Here’s the Mattress I Chose for My Non-Toxic Bedroom. (+ My Full Review)

I guess for me, new mattresses are like new music albums.

Sometimes it takes me a few listens through a new album to fall in love with it (even if it’s by one of my favorite artists). I don’t always know if I love it right away… But then a week later, I’ll have it on repeat and be asking everyone around me if they’ve listened to it yet.

That’s pretty much what happened with the Savvy Rest Serenity mattress.

I’d never had an all-latex mattress before, so the first time I laid on it, I honestly couldn’t tell if I’d like it or not.

But now, as I write this over a month later, I’m obsessed. In fact, I wish it was bed time right now. 😴

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. This article is not sponsored, but the mattress was gifted (thank you!). As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine—I have been a fan of Savvy Rest for many years now!

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BTW, before I get into it: if you decide to buy anything from Savvy Rest, use the code THEFILTERY20 for 20% off all products.

Switching to an Organic Mattress Can Reduce Your Toxic Exposure While You Sleep

I have a whole in-depth guide on organic mattresses and why you might want to consider getting one, so I’m not going to dive too deep into that here. But here’s that info in a nutshell:

Most conventional mattresses are made with things like polyurethane foam and other synthetic materials that can “off-gas” harmful chemicals while you sleep. These mattresses are basically just huge chunks of plastic, and as we know, research is showing that microplastic is wreaking havoc on human and environmental health.

Since we spend about a third of our lives in bed, that exposure adds up. Natural and organic mattresses, however, skip the toxic chemicals and use safer materials like organic cotton, wool, and latex. It’s one way you can decrease your daily toxic load.

Savvy Rest Has It Going On

Savvy Rest has been one of my top picks for a non-toxic mattress for many years now. Here are a bunch of things you might want to know about them:

• Their mattresses are almost 100% natural. There are no glues or adhesives*, harmful VOCs, flame retardants, PFAS, etc. (Natural rubber does require a certain amount of synthetic chemicals in order to process it into a latex, but this is the case for any latex mattress. Savvy Rest says their latex foam is 95% or greater pure rubber. The GOLS certification also helps make sure any curing agents are kept to a minimum.)
  • *They do use a little bit of glue for the king beds only. They use it for all CA King Dunlop and Talalay layers and all Solid King Talalay layers. The glue is GREENGUARD Gold certified and made in the USA.

• Their mattresses have a lot of third-party certifications that provide a level of accountability for brands and assurance for customers. For example: GOTS certified (for the materials and the manufacturing facilities), GREENGUARD Gold, Eco Institute, Cradle to Cradle Gold (and more!).

• They offer a lot of choices and customization options—you can choose:
  • between two types of latex (Dunlop and Talalay)
  • three different levels of firmness for each type of latex (soft, medium, or firm)
  • and couples can get different types of latex & firmness on their respective side

• They’ve also got options for the whole family—from crib mattresses to California king.

• Their mattresses and other furniture is made in the USA, helping to keep supply chains localized and cut down on the overall carbon footprint.

• They’re also made to order, which cuts down on waste in big ways.

• It’s not just mattresses, either. They have bed frames, living room furniture, bedding accessories, and more.

• In addition to the third-party certifications I mentioned above, they also carry a lot of other memberships and associations, including B Corp.

• They’re employee-owned! In a world that seems entirely run by huge corporations, I really appreciate this.

• They have a 90-Day Latex exchange, which is there to make sure you’re happy with the level of firmness. If you decide within the first three months that you’d prefer a layer softer or firmer than your original choice, you can get the latex swapped out. (There are a couple of terms though, so check the details here. For example, you may need to pay an upgrade fee if you switch a layer from Dunlop to Talalay since it’s more expensive.)

• Their mattresses come with a 10-20 year warranty (depending on which type you get). Check all the details for those here.

The Ordering Process (It’s Customized, Baby!)

This part was hard for me because I get analysis paralysis. I do this with everything—I’m so afraid of making the wrong decision! I really shouldn’t have been so anxious about it though because of Savvy Rest’s 90-Day Latex Exchange policy (which I just outlined above). If I ended up making the wrong decision, I could have exchanged the layers.

