Bed mattresses are big decisions; it is perhaps the most important part of your house and it will last you for years on end. You must therefore be careful with such a decision and realize that there are many things most consumers over-look.

Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, you must understand what makes you comfortable. If you’ve slept on hard mattresses all your life, you may think that’s what you like. Try the ultra-soft pillow top, just to make sure. You may surprise yourself.

But make sure you try out mattresses extensively before you even go to the store. Sleep over at a friend’s house, if you know they have a different mattress than you. When you go on vacation, think about how you sleep. Lying down for a few moments on a show room floor is awkward and brief; you will not have the time or the right degree of relaxation to fully understand if you like a mattress.

Keep in mind that mattresses are expensive because they should last a long time. Don’t buy one merely because it’s the cheapest you can find; you will be replacing it much sooner than you had to. You should expect to spend at least $500 on a good mattress. Anything less is suspect.

Size is the other key issue. Partnerships must decide on the bed together and must both know how much space they require and like. Look at the actual difference in inches between bed sizes. It helps to both know the number of inches AND to see the difference in person.

Make sure you know what you want; is the extra few hundred dollars really worth a few extra inches in mattress width? For some, it’s a pointless expenditure. For others, it makes all the difference in the world.