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TIME FOR BED You spend up to 16 years of your life in bed, so a good mattress is a necessity, not a luxury. Find the right mattress to make sure you sleep like a baby this year
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ou spend up to 16 years of your life in bed, so a good mattress is a serious investment. A decent design can mean the difference between a restful night's sleep or a bout of insomnia. But, before you head to the shop to start testing, get to know your options with our essential mattress buying guide.
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BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR MATTRESS
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A bed should be 10cm longer than the tallest person who will be sleeping in it, so a king-size is the minimum for someone 6ft or more, and wide enough to allow both partners to lie side by side, hands behind heads, without elbows touching. To check if a mattress is supporting you properly, lie down and slide a hand beneath the small of your back. If your hand fits easily, it's too soft; not at all, and it's too firm.
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The base will affect how the mattress feels. A sprung divan will make a mattress seem softer than a solid divan or slatted base. Sprung and pocket mattresses are padded with fillings, including cotton, lambswool and mohair. Luxurious options, such as cashmere and silk, will mean the finished product is more expensive. ‘Orthopaedic' is a term that describes mattresses with a firmer spring. While some swear by them, it's more important to choose a mattress that gives proper support as opposed to just being very hard.
TYPES OF MATTRESS Open-sprung mattress An open-sprung mattress contains one long piece of wire coiled into springs. It also has a border rod of wire that gives the mattress a firm edge and helps retain its shape. Great
value for money, they are lighter than other mattresses, so easier to turn, and can be turned in all directions, which extends the life of the mattress. However, as the springs are all connected, open-sprung mattresses are less responsive to your body and, overall, less supportive. Best for: Occasional use, and ideal for children's bedrooms, as they're less expensive, so can be upgraded as they grow. Cost: From as little as £75 Pocket-sprung mattress Pocket-sprung mattresses are more luxurious, with up to 3,000 individual small springs housed in separate fabric pockets. They tend to have hand-stitched sides for strong, stable edges. The springs move independently to support your body and come in a choice of tensions - soft, medium or firm which should mean good support, whatever your weight.