From luxury Simba and Otty mattresses to brilliant budget buys, here’s what we recommend

• How to choose a mattress: the features worth paying for – and the ones that aren’t

A good mattress improves your sleep, say mattress makers – and they would, wouldn’t they? But they’re right. The older I get, the more I know it. When I was 20, I could sleep anywhere: a friend’s floor, a filthy sofa – even a phone box one night. These days I won’t get a single one of 40 winks if I’m not lying on a decent mattress. Comfy but firm, cosy but breathable, and with loads of cool spots for my feet.

Today’s best mattresses promise all this and more. Gone are the days when your biggest decision was between a sprung double or a sprung king size. Pocket springs are still around, but they face stiff – well, medium firm – competition from hybrid mattresses that combine springs and memory foam to provide that all-important balance of comfort and support.

Best overall mattress:
Otty Original Hybrid
_{From £499.99 (single) to £874.99 (emperor) at Otty}

Best mattress for couples:
Simba Hybrid Pro
_{From £799 (single) to £1,349 (super king) at Simba}

Best budget mattress:
Ikea Valevåg
_{From £149 (single) to £359 (super king) at Ikea}