A good mattress

This means replacing a worn, sagging or uncomfortable mattress with one that suits you. It might use springs, foam, latex or a combination. You are looking for a comfortable surface in your usual sleeping position, room to turn and support without obvious lumps or dips. When sharing a bed, how much you feel your partner moving matters too.

Price and an “orthopaedic” label cannot tell you whether you will enjoy sleeping on it. A few minutes in a showroom are also a poor substitute for a full night. You can buy an excellent mattress and still sleep badly if noise, worries or too little time in bed remain the problem.

As a rough guide, basic single mattresses are available for around €100 in Spanish shops, while double mattresses can cost several hundred euros. Compare the same size and include delivery, disposal of the old mattress and a new base if needed. Check compatibility with your existing bed base.

Read the trial terms before paying. There may be conditions, collection charges or an exchange rather than a cash refund. A long warranty against manufacturing defects does not necessarily cover a mattress that simply feels uncomfortable to you.

There is little reason to replace a sound, comfortable mattress just because a newer one has more layers. If the bed sags, inspect the base too: broken slats can remain a problem under a new mattress. Both people should try it when it is for a shared bed.

Repeatedly buying replacements after bad nights gets expensive. Frequent pain on waking or persistent difficulty sleeping deserves attention beyond mattress shopping. Do not assume that ever-firmer models are the answer, or keep tolerating an uncomfortable one because you paid a lot for it.