The Novaform DreamAway 8" Gel Memory Foam Mattress is a low-cost all-foam bed built for kids' rooms, dorms, bunks, and guest rooms. Its strongest qualities are pressure relief and low motion transfer. The trade-off is the shallow 8" profile: the edges compress easily, and sleepers who need firm support under more body weight may feel the base layer sooner than they would on a thicker mattress.
Table of Contents
- DreamAway at a Glance
- Is the DreamAway Worth It?
- How the DreamAway Was Evaluated
- DreamAway 8": Our Testing Experience
- Where It Works—and Where It Does Not
- Key Specifications
- How the DreamAway Scored
- Who Should Buy the DreamAway?
- The Trade-Offs to Know
- How the DreamAway Compares
- How to Get the Best From It
- FAQs
DreamAway at a Glance
| Mattress | Overall Score | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novaform DreamAway | 3.4/5 | Good pressure relief, strong motion isolation, easy setup | Soft edges, limited support for heavier bodies, average cooling | Kids' rooms, guest rooms, dorms, bunks, lighter sleepers |
Is the DreamAway Worth It?
The DreamAway delivers what a $160-class foam mattress should: simple setup, comfortable cushioning, and very little disturbance when someone shifts position. It is a smart buy for a guest room or a growing child, where its compact profile and low price matter more than reinforced edges or long-term support for a heavier adult. For nightly use by two adults, especially if either person sleeps near the side, spending more on a deeper mattress is the better decision.
Who should consider it
- Guest rooms and occasional-use beds that need comfortable, uncomplicated foam
- Kids, teens, dorm rooms, bunks, and bedrooms where a low profile is useful
- Lighter and average-weight sleepers who enjoy a medium-firm memory-foam feel
Who should skip it
- Heavier adults who need stronger support beneath the hips
- Couples who regularly use the full width of the mattress
- Hot sleepers who need sustained airflow rather than a cool-touch cover
How the DreamAway Was Evaluated
The mattress went through full nights, naps, and routine movements such as sitting at the side, turning over, and getting out of bed. We used a consistent 5-point scale for support, cooling, pressure relief, motion isolation, responsiveness, edge support, and durability. Each measurement was repeated, then checked against how the mattress felt during normal sleep and shared-bed use.
DreamAway 8": Our Testing Experience
After 48 hours out of the box, our sample measured 7.8" tall, close enough to the advertised 8" profile that the small difference was not noticeable with sheets on. The surface felt like a 6.5 out of 10 for firmness: clearly medium-firm, with a slow cushion at the shoulder and hip rather than a hard, flat feel. Back sleepers settled evenly, while side sleepers felt the top layer soften as it warmed. Under more concentrated weight, however, the thinner comfort layers allowed the firmer base foam to become more noticeable beneath the hips.
Motion isolation was the best part of the test. With a 10-pound ball dropped from 6" and a sensor 18" away, the remaining vibration faded in about 0.6 seconds, which matched the quiet feel when a partner turned over. The edge was much less convincing: a 150-pound load compressed the center by about 1.9" but the area 2" from the side by 3.1". That extra drop was easy to feel while sitting and made the outer part of the bed less secure for sleeping.
The cover felt cool at first, but the effect did not last through an extended session. Surface temperature rose from 69.8°F to 76.4°F after 30 minutes and fell to 71.9°F ten minutes after the tester got up. That supports the 3.2/5 cooling score: better at the first touch than plain foam, but not a strong choice for someone who regularly wakes up warm.
