Sometimes, sleeping in the spare room means you end up discovering why the mattress was spare in the first place.
In fact, a 2025 survey found that 61% of adults admit they sleep worse at relatives' homes than in their own bed, with many complaining that the Christmas visit forces them to sleep on old, uncomfortable mattresses rather than the best mattress for support and comfort.
3 bedding hacks to make a guest room mattress softer
1. The spare pillow method
If you find that the guest room mattress isn't soft enough for your sleep position, with pressure building up in body parts that touch the bed, you can add some relief to the pressure points with the spare pillow hack.
If you have a spare throw cushion or pillow in your guest room or luggage (or don't mind asking the host for extra), you can strategically place it to enhance pressure relief and cater to your sleep style.
For example, back sleepers can place a pillow underneath their knees to create a zero-gravity position that encourages better spinal alignment and reduces pressure in the lumbar region.
For side sleepers, putting a pillow in between your knees can ease pressure on your hips and lower back. This can be done with an ordinary pillow or cushion, and is much easier than packing a full-blown body pillow.
These strategic pillow placements will soothe pressure points and make your bed feel much softer.
2. The DIY memory foam mattress topper method
There are plenty of picks in our best mattress topper guide that are designed to soften a hard mattress... but you can't exactly pack them in a suitcase.
And while mattress pads can be rolled up due to their thin build, that same small build means they make no impact on the firmness of the bed.
No, to make a mattress softer with a DIY mattress topper, you'll need a key ingredient: foam.
To make a DIY mattress topper, you'll need a couple of memory foam pillows (preferably low-loft, as to not make the bed feel lumpy or take up room in your suitcase) and a fitted sheet.
Place the pillows where you'll need some softness (for side sleepers, it's in the shoulder, hip, and knee areas) and then secure them with a fitted sheet stretched on top. For extra stability, you can fasten them with safety pins or place pillows in a duvet cover (as the mattress brand Puffy recommends).
If you still feel a low-loft memory foam pillow won't fit in your suitcase, you can now buy a compact rollable memory foam pillow for $9.99 at Amazon.
3. The heat method
The same survey that found we frequently miss out on rest when traveling also unveiled that many participants don't like sleeping over at a relatives for Christmas because of how cold their spare room is.
But did you know that a cold temperature can make a memory foam mattress feel firmer?
So you can attempt to soften a mattress (and warm yourself up) by applying heat to make the bed materials more pliable.
This can be done using a hot water bottle, a microwaveable pouch or toy (such as a Warmies plush animal at Amazon)or even a pack of hand warmers for as low as $6.20 at Amazon (no microwave or kettle required). Just pop it on the part of the mattress you want to soften before bedtime to make it more malleable.
This method works best with memory foam or other foam-based mattresses, but it may also help soften traditional mattresses, too.
3 tips for building a good sleep environment away from home
If the uncomfortable mattress isn't the only thing keeping you awake when staying with family, you can also try creating an ideal sleep environment by bringing your very own sleep survival kit. Here's how to create one...
1. Add a soothing scent
It's been proven that lavender is an effective sleep aid, but did you know that studies show vanilla can soothe you to sleep? And there's research to back up cedarwood's relaxing effect as well.
Building a sleep environment isn't just about using the right pillow or the best sunrise alarm, it's also about soothing all your senses, or if you will, creating a "scent-scape".
To do this, you can use products with sleep-inducing festive scents, such as pillow mist or essential oil roll-ons. You can even give the French girl sleep hack a try.
2. Block out noise and light
A sleep mask is a great way to block out distracting sources of light, such as the neighbor's front lawn display (that looks like the Las Vegas Strip) or a hallway light constantly being on (your family never switches it off after a nocturnal bathroom trip.)
There are plenty of sleep masks online but I love the SMUG satin sleep mask from Amazon, as the soft, silky material is gentle to my skin and hair.
3. Bring a cozy sleep accessory
Lastly, a soothing psychological sleep aid, such as a box of sleepy tea or one of the best weighted blankets, can help create a comforting sleep environment.
This could be anything from a cute microwaveable stuffed animal to your favorite book. As long as it helps you unwind, it deserves a place in your sleep kit.
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