If you are looking for a chemical-free, natural mattress, then the SmartHouse mattress may be on your shortlist. This bed is the brainchild of two people that aren't known for their experience in the mattress industry: actress Amy Smart and reality TV personality Carter Oosterhouse. The married couple have designed a line of bedding, including a mattress, that emphasizes the use of natural materials.
The SmartHouse mattress is a 13" tall mattress available in two versions. We review the Plush model here; there's also Firm version.
The top comfort layer of the SmartHouse mattress is a 3" layer of 100% natural latex sustainably harvested from rubber trees. Note that companies are allowed to call their latex "natural" even if they are a blend of actual rubber and synthetic rubber made from petrochemicals. That is not the case with the SmartHouse mattress; its latex is 100% from rubber trees and has been independently certified as such.
The support layer of the mattress is pocketed coils. Instead of glue, the layers of the mattress are held together by functional tufting--hand-tied yarns that travel through the entire mattress, secured on either side by a fabric button. The cover is made of certified organic cotton with wool quilted in. A vegan version of the mattress is also available, which omits the wool.
In our testing, we found the SmartHouse Plus to offer excellent support for all major sleeping positions, making it a good choice if you sleep in several positions, or have a partner that sleeps in a different predominant position than you. We thought support and spinal alignment would be good for people in a wide weight range with the possible exception of those quite a bit heavier than our tester (225 lbs.+), who might opt instead for the Firm version of the mattress.
Note that although the company calls this mattress "Plush" we found it to be a Medium Firm on our scale, which might be more firm than you would expect from a bed called Plush. That doesn't mean there isn't some nice softness up top, but it does mean that this isn't a mattress you'll sink into deeply.
Edge support was excellent; ease of movement--changing from one position to another--was also a major highlight. But the real story here is the bed's use of natural materials. Another standout feature is the warranty, which guarantees your mattress will be replaced if it has a permanent body impression of more than 1/2" -- average warranties range from 3/4" to 1.5", and we were happy to see SmartHouse stand behind their mattress with such a favorable guarantee.
Price-wise, the SmartHouse mattress costs significantly more than a basic all-foam bed-in-a-box, or even a hybrid mattress that combines a spring layer with foam or memory foam. But only a few competing mattresses offer this degree of natural materials, lack of harmful chemicals, and safety certifications to back it up. Compared to natural mattresses you'd find in a bedding or department store, it is a very good value, though when compared to similar online mattresses, it does not stand out so much from a price perspective.
We did find the SmartHouse to be a great feeling mattress -- it has a nice aesthetic look, and feels luxurious when laying on top.
Read on for our detailed report, and be sure to check out the video to see the SmartHouse mattress in action as we put it through our tests.
The layers of the SmartHouse mattress are wrapped in a soft knit cover made of organic cotton and wool. The wool is there for its moisture-wicking properties and natural fire retarding properties. Note that you can order a vegan version of the SmartHouse mattress that substitutes for the wool; prices are the same.
Comfort & Feel
There are three aspects that make up our assessment of comfort and feel. We call these "preference-based characteristics" because no rating here is better or worse – rather, the attributes that are most desirable to you will be determined solely by your personal preferences. We apply the same classification standards to each mattress so you can more easily compare apples to apples.
Keep in mind that what mattress companies call “firm” or “soft” is a purely a preference. All mattresses should be supportive and promote healthy spinal alignment. Whether a mattress is fluffy and squishy (what mattress companies call soft or plush), or less so (what companies call firm), is purely down to your personal needs and preferences.
We classify the Plush version of the SmartHouse mattress as a Medium Firm on our scale. It's also available in what the company calls a Firm, which would assume is an even firmer bed.
Not sure what softness is best for you? Take our Mattress Match Quiz and find out.
