How Does Memory Foam React to Room Temperature?

Are you sitting comfortably? If so, it could be that you’re sitting on a memory foam chair, contouring it to your body’s position and providing pressure relief. Known for its responsiveness to heat and weight, memory foam can also adapt to room temperature, playing a significant role in its performance and comfort. Sit back and relax as we’re about to unpack memory foam and uncover how it responds to varying room temperatures. We’ll explore how it’ll optimise your sleep experience and add years to the life of your mattress.

What is memory foam, and how does it work?

Like a springboard, memory foam is flexible, reacting to heat and pressure. Moulding to the shape of your body, it returns to its original form when pressure is removed. Initially developed by NASA for astronaut seat cushioning, it’s become the UK's preferred mattress type. Inbuilt memory foam temperature sensitivity means it’s designed to soften in response to heat, allowing it to conform to your body's contours and provide customised support. As the foam warms up, it becomes more pliable, alleviating pressure points and promoting spinal alignment.

The science behind memory foam and temperature sensitivity

When it comes to memory foam, there’s a science to getting things just right for bespoke comfort and support…

How temperature affects memory foam firmness

You may be wondering, does memory foam change with temperature? As memory foam’s popularity is heating up, we’ll now explore how temperature affects memory foam. So, how does heat impact memory foam quality? Memory foam is highly responsive to temperature changes due to its unique viscoelastic properties. In warmer conditions, the heat—whether from your body or the surrounding environment—causes the foam's molecular chains to relax and become more pliable. This softening effect allows the foam to contour more closely to your body, providing enhanced pressure relief and personalized comfort.

However, in cooler environments, the foam's molecular structure tightens, making it firmer and less responsive. This increased firmness can offer robust support but may also reduce the material's ability to conform to the body's natural curves. 

The degree of this temperature-induced variability in firmness often depends on the foam's density and specific formulation, which is why some advanced memory foam products incorporate cooling technologies or temperature-regulating additives to maintain consistent support and comfort across varying conditions.

Seasonal changes and memory foam performance

While a memory foam pillow or mattress is a year-round deal, there are definitive differences when it comes to how the foam performs during the changing seasons. 

Memory foam in cold weather 

As you might have gauged, memory foam firmness at different temperatures isn’t the same. In cooler temperatures, memory foam takes a while to wake up and may initially feel firmer and less responsive (just like us on a frosty morning). The foam may take longer to adjust to your body's shape and provide the desired level of comfort and support. You may find the mattress slightly hard until it warms up. To help improve memory foam and cold weather response, have your heating on or opt for an electric blanket at a low setting.

Memory foam in hot weather

Memory foam in hot weather is the opposite of cold; it becomes softer and more conforming. One thing about memory foam is that it’s very good at retaining heat, which is why some people aren’t big fans. That’s why we crafted our mattresses with BioCell Foam™, a memory foam layer infused with fresh bamboo to counteract the heat retention of traditional memory foam.

There’s a risk of overheating with traditional memory foam mattresses, so we’ll advise you on how to keep cool in summer. One way would be to have a fan or ventilation system, and another way to keep it fresh is by using breathable covers on your bed. Our Panda Cloud Duvet is made with breathable bamboo, and thanks to our Bamboo NanoMicrofibre™ technology, it’s ultra-thin and lightweight. Exactly like sleeping on a cloud. Our Bamboo & French Linen Bedding Set consists of airy and light, temperature-regulating and highly breathable pillow cases and a fitted sheet. In other words, the total sleep package.

Factors that influence memory foam responsiveness

Memory foam doesn’t act the same in all circumstances – so what are some factors that may influence how responsive it is at any given time?

Foam density and quality

As well as the effect of the weather and our body, there are room temperature effects on memory foam, and if you’re meditating on the question, ‘Does memory foam soften in warm rooms?’ then we can confirm it does soften in warm room temperatures. Memory foam mattresses can adjust to constantly changing room temperatures by adapting to the body heat of the sleeper. Our Bamboo Mattress Topper is constructed with high density, orthopaedic grade memory foam. It reacts slower to fluctuations in temperature, but it’s highly durable and offers better support for your back. If you choose a lower-density foam mattress or topper, it will adjust quickly, but it’ll lack durability.

Additional cooling technologies

No sweat! Another plus point of our Bamboo Mattress Topper is our HydroFoam™ – gel-infused technology to actively regulate temperature and provide memory foam comfort in hot rooms. Our open-cell memory foam aids in better airflow. Hypoallergenic and naturally antibacterial, it’s soothing and comforting on the skin.

How to optimise memory foam for a comfortable sleep in any season

In our 2024 Sleep Report, we discovered that less than 50% of the UK aren’t getting enough sleep (sigh), and one thing keeping you up at night was the temperature of your room. The best room temperature for memory foam is between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. But here’s the good news! You’ll discover temperature regulation with memory foam mattresses. Our Bamboo Mattress Topper and Hybrid Bamboo Mattresses range provide the ultimate sleep comfort. Designed to support your head, neck, and back, they’re highly breathable and encourage airflow.

Testing your mattress for firmness is in the palm of your hands (literally). Press them firmly onto the mattress, and if the foam bounces back quickly, it suggests it’s firm – however, if it slowly contours and holds the shape, it's softer. You can also check by lying down on the mattress in your usual sleeping position. If you feel excessive pressure on your shoulders, your hips or back, it could be too firm for you. If you sink down too much with difficulty moving around, it's too malleable. If you’re waking up with stiffness and pain, this is another indicator that your mattress isn’t soft enough. If your current mattress is too firm, we suggest you add a topper, apply heat or rotate it. If it’s too pliable, try a firmer mattress topper like our Bamboo Mattress Topper, cool the room down or place plywood underneath your mattress.

Adapting memory foam to your climate

Still, meditating on memory foam? If you’re concerned about memory foam heat retention issues, we advise you to find the best memory foam mattress for you and your climate. If you are a hot sleeper or live in a warm location, our Bamboo Mattress Topper is made with HydroFoam™ to actively prevent overheating, while our Hybrid Bamboo Mattress range contains our innovative BioCell Foam™. As we’ve discussed, these are the best options for temperature regulation. When you apply your body heat to memory foam, it responds by supporting you and aligning your spine. With proper care and maintenance, a memory foam mattress can help improve your sleep for many years to come.