You see, the Serenity Mattress allows for a lot of customization:

• You’ve got 2 separate sides, each of which can have their own layer configuration.
  • (Two separate sides is only available for Queen, Kind, and CA King sized mattresses. But you don’t have to get a split mattress if you’re getting a larger bed—you can see get just 3 solid layers if you want to.)
• Each side has 3 layers.
• You have 2 different types of latex to choose from (Dunlop or Talalay).
• And then you have 3 different firmness levels (soft, medium, or firm).

That makes for 46,656 configuration possibilities! 😆

Not all of those possibilities would make sense (for example, you wouldn’t put a firm layer on top and a soft layer on the bottom), but the point is: you see where my analysis paralysis came from!

I used their Mattress Tool to play around with different configuration possibilities, and I also consulted a bunch of their other resources on their site, like their “How to Choose” breakdown. They give you explanations of different configurations and what they are good for (back pain, heavier folks, etc.).

They’ve also got plenty of info about the difference between Dunlop and Talalay latex, configurations that are NOT recommended, and more.

(Their customer service team is also more than happy to help you decide, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you’re still having trouble choosing.)

In the end, I ended up choosing one of their recommended configurations for couples (pictured below). I wanted the plush, cushy feel of the Talalay on top, combined with the firmer Dunlop beneath it. My husband is 6’4″ and I have a lot of body pain, so I wanted that extra support from two layers of Dunlop.

I’m happy with my decision and won’t be swapping out any of the layers. 😊

Dunlop vs. Talalay:

Here’s a quick primer on the difference between the two types of latex:

The primary difference is in how they’re processed. Both start as sap from rubber trees, but Dunlop latex is poured into a mold in one step and baked, which results in a denser, firmer, and more durable foam—often used as a supportive base layer.

Talalay latex undergoes additional steps, including vacuum expansion and flash-freezing before baking. This creates a lighter, bouncier, and more breathable foam that’s typically used for softer comfort layers.

You can learn more here.

The price:

The price ranges for Savvy Rest’s mattresses are pretty comparable to well-known conventional brands such as Casper and TempurPedic.

They carry options for different price points, so they have more budget-friendly options as well as more luxury ones. (See below for a table of all the options.)

The Serenity specifically ranges from $1,999 to $4,299 (at the time of publication). I got a queen with one layer of Talalay (which is more expensive) and it was priced at $3,249. They also provide free shipping to the contiguous US.

When considering how much you want to spend, it’s worth noting that latex mattresses in general last longer than memory foam ones. Most sources say memory foam mattresses will need to be replaced every 8-10 years, whereas latex ones can last 10-20 years.

Can you get a cheaper mattress at IKEA or whatever? Yes. And if that’s all your budget allows for, that’s totally fine of course! But for the quality, safety, and sustainability that you get with a Savvy Rest bed, I believe their prices to be very reasonable.

Also, they do have financing available through Affirm if that’s a good option for you.

First Impressions & Setup

Packaging & Smell

The mattress was shipped to me in three separate cardboard boxes. The layers were wrapped in plastic, but that turned out to be a good thing for me. Two of the cardboard boxes had gotten severely damaged during shipping, so without the plastic wrapping, my mattress definitely would have gotten dirty before it got to me.

One of the first things I noticed when I opened it was that there was no smell! I’m pretty sensitive to smells, so this is always something I notice and I was very happy there weren’t any weird scents to worry about.

(If you put your face right up to the latex, it does have a slight scent to it. But it’s not something I noticed until I literally put my nose to it.)

Once I started pulling the latex layers out, I loved the feel of them. The latex just has a very high-quality, soft, luxurious feel to it.

The Setup: Not a One-Person Job

The setup was not the easiest thing for me. I did it myself and I think it would have been much easier as a 2-person job.

This is not your typical “mattress in a box” that you basically just unroll and then let sit for 24-48 hours while it “inflates.”

As I mentioned, the mattress actually came in three boxes. There were two layers in each box (for a total of 6 layers + the outer casing), so you just have to put all of those layers together to make your mattress.

Here is a video showing you how to do it. As you can see, they’re doing it with two people and on top of the bed frame. I didn’t have my bed frame yet, so I put it together on the floor instead, which I think also made it a little more difficult.

The thing that made it difficult is the fact that the latex is kind of heavy! So it was just hard to maneuver the layers around and get them all lined up with each other.

