Go ahead - try the mattress on for size

Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, Scripps Howard News Service

Published February 25, 2006 at midnight

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Is it time to change that old mattress? Quick test: Is the mattress older than eight years? If the answer is "yes," it's time to make that purchase.

So many benefits are derived from a good night's sleep that it's foolish not to do everything possible to try to achieve it on a daily basis. Everyone suffers from some type of pressure, be it from work, family concerns or what-have-you. Studies show that a good mattress and foundation help to release tension by providing comfort and support for the body.

But what bedding is best? Soft? Firm? In between? That all depends on what's personally comfortable. Some people feel more comfortable with a really firm mattress, while others prefer the soft kind. And it's not the firmness of the mattress that makes it good or not good for you; it's the construction. Even a very soft mattress can offer great support if it's made properly. The secret is in the coils. The softness comes from the padding placed over the coils, so the more padding, the softer the feel of the mattress.

OK, so now we know that a mattress and foundation should offer good support and that choosing soft or firm is a personal preference. What if the husband likes firm while the wife prefers soft? Not to worry - there are mattresses out there that offer both options in one mattress. With the push of a button, a mattress can be pumped up to firm or softened to feathers - and with the left side of the mattress operating independently from the right side. American ingenuity? You bet!

If both parties agree on firm, soft or in between, choose a mattress by testing it. Go ahead and relax on a number of mattresses at the store before making a decision. Most mattress stores have several choices for you, and you should relax on them and even roll around a little and then decide what firmness is comfortable for you.

When shopping for bedding, don't go when you're tired, because all the mattresses will feel good. Also, ask the salesman whether the company offers a 30- day money-back guarantee - sleeping on it for a few days is really the only way to test the bedding.

Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Florida, is author of "Mystery of Color," available at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com.

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