HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR BED

The mattress

When choosing your mattress, it’s important to try before you buy, says Adam Black, co-founder of bedmaker Button & Sprung. “When lying on your back there should be no gap under your lower back. A mattress that is too firm will not receive your shoulders and hips and will have the ‘park bench’ effect, while a mattress too soft will do the opposite and operate like a hammock.”

The duvet

When it comes to duvets, microfibre is a good choice for allergy sufferers, while a natural filling will last longer and, again, help your skin to “breathe” while you sleep.

“Don’t confuse weight with warmth, as a topquality down duvet may feel very light but has extremely effective thermal properties,” says Nayna Bhayani, a buyer at John Lewis’s bedroom department, who suggests checking for “fill power rating” on a down duvet, which relates to the volume or fluffiness of filling: the higher the rating, the warmer and bouncier the duvet.

The pillow

Your sleeping position should determine your choice of pillow – back-sleepers will need a flatter pillow to keep the neck aligned, while a side-sleeper will be more comfortable with a plumper pillow that fills the gap between head and neck.