There’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep, but for many of us, this can be hard to achieve and as rare as a pearl in an oyster. Your body and brain need that rest in order to repair and refresh your whole being for the new day. However, if you spend the night wrestling with sleep in close combat, you greet the morning grumpy and ill-prepared for what’s to come.

Vital for your 7 to 9 hours’ rest is a good bed. It needs to offer support for your spine and comfort for your pressure points. Not only this, but it should also be big enough to provide space for you to move as you travel through dreamland.

That’s right. Don’t judge a bed simply by lying on it (online outlets now offer home trials on mattresses for as long as 100 days), you need to know if it will give you ample room to roam during the night.

There are many reasons why you need a bigger bed, not least of all is your own proportions. Here are 4 factors to consider when buying your next mattress:

1. Your width and length. Amazingly, we tend to settle for less than we need when it comes to a mattress. We take what we see in the showroom instead of finding the ideal bed elsewhere. Considering that a mattress should last you for up to 10 years and you’re going to spend 33% of your life in bed, doesn’t it make sense to invest in something that matches your body size and lifestyle?
   
2. Lone sleeper? If you’re on your own, you still need extra space to get comfortable. Nowadays, there are many more mattress sizes than ever before. Check out the guide to see how you can broaden your options on a buying decision. Your mattress should be at least 4” longer than you are.
   
3. Couple comfort. A standard double bed only gives each person 2’3” of space – that’s less than a baby gets in a crib! If you both lie on your backs, put your hands behind your head and your elbows are touching, that’s too little room for comfort. You’re going to end up disturbing each other since the average person moves around 60 to 70 times every night.
   
4. Family time. What happens when your offspring join you in bed? Those infants can pack a decent punch and usually when you’re least expecting it. So, make sure your bed is family sized. And, remember, those little ones ramble around more than you do at night, you might as well factor that in when making a buying decision.

Since our current lifestyles include bedtime activities from eating to working, it makes sense that your mattress reflects this. Improve your chances at getting a good night’s sleep by getting a bigger bed – your body, brain and state of mind will thank you for it.