Moral of the story: Don’t try to do the set-up yourself—grab a partner!

Here’s the step-by-step for putting the Serenity mattress together:

• Find the box that has the organic cotton casing in it (it should be labeled accordingly) and open that one first. Lay the casing out on the bed frame (or floor!) with it unzipped and open.

• Find the box with your bottom layer, put it onto the bed/surface and dump it out. Each layer of latex will be labeled with a sticker that has the type (Talalay or Dunlop) and the firmness (Soft, Medium, or Firm).
  • (It’s easier to dump it out of the box and into the surface you’re building the mattress on rather than to take it out of the box and then lift the loose latex onto the bed frame.)

• Do the same with the next two layers, lining everything up as you go. (Watch this video to see how they “shake the latex into place with a gentle wave motion”—that’s the easiest way to move it!)

• Line up the corners of the latex layer with the corners of the fabric casing. The latex can take some handling, but don’t be too rough with it—it can tear.

• Put the top of the cover on and zip it up. You do have to shove the latex in there a little bit to get it to close all the way. That’s on purpose—it’s supposed to be a tight fit! (Again, this part would have been a lot easier with a partner.)

Here’s a very sped-up version of me putting together the mattress and the bed frame:

My Experience After Sleeping On It

As I write this, I’ve been sleeping on the mattress for about a month and a half now. (I will be sure to update this after I’ve had it for even longer if anything changes!)

What the latex feels like:

If you haven’t slept on a 100% latex mattress before (I hadn’t!), it actually feels pretty comparable to a memory foam mattress. However, it’s slightly less cushy and has a little bit more spring and support to it.

Overall the mattress has a *luxurious* feel to it. It just feels nice!

Even though the firmness of the two sides are technically different, I can’t tell. My husband will sleep in the other room some nights because he snores, so I end up sleeping in the middle of the bed. When I do, I can’t tell the difference between the two sides. But also, the top layer is the same on both sides of mine (soft Talalay). I don’t know if you might be able to tell the difference if the top layer was different.

Better for hot sleepers:

My husband tends to be a hot sleeper, and latex is generally better than memory foam for this. This is essentially because its open-cell structure allows for better airflow and doesn’t trap heat like traditional memory foam.

(If you’ve consumed any of Matt Walker’s info, you know the importance of temperature for sleep quality!)

Motion transfer:

One of the positive aspects of conventional memory foam is the fact that you can’t feel your partner move around as much.

I would say the Serenity isn’t quite as motion-absorbent as a memory foam mattress, but for all intents and purposes, I haven’t had an issue with it. This could be because the layers on each side are split—I’m sure this helps cut down on the motion transfer.

Edge support:

It’s great—no issues here so far. When sitting on the side of the bed, I’d say the edges compress less than a conventional memory foam mattress but a little more than a conventional coil spring mattress.

But when I’m lying near the edge, I definitely don’t feel like I’m rolling off or anything like that. Overall, the latex holds weight very evenly.

Sleeping positions:

I am a side/stomach sleeper and my husband is a back sleeper. That’s one of the reasons I chose to get two layers of one side of the mattress softer than the other. (And also because of our weight difference.)

Back sleepers generally need more firm support and side/stomach sleepers tend to do better with medium layers.

As a mold-sensitive person:

As someone with CIRS, an all-latex mattress is one of the best options I could have chosen. Latex is more resistant to mold, mildew, and dust mites compared to both conventional memory foam and coil spring mattresses.

This also makes it a great option for people with allergies and other chemical sensitivities as well. (Except latex, of course!)

Important note: Latex is not mold-proof; it’s just more naturally a more mold-resistant material. It’s still good to take all of the precautions to prevent mold growth, such as managing humidity levels, etc.

My chronic pain:

I deal with a lot of body pain, and I also work out a lot, which can sometimes make that pain worse. I can’t necessarily say that the mattress has actively helped with the pain because there are so many factors that go into it, but I can definitely say that the mattress hasn’t made it any worse!

The mental peace:

Lastly, I just FEEL better knowing that I’m sleeping on natural materials and not petroleum-derived plastic. I like knowing that I’m making my bedroom into a healthier place to sleep.

