Online mattress brand eveSleep has launched a pop-up event based on the children’s classic, ‘The Princess and the Pea’.

As part of a survey commissioned by eve, which included 2,000 adults, it revealed 28% thought they’d prefer a firm mattress only to realise they need something softer, while 23% are currently sleeping on a mattress they’re not happy with.

The pop-up event ‘Bed Battle: Team Firm vs Team Soft’, which runs until 5 May 2024 at Gallery@Oxo, Southbank, is interactive experience with two stacks of mattresses – with one hiding a giant size pea underneath.

As part of the study, consumers were put to the test to see if they were sensitive sleepers and could uncover the hidden pea whilst lying on a stack of mattresses.

Lisa Richards, Head of Marketing for eveSleep, which commissioned the research to launch wunderflip, its double-sided adaptive comfort range, said: “Sleep isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity for a healthy life – the right mattress is your partner in achieving that rejuvenating rest.

“It’s about finding the perfect balance of support and comfort to ensure you wake up every morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.

“Your mattress plays a crucial role in the quality of your sleep, affecting everything from your mood to your productivity the next day.  That’s why we’ve created the wunderflip to help keen snoozers make the right comfort choice when shopping online, giving the customer a choice of two different comfort ratings so there will be one that suits the individual when they receive the mattress at home.”

The study also revealed that of those who don’t like their current mattress, 43% said it causes them more discomfort than it does relief and sleeping on an unsuitable mattress is most likely to lead to pain in the lower back (56%) or the neck (36%).

While 27% will feel the strain across the shoulders, and 14% will even report pain in their legs. And 69% admit they have trouble falling asleep regularly.

Lisa Richards added: “You might not know what you want, until you’ve tested a few different mattresses, which can be tricky especially if you’re buying it online.

“That’s why we’re inviting people along to find out whether they’re a ‘firm’ or ‘soft’ sleeper by experiencing both sides of our mattress range to help people avoid an expensive mistake.”