The Ideal Home guide to buying a mattress

Mattresses may look similar, but the differences can be vast. Check out our guide for picking the best one and making sure you get a good night's sleep

On average we spend a third of our lives in bed, so it's important to choose the right mattress to ensure 'sweet dreams' and a good night's sleep.

Don't compromise
A good mattress can last up to 10 years or more and it's worth buying the best you can afford. If you think that every £100 you spend on a mattress that lasts 10 years represents just 2.7p a night, the cost doesn't seem so bad.

Always try before you buy
It's important to really test the mattress. Sample a few different mattresses so you can fully appreciate the difference between levels of support and different types of mattress. Ideally the mattress should allow you to turn easily, and your spine should remain horizontal when you lie on your side. If you're sharing a bed with your partner try the mattress together, you might feel a bit silly but it's something you must both feel comfortable with.

• Different types of mattress
Get in the know with our guide to the different types

Open coil spring mattress
This is the most commonly used type and comes in a variety of tensions. All the springs are connected giving the same level of firmness throughout the mattress. Border wire gives the mattress a firm edge and helps retain its shape.

Pocket spring mattress
A bit more of a luxurious option, individual small springs housed in separate fabric pockets work independently to respond to individual body weight. Ideal if there's a considerable weight or size variation between you and your partner.

Revolution® pocket spring mattress
The most luxurious pocket spring mattress, with a highly effective 'spring within a spring' system. The outer spring works with a second inner spring to provide extra support where it's needed most.

Latex mattress
This is a type of foam mattress that conforms to your bodies contours, the latex foam has natural elasticity and recovers its shape immediately when pressure is removed. It's also great for allergy sufferers as it's hypo-allergenic with anti-microbial properties.

Visco-elastic mattress
Similar to the Latex mattress, body heat reacts with the foam to soften it and the mattress then moulds and re-moulds to your body's contours. Visco-elastic provides excellent support and enables natural movement during sleep. Also has hypo-allergenic properties.

Mattress toppers

Mattress toppers add a luxurious extra layer to your mattress, providing extra support, comfort and a cosier feel to your bed. Available in all UK standard sizes with a choice of materials; goose feather and down, siliconised polyester or quilted cotton-rich fibres.

Try John Lewis for a good range of mattresses (www.Johnlewis.com)

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