Softness Level
(1=Least Soft, 9=Most Soft) |
4 |
Medium Firm |
This refers to how deeply you sink into the mattress or feel cradled or hugged, versus a feeling of floating on top of the bed. The SmartHouse mattress is definitely to the "floating on top" side of this spectrum. We would call this shallower than average cushioning. If you prefer more of a "hugged" or "cradled" sensation, the pillow top version will provide more of this.
That said, the cover has a good big of loft to it, providing softness. In fact, in places where the quilt domes up, we could say this bed has deeper cushioning. But overall, the effect is definitely more of a floating on top feeling.
Cushioning Depth
(1=Shallowest, 9=Deepest) |
4 |
Slightly shallower cushioning than average
|
Responsiveness refers to how quickly a mattress recovers its shape after being compressed. When you press your hand into the mattress, for instance, then remove it, does it take several seconds for the mattress to return to flat, or does it recover immediately?
There is no memory foam in this mattress, so there is none of that slow-responding "melting" feeling of memory foam. The latex at the top of the bed springs back immediately.
We also took a look at bounce. This is where we noticed the pocketed coils responding from below. When our tester dropped his weight to the bed, he bounced several times before settling. If you like a mattress that has the traditional bounce of innersprings, the SmartHouse bed has that.
Memory Foam
(1=Least, 9=Most) |
1 |
None |
Bounce
(1=Least, 9=Most) |
7 |
Lots of bounce |
Back Support & Pressure Relief
The two things that you should always be sure to get from your mattress are spinal alignment (commonly thought of as "back support") and pressure relief. Unfortunately, no mattress will deliver these two things equally well for all sleepers. In particular, spinal alignment and pressure relief capabilities will vary across sleepers with different weights, body shapes, and sleep positions. To help you determine how this mattress will perform for you, we break down our spinal alignment and pressure relief assessments by sleeper type.
We found the SmartHouse mattress to be excellent in this respect for our tester in all sleeping positions, and we felt that people of a wide range of weights would have the same support and spinal alignment.
We did feel in a couple of cases that those significantly heavier than our tester might instead opt for the Firm version of the mattress rather than the Plush. And very light side sleepers might find this bed too firm for them.
Spinal Alignment
The key to good back support is maintaining proper spinal alignment while you sleep. This means that the mattress should hold your spine in roughly the same position it's in when you're standing. The ability of a given mattress to do this will generally depend on your weight, sleep position, and body shape.
Here is how we break down the spinal alignment of the SmartHouse mattress:
| Weight |
Range |
Back Sleepers |
Side Sleepers |
Stomach Sleepers |
| Lighter |
<150 lb |
10 |
8 |
10 |
| Average |
150 to 200 lb |
10 |
8 |
10 |
| Above Average |
200 to 250 lb |
9 |
9 |
9 |
| Heavier |
>250 lb |
8 |
9 |
8 |
Back Sleepers:
Our 200-pound tester felt very well supported while on his back, with excellent spinal alignment and lumbar support. And we felt that most people would have the same experience and excellent spinal alignment in this position. We had a slight concern for those much heavier than our tester, who might instead look to the Firm version of this mattress rather than the Plush version we tested.
Side Sleepers:
Spinal alignment for side sleepers was also very good, we thought. Our tester felt his shoulder getting far enough into the mattress so his spine was straight, and not curving up. We felt that those around our tester's size and heavier would have a similar experience. We did question whether those lighter than our tester who sleep predominantly on their sides. might find the SmartHouse mattress too firm.
Stomach Sleepers:
Achieving good spinal alignment for stomach sleepers can often be trickier as the hips can tend to sink down too far with some mattresses, but our tester felt very well supported in this position. Further, we felt that most stomach sleepers would have a similar good experience on the SmartHouse mattress, with the possible exception of people much heavier than our tester, who might instead opt for the Firm version of the bed rather than the Plush version we tested.
