Choosing a mattress is a decision that can literally affect the quality of your daily life. We sleep on a mattress every night and without a good mattress our sleep can be uncomfortable. In fact, research has shown that without good sleep, your health can deteriorate over time as well as your performance at home or at the office. There are many types, sizes and popular brands of mattresses to choose from when it is time to shop for a new mattress.

Do you need a full size mattress, a futon mattress, or an airbed mattress? Perhaps the easiest way to answer this question is by understanding what a mattress actually is. A mattress is a cushioned surface used to rest, whether that rest is lying down, sitting up, or simply lying back. As with many things, technology has changed the mattress. Today more than ever a mattress is more than a simple sleeping surface. The right mattress is instead a surface that is capable of lulling us to the sweetest, deepest of sleeps and back again.

Even NASA has ventured into the arena when it comes to mattresses. NASA developed memory foam to assist cushioning of the astronauts bodies when subjected to G force acceleration. Needless to say, this space age cushioning has gained popularity in the mattress retail market as well. Mattresses constructed with memory foam are amongst the most sought after, due to their superior cushioning ability. Pocket sprung mattresses are another popular choice that combine comfort with value for money.

When purchasing a mattress, one of the major concerns is that of the price. Mattresses can be very expensive, costing well into the thousands. This makes shopping for a mattress quite the chore since there are such a wide range of prices and everyone of them claims to be better than the rest. Unless you know exactly what you want, there really is only one way to find the one that suits you best and that's to go and try them out. When you get to the storefront where your potential mattress purchase may take place, make sure you are able to browse alone at first.

This will allow you to lie on the various beds to check for stability and fit. If you have questions, ask them after you have thoroughly tested the mattress for comfort. This also gives you a chance to investigate visible prices. Often, mattress shops will offer financing for a new mattress if the mattress is over a certain price level. If this is an option that you would consider, be sure to fully understand the finance arrangements, in particular the total repayment cost. Mattress sales staff are often incentivised to offer finance arrangements and this may not be in your best interest.

Once you get your new mattress delivered and setup, you will need a few tips to guarantee you the most out of your mattress. Warranties have a lot of detail, and there are a few details you should be aware of. A mattress warranty may be invalidated if any alterations have been made to any part of the mattress including the tags. If your new mattress gets a stain the warranty is usually invalid. Placing a plastic bed cover over the mattress may assist in keeping your warranty good as new.

Rotate your mattress regularly to ensure even wear. Buying a mattress can be a breeze if you ensure that your purchase is your own decision. Never be pressured into purchasing a mattress that does not suit you and your needs.

Instead of looking at all the bells and whistles included with your mattress, find a mattress that will give you the best night's sleep and at a price you can afford.

Steve Thomas writes about mattress buying and runs a dedicated mattress resource website at http://www.mattressa.co.uk.