger in a strange way. My partner loves it so I am hoping that over time I will do too as otherwise it will be a shame to return it. I have always loved my bed, sleep and lie ins, so I’m a bit sad at the moment that I am having to get out of bed so quickly in the mornings due to soreness! Any tips/advice welcomed!!
Hi, l have found your in depth review really helpful as l have been looking seriously into buying this mattress, l have chronic lower back pain and at the age of 78 its time l had some restful sleep! I can’t afford the latest model but will definitely buy the original hybrid. Also l don’t like memory foam mattresses so this hybrid sounds absolutely perfect.
Thank you for a straight forward snd excellent write up.
Thanks Phyll. I’m so pleased that you found it helpful. Good luck with your hunt for the perfect mattress!
Hi can I ask you if your Otty is the right size? Mine has come and it’s 132 not 135 as stated. I know it’s only 3cm but?!
Looking to see if anyone else has had this problem.
Thanks
Hi Azra, I’ve just measured mine and it is indeed 132. I never noticed because it fits my bed perfectly.
Hello
Love your review we have just ordered our hybrid mattress and stumbled on your post afterwards, now we are feeling excited to get our new mattress. We didnt go for the pillows but it may be something we invest in at a later date, I did have a question on those though, as I love a pretty looking bed, I wonder, what do the pillows look like with covers on, i get the feeling they may look a little odd?
Now that you have used this mattress long term. Have you noticed any sagging or dips in the mattress?
Hi Richard, I can confirm that so far absolutely no sagging or dipping in the mattress. It’s still just as good as the first night.
Can it be used on an adjustable bed
Hi Deborah, I’m afraid I’m not sure on that one. It is probably best to contact OTTY directly to double-check before making the investment, just in case.
Thank you so much for your review! My new Otty mattress is arriving next Tuesday! I have done extensive research before taking the plunge but you still have that niggling feeling that it may not live up to your expectations. I am well into my 60s and this may well be the last mattress i purchase and i need it to be a good one.!!
Gillian Read
Hi Gillian, how exciting. Do pop back and let us know how you’re getting on with your Otty.
Hello, I bought an otty 3 days ago but so far I don’t find it as revolutionary as I expected it to be :( Do you reckon my body needs to get used to it? I had a firm sprig mattress before but wanted something slightly softer but otty is not softer at all. The memory foam makes it a bit more mouldable but I was hoping for a refreshing full night sleep, instead I wake up every time I turn around and I toss and turn all night, it feels! I’m a 70% side and 30% back sleeper.
Hi Rita, one thing I have learnt since I posted mattress reviews (this is my second one) is that everyone is very different and you can never base your own choice purely on someone else’s review. You really need to try sleeping on the mattress for a good amount of time to work out whether it will work for you. Luckily though most of these bed-in-a-box companies offer 100 nights to try it out because they understand how important it is to get a mattress that works for you and that not all mattresses will work for everyone.
I’m probably a 40% side sleeper, 40% back sleeper and 20% tummy sleeper. I don’t find it particularly comfortable sleeping on my front because it is quite a firm mattress but I love sleeping on my back on it. After other comments asking me if it gets softer with time, I asked my husband’s opinion to make sure I was reporting correctly but he agrees that it hasn’t got much softer since we got it. So if you need something softer it might not be for you. But my body did take a while to get used to it as our previous mattress was a lot softer.
I hope that you manage to get better sleep soon!
Loved reading this review.. thank you.
I’ve had my OTTY for just two days (I know, very early days). I do have spinal problems and joint disease but that aside, it was my occupational therapist who recommended the mattress. I swear she should be on commission :-)
Everything about the ordering process to the delivery was very impressive. Possibly the best I’ve experienced if I’m honest.
Sadly I’m finding it very hard to sleep on and the “off gassing” (I looked up the name for new mattress smell) seems to be taking forever. I purchased the king size and two pillows but the chemically smell from them fills the air in my house. Im sure it’ll subside, I really hope so.
I’m also hoping the mattress will soften slightly as I had high Hopes for the OTTY but after two very broken nights sleeping on this mattress I’m doubting whether it’s for me and the smell really isn’t helping. I also wonder whether weight matters? Im quite light, 53kg and feel as though my body is being supported by a solid block at present. I know every ‘body’s is different but wondered whether you could share your views with regards to the mattress softening slightly?
Thanks again for your wonderful ability to write. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Have a beautiful Wednesday.
A. X
Hi Ali, Thanks for leaving such a detailed comment. It’s so very hard when it comes to reviewing mattresses, especially memory foam ones. They are such a personal thing as everyone is so different when it comes to sleep. I found this with the previous mattress review I did. Some people had bought the same mattress as me and had very different experiences. Especially when it comes to the smell. With the OTTY I found that the smell wasn’t particularly strong and it had dissipated within a few days. It is definitely on the firmer end of the spectrum. I’m going to say it has softened ever so slightly, but it is still very firm. So if you are hoping for something much softer, you might be disappointed. I’m actually really happy with it and I don’t mind the firmness. But I understand it won’t be to everybody’s liking.
