BEFORE YOU BUY

■ An open-sprung mattress contains one long piece of wire coiled into springs. It also has wire in its border that gives the mattress a firm edge and helps retain its shape. They’re great value for money and lighter than other mattresses, so easier to turn. They can be turned in all directions, which extends their life.

■ Pocket-sprung mattresses are more luxurious, with up to 3,000 individual small springs housed in separate fabric pockets. They tend to have hand-stitched sides for strong, stable edges. The springs move independently to support your body. The mattresses come in a choice of tensions – soft, medium or firm – meaning good support whatever your weight.

■ Memory foam is a mouldable material, the most well-known type being Tempur, a material famously developed by NASA. The foam feels the same on any bed base and when warm, it moulds to the body and absorbs weight, essentially relieving pressure from the joints. However, as the foam moulds to the body it can feel too close and claustrophobic.

■ Natural latex is white liquid tapped from the trunks of rubber trees. This is blended with synthetic latex and turned into latex foam, using the Talalay process, which produces the finest polymer. Latex is breathable, so you won’t overheat.

■ A sprung memory-foam mattress is a hybrid of a pocket-sprung base with a memory foam top layer. The ‘sinking’ sensation can put people off, which also means it isn’t recommended for young children, in case they roll onto their face and breathing is inhibited.

Sprung and pocket mattresses containing cotton, lambswool or mohair can cause problems for allergy sufferers, while cashmere and silk fillings are less likely to

GINEVRA BENEDETTI, DEPUTY EDITOR