When a mattress pushes back against your body with too much force in a concentrated area, the result can be pain, soreness, loss of circulation, excessive tossing, and other problems. In general, such "pressure points" are of greatest concern for side sleepers, since that's the position in which your body's weight is distributed over the smallest surface area. To find the right mattress for your needs, keep in mind that the pressure-relieving capabilities of any given mattress will vary depending on the sleeper. Factors like your weight and body shape (e.g., broader shoulders and/or hips) will determine how far you sink into the mattress, and the pressure relief offered by that mattress will vary widely at different depths.
Here's how we sized up the pressure relief of the SmartHouse mattress:
| Weight |
Range |
Typical Curves |
Extra Curvy |
| Lighter |
<150 lb |
7 |
7 |
| Average |
150 to 200 lb |
7 |
7 |
| Above Average |
200 to 250 lb |
8 |
8 |
| Heavier |
>250 lb |
8 |
8 |
Latex has a good reputation for pressure relief, and our tester experienced no issues on the SmartHouse mattress. We felt that those around our tester's weight and heavier would also experience good pressure relief. We did question whether light weight side sleepers would be heavy enough to compress the latex with their hips/shoulders and might find the mattress to firm for the best pressure relief.
Other Features
Beyond the preference-based characteristics of comfort and feel, and the body matching for spinal alignment and pressure relief, a mattress will have a number of other attributes that can make it a better or worse choice for you. We call these "priority-based characteristics" because they are areas in which a mattress can be better or worse, but that will have differing amounts of importance to each sleeper. So, determining how much importance to give to these features will be entirely a matter of your own personal priorities. As always, we apply the same ratings standards to each mattress so you can more easily compare apples to apples.
With a bowling pin standing upright on the SmartHouse bed, we tested motion isolation by dropping a 16-lb. bowling ball on it, as well as the whole weight of our 200-lb. tester. In both drop tests, the bowling pin wiggled but did not fall.
In practical terms, that means the SmartHouse bed should be a good choice for those who are sensitive to a partner getting in and out of bed, or changing sleeping positions.
| Motion Isolation Rating |
8 /10 |
Very good |
For those who tend to sleep hot, or for those that experience hot flashes, temperature is a concern. The SmartHouse mattress has a number of features that we think promote heat dissipation and air flow. First, this is a firmer mattress, which means your body doesn't sink deeply into it. That means more of your body is exposed to the air. Second, the majority of this bed is springs, and air can travel freely around springs, allowing hot air to move away, and cool air to replace it. Also the bed's cover includes wool, which has heat-regulation and moisture-wicking properties.
Taken altogether, we think that the SmartHouse mattress will not feel hot to most people.
| Stays “Cool” Rating |
9 /10 |
Excellent
|
If you tend to sleep right on the edge of your bed--or you tend to get pushed there by kids or pets, then edge support will be important. A mattress with good edge support means more usable area for sleeping and sitting.
Edge support was excellent with the SmartHouse mattress. The bed has a perimeter of firmer coils all around the sides, and when both sitting and laying on the edge, our tester felt perfectly comfortable, supported, and never felt he was slipping off.
| Edge Support Rating |
10 /10 |
Exceptional |
Ease of Repositioning ( what’s this )
For those with mobility issues or pain, ease of movement is an important consideration. Changing positions on the SmartHouse mattress was virtually effortless.
| Repositioning Rating |
10 /10 |
Exceptional |
For mattress shoppers concerned with the use of natural materials, sustainable manufacturing practices or the like, we offer our subjective evaluation of any efforts taken by the company to make the mattress more green, healthy, or safe.
The SmartHouse mattress has a number of natural materials and features. Its latex is 100% natural latex made from rubber trees. The cotton used in the cover is organic, and no glues or adhesives are used in the bed; it's held together using functional tufting. Steel may not be a natural material, but it's recyclable, and does not off-gas.
