A couple tries out a new bed at a bed store.

By Rosemary Sadez Friedmann

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

So many benefits are derived from a good night's sleep that it is 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 release tension by providing comfort and support for the body.

But what bedding is best? Soft? Firm? In between? That all depends on what is personally comfortable. Some people feel more comfortable with a really firm mattress while other prefer the soft kind. And it is not the firmness of the mattress that makes it good or not good for you; it is the construction. Even a very soft mattress can offer great support if it is made properly. The secret is in the coils. The softness comes from the padding that is 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 down 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, then choose a mattress by testing it. Go ahead and relax atop a number of mattresses at the store before making a decision. Most mattress display stores have several choices for you and you should relax on them, and even roll around a little on them and then decide what firmness is comfortable for you.

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

(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of Mystery of Color.)