JUST NOT A GOOD MATTRESS OR SERVICE…
JUST NOT A GOOD MATTRESS OR SERVICE EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
I purchased the Otty and all was good with speedy delivery and ease of purchase etc.
After about a month my wife and I both found ourselves waking up to bad backs and aches and pains. I asked OTTY be email within the 100 day trial to return the mattress and then heard nothing. we bimbled along waking up aching and just put up with it. After another 12 months I realised that the OTTY had to go. I contacted OTTY and they said that they had never received an email from me. I searched and found the email sent within the trial period and sent it to Darren Hicks to show I had requested a return. When searching I found an email from OTTY in my junk telling me to contact returns. There was never any follow up from OTTY asking what was wrong or to try and appease my situation just get the impression they stay silent hoping the 100 days expire.
The reasons for my not following up at the time are many and too long winded to go into on here. My OTTY mattress has now developed slopes from the centre to the outside edge, almost have to cling on for dear life. Several emails to Darren and he just states “You did not return in trial period so sod off” or words to that effect.
There are plenty of good reviews on here so maybe their mattresses are good and I just got a faulty one? or maybe others like the slope and it helps them dream of the skiing holiday when they went of piste! All I can say is if you have an issue and need to return you will need to be onto them every day and record everything to ensure you get a return and refund. I was prepared to let them see if the mattress was faulty and replace if it was.
Simba or Emmy may be a better choice who knows. I do know based on my experience I would warn anyone off purchasing from this company.
Oh no Steve, I’m so sorry that you have had this experience. Buying a mattress is such a personal experience and what one person may love, may not be another person’s cup of tea. We found that the mattress sloped at the edges when we first unwrapped it and I was worried it would stay like that. But after 24 hrs when it had been left to settle, the edges were no longer sloped. So maybe you did get a dodgy item. I’m sorry that the customer service you received was not up to standard. Obviously, I can’t comment on that aspect. I hope you manage to sort something out though because good quality sleep is priceless and a great mattress is a huge part of that!
Hi,
Did you get to return your mattress in the end? I also found that after 3 months our mattress has got less supportive, I’d rather sleep on a £90 IKEA mattress.
What is the other, hessian-esque, sheet in the box for?
Hi Graham, I believe it is a protective bag for if you wish to store your mattress at any point when it is not in use.
I shouldn’t have read the stats! Haha. The thought of a heavy pillow now is going to haunt me forever. Glad you found the perfect mattress. It makes all the difference!
It really does. And I’m used to the new pillows now too. Took a while to adjust but they are so comfy!
My new super king Otty mattress arrived today. Haven’t unpacked it yet, but I’m obviously hoping it’ll be a joy to sleep on when I do. Im currently sleeping on a Casper mattress and I’m about 2 months into the 100 night trial. Its not uncomfortable to sleep on but I’ve found it to be uncomfortable to sit up on, when reading in bed for example. The mattress is a medium firmness and there’s some sink when sitting on it causing extra straim on the lower back. I also find it quite hot to sleep on. Here’s hoping Otty is more comfortable, but the great thing about these bed in a box companies is the trial and free returns if you don’t like it. I don’t half waffle!
A perfect place to have a good sleep. The mattress is so smooth and classy..
Oh I’ve not heard of this brand before either! But the statistics you provided have given me a serious case of the heebie geebies! LOL! We have a ‘bed-in-a-box’ type mattress as well (Simba Luxe) which we got earlier this year and I do love it. It’s amazing what they can do nowadays – I don’t think I’d ever go back to a traditional mattress now :) xx
It’s so much nicer trying it out at home for a good period of time rather than a quick test at a shop isn’t it?
I’ve actually never heard of Otty before so found your post really interesting. There’s nothing like a new mattress especially with all the benefits of one like this. Thanks for the heads up! Enjoy it x
No problem Lucy, always happy to share my latest design finds!
Hi Stacey. It’s great to see someone else with an Otty mattress. We are 30 nights into our 100 night trial of ours and I love it. I’d never heard of Otty, even when I was researching bed-in-a-box-type mattresses. Their name appeared in a business article and, having read reviews, we decided to give it a go. We also have the pillows, which are not like any other pillow I’ve tried. They seem very solid but actually give a great level of support. My husband is a front sleeper so he’s not keen but I really like mine. They aren’t easy to get into a pillow case, though! We had almost decided on a Premier Inn mattress by Hypnos but decided to give this one a try (with a trial period, what have you got to lose?). I don’t think it will be going back. I’m really looking forward to the next 70 nights, just to make sure 😊
I’m so glad to hear that you are enjoying your new mattress Karen. I think a lot of the other mattress in a box brands have more aggressive marketing campaigns and I haven;t found that with OTTY at all. Interesting that your husband found the same as me with front sleeping. I wasn’t sure if it was just me that found that with the pillows. I’m trying to retrain myself to sleep on my back and side only as the pillows are so comfortable in that position.