Firmness preference is personal, and no spec sheet can tell you exactly what will feel right under you. But construction does predict a lot — more spring layers and added foam generally mean softer, while a single spring type and less padding generally mean firmer. Based on what’s actually in each mattress, here’s how the seven comfort systems in this range compare, from firmest to softest.
The firmness order, and why
Firmest: Pocket Spring. Recast Plus and Unfurl use pocket springs alone, without the additional hyper soft foam layer that softer systems add on top. That makes this the most structured, supportive feel in the range — a good match if you find plush surfaces uncomfortable or you’re used to a firmer mattress at home.
Firm-to-medium: Double Spring. Neah and Vilander stack a no-zag layer under a pocket spring core on a metal frame, without extra soft foam on top. It’s more structured than the softer systems below, while the no-zag layer adds some give under concentrated pressure that pure Pocket Spring doesn’t have.
Medium: No-zag Spring. Cubed uses a thick high resilient foam layer over no-zag springs alone, producing an even, consistently soft feel across the whole seat — different in character from the spring-core systems, since there’s no pocket spring contouring underneath.
Medium-soft: Excess Pocket Spring. Cassius, Supremax, and Ran use taller pocket spring coils than the standard system, giving each spring more room to compress and absorb pressure — a softer feel than standard Pocket Spring, scaled for the larger queen sleeping surfaces these models use.
Soft: No-zag & Pocket Spring. Newilla adds a hyper soft foam layer on top of the same two spring types used in Double Spring, on a solid wood frame. That extra layer is a deliberate softening step, making this noticeably plusher than Neah or Vilander despite sharing the same underlying spring combination.
Soft, engineered for everyday sleeping: Pocket Spring Dual. Osvald, Cone, and Walis add the same kind of hyper soft foam layer to the standard Pocket Spring base, and it’s the only system carrying an explicit manufacturer recommendation for nightly sleeping.
Your choice, either way: Dual Memory. Carnell sits outside this scale entirely — its reversible mattress gives you a firmer high-density foam side and a softer memory foam side on the same piece, so firmness isn’t fixed at purchase.
This ordering is a reasonable read of the construction details, not a firmness scale the manufacturer publishes — feel is genuinely subjective, and two people can disagree about where a given system lands. Use it as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Matching firmness to how you’ll actually use it
You sleep hot, or prefer more give under pressure points. Systems with a no-zag layer — Double Spring and No-zag & Pocket Spring — combine spring types specifically to absorb concentrated pressure better than a single spring type alone.
You’re replacing a mattress you found too soft. Standard Pocket Spring, without the added foam layer, is the most structured option in the range.
The piece is a primary bed, not an occasional guest bed. Pocket Spring Dual carries the explicit everyday-sleeping recommendation, and its extra foam layer suits nightly use specifically. See our guide to sleeping on a sofa bed every night for more.
You and a partner, or rotating guests, disagree on firmness. Carnell’s reversible mattress sidesteps the disagreement entirely rather than forcing a single answer.
What firmness doesn’t tell you
Firmness is one axis of comfort, not the whole picture. Frame construction, storage, mechanism, and covers all matter independently — a system that’s exactly your preferred firmness might still be the wrong choice if the mechanism is awkward for daily use or the storage doesn’t fit your needs. See our full comfort systems guide for the complete construction breakdown, and our buying guide for how firmness fits alongside the other five decisions.
If you have specific back or joint concerns, treat this as a starting point for narrowing options, not a substitute for actually sitting and lying on the piece — and raise anything more than a general preference question with a healthcare professional rather than a furniture guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which Innovation Living sofa bed is the firmest? Pocket Spring, used on Recast Plus and Unfurl, is the most structured and supportive feel in the range, without an added soft foam layer on top.
Which is the softest? Pocket Spring Dual, used on Osvald, Cone, and Walis, adds a hyper soft foam layer to the pocket spring base and carries an explicit everyday-sleeping recommendation from the manufacturer.
Can I get both firm and soft in one sofa bed? Yes — Carnell’s reversible Dual Memory mattress offers a firmer high-density foam side and a softer memory foam side on the same piece.
Does a firmer mattress mean it’s less comfortable for sleeping? Not necessarily. Firmness is a preference, not a quality measure — some people sleep better on firmer support, others need more give. Match the system to your own preference rather than assuming softer is always better for sleep.
Firmness is worth weighing early, alongside how often the piece will actually be slept on. See our full comfort systems guide for construction details on all seven systems, or get in touch if you want help matching one to your preference.