When’s the right time for a new bed?

You can’t beat a good night’s sleep – it leaves you feeling fit, thinking sharply and happy!

The foundation of good sleep is a comfortable bed and the right mattress. It can be the difference between a restorative night’s sleep and poor quality sleep that results in tiredness and fatigue.

Research shows that sleeping on an uncomfortable bed could rob you of up to an hour’s sleep – yet the deterioration may be so gradual and invisible that many people fail to make the connection between an uncomfortable bed and poor sleep.

You may need a new mattress if…

Beds don’t last forever. Even if it looks okay, it may not be giving you the support or comfort you need for a good night’s sleep.

A mattress’s life span is affected by several factors such as the quality, care and amount you use it (e.g. reading, watching TV & sleeping each night versus occasional use of a spare bed).

Changes in lifestyle (marriage, new home) and in our bodies (losing or gaining weight, ageing, etc) can also necessitate a change of bed.

Here’s a few things to consider:

• Have you had your mattress more than seven years?
• Have you had a better night’s sleep in a bed other than yours?
• Do you wake up with stiffness and/or aches and pains?
• Does your mattress show signs of visible wear and tear (it sags, is lumpy etc)?
• Are you sleeping as well as you did a year ago?

Signs your mattress needs replacing

There are literally thousands of beds from which to choose and there’s no such thing as the perfect type of bed for a particular condition or situation (e.g. one ideal bed for a back pain sufferer). Although a good retailer – and this guide – will arm you with lots of information to make the process simpler, only you can make the final, important decision. So take your time and make it wisely.