Further, the mattress has certifications for almost all of its materials to ensure that no harmful off-gassing, odors, or other potential issues are present. While the mattress is not entirely organic, its materials are sustainable and more eco-friendly than most.
| Green Rating |
9 /10 |
Excellent
|
Adjustable Base Compatibility ( what’s this )
If you plan to use your mattress atop an adjustable base, the SmartHouse bed is a very good choice. Right out of the box, it conformed well to our adjustable base, and we noted no bulging. The cover does bunch up a little in the middle when the bed is bent fully, but we did not find this bothersome.
| Adjustable Base Use Rating |
8 /10 |
Very good
|
Price, Value & Longevity
How Much Does the SmartHouse Mattress Cost?
Prices shown are list prices for the SmartHouse mattress. Remember that GoodBed keeps our site current with the best available discounts on all online mattresses, many of which are exclusive discounts for our readers.
| SmartHouse Mattress |
Price (mattress only) |
| Twin |
$1,299 |
| Twin XL |
$1,499 |
| Full (Double) |
$1,998 |
| Queen |
$2,498 |
| King |
$2,998 |
| California King |
$2,998 |
What Are You Getting?
The SmartHouse mattress is a luxurious-feeling 13-inch mattress that uses natural, organic, and more eco-friendly materials and construction. Its comfort layer is 3" of 100% natural latex from rubber trees. The organic cotton cover also has a natural wool padding, and instead of glues, the mattress is helf together by functional tufting. The mattress has safety certifications for most of its components, as well as certifications for offgassing, VOCs and odors.
The pocketed coil unit is of very high quality, with stronger edge support coils.
How Long Will the SmartHouse Mattress Last?
We found nothing concerning at all about the SmartHouse mattress in terms of quality of materials, and throughout our testing were impressed with design and construction quality. We found no reason why this mattress would not last as long or longer than other mattresses assuming an appropriate foundation and good treatment.
Overall Value
The SmartHouse mattress isn't a celebrity gimmick. Rather, we were impressed with its quality, attention to detail, and high degree of natural materials. It has a luxurious look and feel, and at 13" tall, it's a substantial bed. From a pricing standpoint, we think it compares very well to what you would find in a typically mattress store or department store.
On paper, it does not compare as well to similarly constructed online mattresses, but we liked this bed a lot. It has a luxurious feel we thought was unique. And if prioritizing natural materials and lack of chemicals is high on your list, it could be a compelling option assuming it fits your other needs and preferences.
Other Factors to Consider
Delivery
- Free delivery to door or curb
- Optional $250 white-glove service
SmartHouse includes free delivery to your door. An optional white-glove service includes delivery to a designated room, set up of your new bed, removal of all packaging materials, and removal of your old mattress (if you wish).
Returns
- 100-day trial period
- Full refund after proof of donation or recycling
SmartHouse offers buyers a 100-day trial period. Returns can be requested anytime within the warranty period. The company will work with you to find an organization that will accept the mattress for donation or recycling, then a refund will be issued. See: SmartHouse return policy.
Warranty
- Warranty Length: 20 years; pro-rated after 10 years
- Indentation Coverage: 1/2” and above
One of the biggest, if not THE biggest complaints about any mattress from consumers regards body impressions — the inability of a mattress to spring back, eventually creating a low spot/sinkhole in the mattress. As such, mattress warranties all contain a term defining how big a sag or ‘body impression’ (measured when no one is on the mattress) is considered a defect, and thus covered under the warranty. The industry standard for mattresses is generally between ¾” and 1.5”. SmartHouse has chosen to cover indentations that meet or exceed just 1/2".
Practically speaking, that means any softening or sagging would need to be at least that deep before the warranty would offer you protection. A warranty covering 1/2" body impressions is the best we've seen from any brand so far.
Years 1-10 of the warranty are non-prorated, meaning you'll receive a full refund of the purchase price should your mattress qualify for coverage under the warranty. For years 11-20, the warranty is pro-rated, meaning you would receive a percentage of the purchase price based on years of ownership beyond 11.