What we liked
- Pressure relief that cushions the shoulders and hips without feeling overly soft
- A quiet surface that absorbs most movement before it reaches the other side
- Simple unboxing and a compact height that works well in bunks and smaller rooms
Who it is best for
- Guest rooms, kids' rooms, dorms, and bunks
- Lighter and average-weight sleepers who want gentle contouring with a medium-firm base
- Couples who prioritize low motion transfer and do not rely heavily on the edges
Where it falls short
- Soft edge support for sitting or sleeping close to the side
- Limited hip support for heavier adults and many dedicated stomach sleepers
- Only average temperature control once the cool-touch cover warms up
Where It Works—and Where It Does Not
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfortable cushioning at the shoulders and hips | Noticeable compression when sitting or sleeping near the edge |
| Very little motion disturbance across the surface | Not enough depth for many heavier sleepers |
| Easy mattress-in-a-box setup | Heat can build after the initial cool-touch feel fades |
| Medium-firm feel suits many back and side sleepers | Slow foam takes a moment to recover after a quick turn |
Key Specifications
- Height: 8"
- Feel: Medium-firm
- Construction: 2" gel memory foam, 2" responsive foam, 4" base foam
- Cover: Cool-touch fibers, hypoallergenic design, and antimicrobial treatment
- Sizes: Twin and Full
- Certification: CertiPUR-US® certified foam
- Origin: Foam made in the USA
- Fiberglass: Manufacturer states that this fiberglass-free mattress contains zero fiberglass
- Setup: Compressed in a box; allow up to 48 hours for full expansion
- Compatible bases: Platform beds, box springs, and adjustable bases
- Warranty: 10-year limited warranty
- Delivery: Costco listed parcel delivery in 5–7 days; timing can vary
- Returns: Costco.com orders can be returned at a Costco warehouse or through Costco.com, subject to the retailer's limitations
- Starting price at time of review: $159.99; size, promotion, and warehouse pricing may vary
How the DreamAway Scored
| Metric | Score | What We Found |
|---|---|---|
| Support | 3.3/5 | Balanced for lighter and average-weight sleepers, but the 8" build provides limited lift under more weight. |
| Cooling | 3.2/5 | The cover feels cool initially, but warmth builds during longer use. |
| Pressure Relief | 3.8/5 | The memory foam cushions the shoulder and hip well, especially for side sleeping. |
| Motion Isolation | 4.2/5 | Movement fades quickly and rarely carries across the mattress. |
| Responsiveness | 3.2/5 | The foam recovers slowly enough to make fast position changes feel slightly labored. |
| Edge Support | 2.8/5 | The side compresses noticeably while sitting and feels less secure for sleeping. |
| Durability | 3.1/5 | The thin build is better suited to lighter or occasional use than nightly use under heavier weight. |
| Overall | 3.4/5 | Good budget comfort for smaller rooms and lighter use, with clear limits at the edge and under more weight. |
Who Should Buy the DreamAway?
Choose the DreamAway if you need a compact foam mattress for a child, a guest, a dorm room, or another space where low cost and easy setup come first. Its medium-firm surface is most comfortable for lighter and average-weight back or side sleepers. If you are heavier, sleep mainly on your stomach, or use the full width of the bed with a partner, a 10" or thicker mattress will give you more material beneath the hips. Hot sleepers should also consider a more breathable hybrid, while shoppers who want to stay with foam can look at Novaform's deeper models.
The Trade-Offs to Know
The soft edge is the clearest weakness. It compresses sharply while sitting and reduces the amount of the surface that feels secure for sleep. The 8" depth also leaves less foam between the sleeper and the firm base layer, which can allow the hips to sink too far under more body weight. Finally, the cool-touch cover improves the first few minutes in bed but does not provide the steady airflow that many hot sleepers need.
How the DreamAway Compares
The DreamAway is the best fit of this group when price, low height, and quiet foam matter most. It is easy to place in a bunk, dorm, or guest room, but it gives up depth, size choice, and edge stability to more expensive mattresses.
The Novaform SoFresh Plus 10" is the most direct step up. Its extra 2" of height, more responsive foam, washable moisture-wicking cover, and broader size range make it better suited to regular adult use. It costs more, but the upgrade is easier to justify than moving straight to a premium model.
The Novaform ComfortGrande Plus 14" is a much deeper foam mattress designed for buyers who want more material and full-body support. It is also heavier and considerably more expensive, so it makes sense for a primary bedroom rather than a bunk or occasional-use room.
The Tuft & Needle Original Hybrid sits in a different price class. Its individually wrapped coils and faster-recovery foams create a bouncier, easier-to-move-on surface than the DreamAway. Consider it only if you want a substantial hybrid upgrade and are comfortable paying several times the DreamAway's starting price.
How to Get the Best From It
- Give the mattress up to 48 hours to reach its full height before deciding how it feels.
- Place it on a standard box spring or a ventilated slatted base with gaps under 6".
- Keep it off the floor so air can circulate beneath the foam.
- Use a breathable protector if you tend to sleep warm.
- Avoid sitting in the same spot along the edge every day.
- Lighter side sleepers may benefit from a slightly higher-loft pillow; stomach sleepers usually need a thinner one.
- Couples will feel more stable if both sleepers stay a few inches inside the perimeter.
- Rotate the mattress every few months, but do not flip it.
FAQs
Does the mattress feel truly medium-firm?
Yes. It felt about 6.5 out of 10 in our assessment, which is firmly within the medium-firm range. The memory-foam surface softens slightly as it warms, so the first few minutes feel firmer than the rest of the night.
Is it good for couples?
It isolates movement very well, but the Twin and Full size range plus soft perimeter limit its appeal for couples. A Full can work for occasional use, though most couples will be more comfortable on a wider, sturdier mattress.
Will it sleep cool?
The cover feels cool when you first lie down, but the all-foam build warms during longer use. It is adequate for people who do not normally overheat, not a strong cooling mattress for hot sleepers.
Is it supportive enough for heavier sleepers?
Not for most heavier adults who plan to use it every night. The 8" profile allows more sink at the hips and compresses deeply near the edge, so a thicker mattress is the safer choice for consistent support.