A Quick Tip on Bed Frame

For their latex mattresses, Savvy Rest recommends a platform bed with sturdy slats about 2-3 inches apart. This allows for proper airflow for the latex and plenty of support for the mattress. I put my Serenity mattress on the Savvy Rest Afton bed frame—see my full review of that here!

You do not use a box spring with latex mattresses—they need a firmer, flat support. (Latex is also too heavy for a box spring.)

Potential Drawbacks of the Savvy Rest Mattress

Here are a couple of potential downsides you may want to consider:

• The Serenity mattress is heavy! It’s not super easy to move. (Savvy Rest recommends breaking down the mattress into separate layers when moving… Basically, move the mattress the same way it was delivered.)

• Savvy Rest mattresses are not returnable. (They do have their 90-day latex exchange policy, though, which allows you to swap out your latex layers to make your bed more or less firm.) In my opinion, the lack of a return policy is one of the main downsides to Savvy Rest—it makes buying the mattress feel riskier. However, there are also a lot of issues with mattress returns. As I mentioned, many Savvy Rest mattresses are customized and made-to-order, which means they’re harder to re-sell and therefore could just lead to waste. Additionally, re-sold mattresses have to be sanitized using chemicals that most health-conscious consumers do not want on their mattress. (As you can see, it’s a bit of a difficult issue!)
  • But, if you’re really worried about the no-return policy, check to see if there’s a Savvy rest dealer near you. That way you can physically try out the mattress before you buy it.

Pros & Cons of the Savvy Rest Serenity Mattress In a Nutshell:

If the Serenity Mattress Isn’t the Best Fit for You…

If you want to look at some of the other options, here are the other mattresses Savvy Rest offers.

P.S. All of these prices were accurate at the time of publication, but be sure to check the website for the most updated pricing!

Serenity (the one I’ve reviewed here!)	Three, 3-inch layers of latex (all customizable).	Starting at $1,999
Unity Pillowtop	This is basically just the Serenity (all latex) with an extra attached topper for even more customization. This is their top-tier, most luxurious mattress.	Starting at $2,699
Tranquility	This is like the Serenity (all latex) but with two layers instead of three. It’s a good option for petite adults, toddler beds, or bunk beds.	Starting at $1,799
SerenitySpring	This one has coiled springs with two layers of latex (which you can customize).	Starting at $1,799
TranquilitySpring	This one has coiled springs and one layer of latex on top. The latex layer is still customizable. It would be considered one of their “mid-range” mattresses. It’s more affordable and lighter-weight than the Serenity.	Starting at $1,199
Simplicity	This is their most affordable mattress. It’s low-profile and contains 6 inches of natural Dunlop latex. This is their “mattress in a box” option, so it’s super easy to set up and it’s not customizable. This mattress does have a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.	Starting at $999
Earthspring	Another affordable option, this one has innersprings and 3 inches of latex on top. You cannot customize the latex for this one. This and the Tranquility are their most “kid-friendly” mattresses!	Starting at $1,399
Split Top Serenity	This one is meant for adjustable bed frames where one partner needs to be raised up at an angle and the other doesn’t.	Starting at $3,199
Pastoral	This is the one I mentioned above that’s 100% latex-free. It’s made of organic wool and cotton instead. This one is going to be less springy and more firm. It’s a great option for a futon mattress, too!	Starting at $1,349
Alternative Option: Mattress Topper	If a totally new mattress is not in your budget right now, you could upgrade the mattress you already have with a mattress topper. That way, the part that’s right against your body all night is made of natural & organic materials.	Starting at $579

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Final Verdict: Who Is the Savvy Rest Mattress For?

I definitely recommend the Savvy Rest Serenity mattress—I’m so happy I decided on this one.

It leans in the direction of a *luxury* mattress, but it’s also just very practical and reasonably-priced. It marries old-fashioned quality (natural latex, skilled craftsmanship) with modern convenience (customizable layers for modern comfort needs). It’s the kind of product that makes you feel good about what you bring into your home.

Who is it best for? If you’re someone with chemical sensitivities, a parent wanting the safest sleep environment for their little ones, a couple struggling to find a mattress that suits both, or simply a person who wants to invest in long-term health and decrease the toxic chemicals in their home, the Savvy Rest Serenity is an excellent choice.

Don’t forget: If you decide to buy anything from Savvy Rest, use the code THEFILTERY20 for 20% off all products.

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