Choosing a mattress is one of the most important decisions you can make — after all, you will be spending a third of your life with it. One of the first things you will have to decide is what type of mattress you want, so here is an overview of the types available.

Coil

Also known as innerspring, coil mattresses consist of numerous steel coils that compress under your weight — the more coils the better, as they provide more support for your body. The main advantage of this type of mattress is that they tend to be cheaper than other types, although higher quality mattresses will cost more. They also provide a lot of bounce when they are new, but you may find that they wear out faster than other mattresses and will need to be replaced sooner.

Memory foam

Memory foam gives extra support by contouring itself to the shape of your body and then returning to its original shape when you get up. It, therefore, tends not to apply so much pressure to the body, which can be important for people who experience pain in bed. They can also feel warmer than a traditional coil mattress. However, it can also make it difficult for you to move or get out of bed, which can be an issue if you have mobility problems.

Latex

Latex mattresses are a good option if you want more bounce. However, it does not contour itself to your body as much as memory foam, and so does not offer as much pressure relief. It can be cooler than other types, but whether this is an advantage or disadvantage depends on your personal preferences.

Hybrid

Hybrid mattresses are a mixture — an innerspring layer with either latex or memory foam on the top. These are intended to provide you with both support and softness, and can be customised to your own specifications. However, you should remember that they are a compromise — they are unlikely to give the same level of either support or softness as a full coil or memory foam mattress.

The best way to work out which type of mattress is best for you is to try them out. Your mattress stockist will be happy to give further advice, and will help to ensure you go home with a mattress that will give you a good night's sleep for many years.